Setz (Closed)

Address: 4, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070, India
Tel: +91 114 311 9999
Website: view Setz (Closed)’s website
Style: Cocktail bar

Review

If ever there was an example of the divide between rich and poor, the location of Set'z articulates it. It's on the top floor of a white marble temple of a shopping centre, full of Gucci and Cartier but with the roads leading up to it still made of dirt.

Set'z used to be called Zest, but apparently a lawsuit from a rival business with the same name forced a cunning rethink - see what they did there? It's all very modern, with moodily lit lounge seating surrounding an island bar, up-lit glass shelves on the back-bar and a display wine wall that separates the lighter, brighter, restaurant out back. The music's quite loud, western in nature. It doesn't feel like you are in India but is immensely popular so that's clearly in demand.

On the menu classic cocktails are accompanied by, how shall we put it, an 'ambitious' selection of drinks, including an 'eat your drink' section comprising fruits soaked in alcohol and ice popsicles along with some 80s-style shooters. There's a decent spirits list, with plenty of whisky, while beers are available on draught and in beer 'towers'.

In our experience, the bartending talent didn't quite match up to the promises of the menu or the sophistication of the environment, with bitters and syrups added generously to finished drinks (25 drops of Angostura in one of our drinks, no exaggeration). Best stick to simple serves.