ZLB23: On Asia’s 50 Best, Redefining Bengaluru

Words: Pasuta Phongam Photos: Pasuta Phongam and Courtesy

Bengaluru’s nightlife has matured into something far more nuanced than its “Silicon Valley” shorthand suggests. At the centre of that evolution is ZLB23 — a Kyoto-inspired speakeasy set within The Leela Palace Bengaluru — a bar that favours structure over spectacle.

Ranked #31 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 — rising from #40 in 2024, following its earlier appearance in 2023 — ZLB23 continues to define how India’s cocktail scene positions itself on the regional stage: precise, design-conscious and increasingly self-assured.

Arrival is deliberately staged. A garden approach leads discreetly through the hotel’s operational corridors before revealing a room framed by velvet drapery and crystal chandeliers. The transition is cinematic, yet never theatrical.

The aesthetic draws from Kyoto restraint filtered through Prohibition-era glamour. Light is low and directional. Surfaces are polished but not ostentatious. Jazz, often performed live, shapes the room without overwhelming it. The effect is immersive rather than decorative. Despite its location inside one of the city’s most recognisable addresses, ZLB23 retains the controlled intimacy of an independent bar. The cocktail list reads as a study in reinterpretation.

Under the direction of Head Mixologist Rajib Mukherjee and Bar Manager Suchismita Roy, the menu balances Eastern references with classical structure.

ZLB23’s dialogue with Bengaluru extends beyond its interiors. Engagement with local markets — notably KR Market — informs the bar’s sourcing philosophy, ensuring that even its most globally referenced compositions remain anchored in place.

Anana explores tropical indulgence through rum, vanilla liqueur, pineapple, pandan and almond, while Yuzu Picante delivers calibrated citrus intensity. Kyoto Sunrise offers a measured homage to Japan’s visual and cultural symbolism. Shoyu Ramen translates the umami depth of its namesake into a composed blend of tequila, sake, shiro miso and shochu. Each cocktail is engineered with clarity. Innovation is present, but disciplined.

The back bar reflects similar curation: a tightly considered selection of rare whiskies and international spirits assembled with intent rather than volume.

The hickory-smoked duck arrives pan-seared and glossed with miso glaze, lifted by truffle passion fruit emulsion and crisp pangritata. A mushroom preparation in shiitake-style sauce underscores the kitchen’s affinity for umami depth. Portions are restrained; pairings are deliberate.

ZLB23 exists within a broader Asian exchange of ideas. Encounters with peers — including Antonio of Bar Leone — highlight a shared commitment to refinement over flourish. Tastings of Milan With a View, Olive Oil Sour, Coconut Of and Caffe Paradiso reinforce how the region’s leading bars are converging around precision and narrative coherence.

Over time, the initial intrigue of secrecy gives way to something more enduring: structure.

ZLB23 does not rely on gimmickry or overt nostalgia. Instead, it builds atmosphere through calibrated lighting, composed service, and cocktails that prioritise balance over bravado.

In a city defined by acceleration, it offers deliberation — and in doing so, secures its place among Asia’s most considered drinking rooms.

ZLB23, The Leela Palace Bengaluru

Hours: Mon - Sat, 18:30 PM - 01:00 AM

Contact: +91 9632060433

Reserve: https://www.theleela.com/the-leela-palace-bengaluru/restaurants/zlb-23 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeelaBengaluru/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zlb23.in/

Location: 23 HAL Airport Road, Bangalore, India, 560017