What dining out looks like in 2026

This was arguably a great year for India’s F&B scene.

- SMITHA MENON

But how will it impact the future and what does the next year hold for us enthusiastic eaters? In no particular order, here are a few of my predictions about flavours, formats and frontiers we'll explore in the dining out space.THINGS ARE GOING TO GET SURREAL

Surrealism, the 20th century movement in art, film and literature is influencing fine dining in numerous ways. The tenets of the movement rest on connecting seemingly unconnected images and events in a dreamlike manner to express what happens in our subconscious. One of the most talked-about dining experiences around the globe this year leans heavily on surrealism. At Alchemist in Copenhagen, gastronomy, drama, art, and spectacular visuals blend to create a holistic dining experience. Guests scoop dishes that look like eyeballs, rabbit ears and more. There's even bread that the restaurant collaborated with US space agency NASA on, as a part of the seven hour, 50-course meal that costs about $1,000 per head. Surrealism developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I, in the period of the late 1910s and early 1920s, that has often been compared to the time we're living in at the moment, amid much global, political and climate strife.