🌿 Delhi in Style: From Garden Suites to South Indian Gastronomy

Delhi — where ancient walls whisper history and modern indulgence awaits at every turn. My recent trip wasn’t just a getaway; it was a curated luxury escape that brought together suite serenity, soulful cuisine, and some of the most elegant shopping experiences the capital has to offer.

🏨 Suite Life at ITC Maurya – A Titanium Elite Upgrade

As a Titanium Elite Bonvoy member, I was delighted to receive a suite upgrade at ITC Maurya, one of Delhi’s most iconic properties. The upgraded suite overlooked lush green gardens, a rare pocket of calm in this vibrant city. From the moment I walked in, it felt like a seamless blend of contemporary elegance and old-world opulence.

Think: plush carpets underfoot, fresh orchids in vases, an oversized marble bath, and a personalized welcome amenity that made check-in feel like coming home.

🍽️ Avartana Delhi – The Bela Tasting Menu Experience

One of the reasons I always gravitate toward ITC properties is the Avartana experience — and this time, I opted for the Bela vegetarian tasting menu at the newly opened Delhi outpost.

This wasn’t just dinner — it was gastronomic theatre across 13 meticulously curated courses. The Bela menu is Avartana’s ode to South Indian soul food — modernised, deconstructed, and delivered with quiet luxury. Here's a glimpse of what unfolded on the table:

🥣 1. Rasam Redefined

The meal began with a warm tomato rasam served in an elegant glass, topped with curry leaf foam. The familiar tang met molecular finesse.

🍘 2. Curd Rice Pops

Creamy curd rice turned into bite-sized, crispy spheres, served with mango-ginger gel. A nostalgic nod with a twist.

🍠 3. Sweet Potato with Coconut Snow

Roasted to perfection and topped with chilled coconut foam and micro herbs — earthy meets ethereal.

🍄 4. Mushroom & Tamarind Glaze

Button mushrooms coated in tamarind reduction, served with pickled pearl onions — deeply umami, gently sour.

🫓 5. Appam with Stew Espuma

A mini appam paired with airy espuma of Kerala stew — the softest textures meeting the warmest flavours.

🥒 6. Compressed Cucumber Sundal

Crunchy lentils, mango slivers, and cucumber cubes, lightly tempered — vibrant and cooling.

🍛 7. Asparagus Poriyal

Delicate and coconut-flecked, served on banana leaf crisp. A garden on a plate.

🥟 8. Beetroot Tikki

A jewel-toned patty finished with chilli emulsion and micro greens — spicy, sweet, and earthy in one bite.

🍚 9. Coconut Rice Risotto

A velvety version of coconut rice with toasted cashews and curry leaf dust. Comfort food, elevated.

❄️ 10. Rasam Granite

A frozen tangy rasam palate cleanser — a surprising yet refreshing intermission.

🫓 11. Malabar Parotta with Curry

Layered mini parotta with Chettinad-style veg curry, elegantly plated and full of depth.

🍮 12. Filter Coffee Mousse

Silky mousse infused with South Indian filter coffee, jaggery crumble, and tuile for crunch.

🧊 13. Tender Coconut Sorbet

A cool, sweet finale with nariyal sorbet, dehydrated pineapple, and mint crystals served in a coconut shell.

Each course was introduced by the chef’s team, making the meal feel like an unfolding story of heritage and innovation.

🛍️ Delhi Shopping Diaries – Luxe & Local

From ITC’s leafy enclave, I ventured into Delhi’s buzzing luxury circuit. My favourite shopping stops this trip?

• The Chanakya – For curated international labels, beauty exclusives, and champagne bars.

• DLF Emporio – Delhi’s designer playground, where Indian couture rubs shoulders with Valentino and Saint Laurent.

• Khan Market – Where Fabindia meets fine fragrance, and cafés are as well-dressed as the clientele.

If you’re looking to blend luxury with culture, Delhi makes it seamless — whether it's sipping coconut foam at Avartana or slipping into a Tarun Tahiliani saree.

🌺 Final Thoughts

This Delhi trip was a gentle reminder that sometimes, indulgence lies in the details: the garden outside your suite, the hush of a fine-dining restaurant, the rustle of tissue wrapping around a newly bought silk scarf.

And when you have Bonvoy Elite status in your corner? Even better.

Until next time, Delhi. 💛

🧳 Quick Info:

• Stay: ITC Maurya, New Delhi

• Dining: Avartana – Bela Vegetarian Tasting Menu (13 courses)

• Bonvoy Perks Used: Titanium Elite Suite Upgrade, Breakfast, Late Checkout

• Shopping Spots: The Chanakya, DLF Emporio, Khan Market