Walking into this space for the first time in India feels a bit overwhelming, in a good way. There are Greco-Roman-style statues and tall pillars leading up to the stage, which looks more like something from Europe than a nightclub here. As the loud club music slowly fades into soft jazz, the whole atmosphere changes. Cabaret dancers arrive on stage wearing ruffled dresses, jewelled masks and large peacock feathers, catching everyone’s attention.
What really stands out is when the dancers step off the stage and move between the tables, making diners feel like they are part of the show rather than just watching it. For someone seeing this for the first time, in Delhi, Dramique feels new, surprising and hard to forget. To be honest, it's a little unexpected to see this type of entertainment because it feels so new to India. Dramique feels more dramatic, more theatrical, and highly international in its manner than the typical clubs or live performances you are accustomed to. Service takes the Service à la Française method, with a more social and rich presentation manner.
Image Credit: Dramqiue, The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
"Dramique was born out of a simple realisation: dining had become predictable. We wanted to bring back wonder," shares Gagan Agarwal, Corporate Strategist behind the establishment. Mr Agarwal goes on to explain that the idea was to create a space where people don’t just eat or drink, they experience. "Once we saw how powerfully storytelling, performance, music, and gastronomy could come together, it stopped being just an idea and became a necessity. Dramique became our way of reimagining nightlife and dining as a form of theatre."
A Cinematic Approach To Dining
The space exudes ‘Life Of A Show Girl' characteristics while remaining understated. Towering installations and wall-to-wall projections instantly establish the scene for the luxurious, cinematic interiors. The experience, which was conceived by creative director Samir Sehgal, is more than just eating; dancers move through the space, saxophones play, and vocalists sing. Dramique is positioned as a cross between a restaurant, bar and performance space, drawing inspiration from global concepts like López Ibiza and The Theatre Dubai.
Image Credit: Dramqiue, The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
In more conversations with team Slurrp, Mr Agarwal explains, it’s the first ever in India, and Delhi has a discerning, global audience that understands luxury, art, and innovation. It’s a city that embraces bold concepts and is constantly evolving. They felt that if Dramique had to be born anywhere, it had to be in a city that appreciates both tradition and avant-garde culture.
Thankfully, the cuisine keeps up with the surrounding entertainment. There's a distinct sense of thought and conviction behind what's being presented, even with a very limited menu. Nothing feels overdone or out of place, and the servings are satisfying, and the flavours are balanced. Instead of competing with the experience, this type of menu enhances it, allowing the ambience to take centre stage for the time being. Like the venue itself, the tequila-based speciality cocktails are silky, rich, and subtly self-assured. By the end of the evening, it becomes clear why the establishment is so successful.
When Jazz, Cabaret & Fine-Dining Fall in Love
As you enter, you see the stage that is not tucked away in a corner; rather, it's right in front of you, leaving you wondering what will happen later that night. That was the first indication that the evening would be anything but typical. “The cocktails have characters, the dishes have moods, the music has arcs. Every element is choreographed to move in harmony so guests feel like they’re part of a living story rather than just spectators,” he tells team Slurrp.
Nowadays, people are more interested in experiences than locations, and Dramique is well aware of this trend. It provides something that must be experienced; it cannot be replicated at home or casually viewed on a screen. Live performances, immersive visuals, top-notch mixology, and personal storytelling combine to create a sensory experience that entices visitors to return. It turns into a brief getaway from the familiar rather than just a night out.
Image Credit: Rajlakshmi Dastidar
The seamlessness of it all was the most notable aspect. Inspired by subtle Asian and European influences, Dramique presents itself as a worldwide culinary destination. A large wooden doorway leading into a vestibule with a magnificent wine collection from Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, Australia, Germany, South Africa, the USA, and New Zealand captivates a wine lover before we even get to the cuisine. Team Slurrp arrived at a 150-seat area with an additional 80 seats on the terrace.
With mirrored panels, European-style statues, a large, pillared, collonaded area that led to a stage in the middle, and fresco art projected on the walls, the interiors were envisioned as a Venetian mirage. Under the direction of Mixologist Vivek, who brings experience from foreign bar programs, the bar menu offers cocktails made with a blend of Asian-inspired flavours and international techniques. Award-winning sommeliers curate the wine list, which highlights lesser-known, distinctive brands.
A Dance Of The Cocktails
The Blush Dictator shows up like a seductive opening act in a smoky cabaret lounge, with jalapeño sneaking in with a playful wink of heat, guava and watermelon softening the edges, and tequila taking centre stage. This drink, which is sweet, spicy, and a little rebellious, is perfect for India's increasing popularity of theatrical, performance-driven evenings when the cocktail is just as much a character as the show itself. Sip it gently while jazz notes waft through the space. Like a scorching jazz solo that won't go away, Stand for Passion is unabashedly daring. Jalapeño adds a crisp, self-assured kick, and tequila and passionfruit offer luscious, tropical intensity.
Image Credit: Rajlakshmi Dastidar
The Herbal Yank is that effortlessly slick piece that manages to steal the show without shouting. Fresh, green, and slightly arrogant, basil, mint, and celery walk in like they own the house, and clean vodka keeps everything sharp. Cinema Nero is like falling in love with films all over again, but it's put into a glass this time. Popcorn's reassuring nostalgia, whisky's slow-burning romance, and the roles played by caramel, hazelnut, and whisky as a well-cast ensemble are all encapsulated in a rich, creamy finish.
Dining After Dark With Dramique
The focus eventually turned to Dramique's menu when the lights went down, and the curtains closed, and it turned out to be every bit as theatrical as the shows. From skewers, baos, and dim sum to fried chicken flatbreads, pizzas, burger sandwiches, substantial bowls, and desserts meant to linger, the global-Asian spread leans towards decadent comfort with flair.
Image Credit: Dramqiue, The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
Mr Agarwal explains, ‘We believe in mastery over excess. A limited menu allows us to focus on precision, consistency, and storytelling through each dish. Every plate is intentional; nothing is filler. It also lets us evolve the menu seasonally, just like a new act in a play.’
The team began with Brioche Muffins that were perfectly French in taste. Then, the crowd-favourite Bang Bang Sushi Roll, where crispy tempura asparagus added crunch against the softness of the rice. Layered with spicy mayo and finished with tanuki, it delivered a zesty, umami-forward bite that justified its bestseller status. Alongside it, the Vegetarian Dimsum Basket offered a mildly sweet, nutty flavour profile; while satisfying, its slightly dry texture made it less memorable compared to the other plates on the table.
Image Credit: Dramique, The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
But the Butternut Squash Pizza was the true star of the show. A delicate sweetness and creamy richness were added by roasted butternut and caramelised onions, which were exquisitely elevated by aromatic pesto. Each slice seemed balanced and rich, with a generous amount of feta and cheddar on top, making it an immediate must-order. Complementing it was the Aglio E Olio Spaetzle Pasta, a pared-down, confident dish where pasta was slicked in extra virgin olive oil and punctuated with chilli crisps, letting simplicity and technique shine in a classic, no-frills rendition. The unabashedly luscious Saint Sebastian Cheesecake was served as dessert. A rich contrast of textures was created by pouring warm chocolate over the creamy, custard-like core.
Mr Agarwal concluded by sharing, “The response has been incredibly encouraging. What excites us the most is not just the footfall, but the conversations people are having about Dramique. Guests don’t just say they had a good time—they talk about how it made them feel. And that, for us, is the real success.”
Address: The Grand, PLOT NO-2, Nelson Mandela Marg, Pocket 4, Sector C, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Delhi, 110070
Timing: 8 PM - 3 AM. Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays.
Price: INR 10,000 for two