Louve brings a slice of modern Europe to Lutyens’ Delhi

At a time when many of Delhi’s new restaurants are choosing high-footfall markets and retail complexes, restaurateur Shikha Begwani (of Ophelia and Cosy Box fame) decided to go for a different setting. Her latest venture, a modern European restaurant called Louve, is located in the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone, close to Khan Market. The address is usually associated with diplomatic residences and old estates rather than standalone dining spaces.

Finding and developing a property here came with constraints, shares Shikha. “Standalone restaurants like ours are virtually non-existent in this area,” she adds. “That’s why every material choice and decision around its construction had to be carefully calibrated.”

 pistachio lamb chops
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Special Arrangement

From the street, the white façade of Louve appears to be another mansion in the neighbourhood, especially with its arched windows and doors and colonial-style lanterns.

Inside, the 170-cover restaurant unfolds across interconnected spaces. The indoor dining area feels like a spacious living room, with its marble floor, pockets of greenery and artworks inspired by Cubism and early French modernism. The centrepiece is Eden de Crystal, a bespoke crystal chandelier, with crystal branches and birds suspended above a circular glass-bowl fountain. There is also an al fresco section, with gazebo-style garden dining pavilions.

On the platter

Begwani wanted to create a space in Delhi where people could enjoy European flavours with contemporary touches. She brought on board Chef Selim, who has previously worked in Michelin-star kitchens such as Mikla in Istanbul and Cipriani in Istanbul and Dubai.

The menu includes everything from soups to salads, small plates and mains, and desserts. On the recommendation of the staff, I began the meal with the chicken and leek soup — a comforting bowl for the last of a Delhi winter. It was neither too thick nor overly creamy. Next came two salads. While burrata salads are usually paired with cherry tomatoes, it was a welcome change to have roasted fennel and balsamic as the key ingredients. The beetroot and asparagus salad, with caramelised chèvre croutons and a citrus vinaigrette, was visually vibrant, though too sweet for my taste.

truffle brie crostini
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Special Arrangement

The appetisers are creatively done. The truffle brie crostini were bite-sized treats, a base of crisp artichoke topped with creamy brie and shavings of truffle. With their tiny portions, it is easy to overeat. The baked gnocchi, a potato dumpling in a generous tomato-vodka cream sauce, was the ideal rendition of the classic dish.

Among the non-vegetarian appetisers, my pick was the John Dory fillet, layered with a light Pinot Grigio lemon sauce resting on a bed of thinly sliced potatoes. The play on textures made it a winner. Though the pistachio lamb chops sounded interesting, there were initial apprehensions since I am not a fan of the dry fruit. The nuttiness, however, was subtle and complemented the meat rather than overwhelming it.

In the mains, the prawn curry felt like a force fit in a European restaurant. Even flavour wise, it was over-spiced and did not make the cut. The aubergine parmigiana, with layers of aubergine, tomato, mozzarella, and basil was executed with finesse.

Drinks to desserts

For cocktails, Louve has roped in UAE-based head mixologist Vasile Dorofeev, who has created a programme guided by the philosophy of Anima Mundi, which says that all living beings and the cosmos share a connected spirit. “I approach the bar as I approach life — philosophically, with a dash of play,” he says.

Epicure
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Special Arrangement

I began with Epicure, Vasile’s reinterpretation of the familiar vodka-soda-lime. Made with avocado vodka and a house soda infused with yuzu, lemon, cucumber and green apple shrub, it was light, tart and subtly fruity — a low-calorie drink that didn’t feel like a compromise. Another standout was Metis, a tequila-based cocktail layered with aperol, grapefruit, sweet vermouth and blue pea tea, which gave it a striking hue.

Among others worth exploring was Atara, a mix of tequila, mezcal, vanilla, ginger and citric, bright with a touch of spice. Hedonism was perhaps the most unusual, tasting almost like a watermelon and feta salad in liquid form.

Desserts, however, didn’t quite match up to the savoury courses. The Louve Meringue Cake paired a light vanilla sponge with lemon curd, though the curd felt heavier than expected. The Belgian Ruby Chocolate with vanilla gelato was too sweet.

Interiors of Louve 
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Special Arrangement

Looking ahead, Louve plans to open its terrace to diners for an Asian-forward concept. Separately, a wine-led food pairing menu is also in the works.

Louve is at 1, Humayun Road, New Delhi. A meal for two is priced at ₹5,000-plus taxes with alcohol. Available from Monday to Sunday; noon to 12.30 am. For reservations, call 9355339394 / 9355999394

Published – March 02, 2026 03:37 pm IST