9 Hospitality Trends to watch out for in 2025

With the advent of the year 2025, the Indian travel, hospitality, and dining landscapes have evolved rapidly, reflecting the country’s diversity, need to experiment, and an increasing appetite for unique experiences. From hyper-local explorations to immersive culinary journeys, the trends emerging this year emphasise innovation, sustainability, and a deep connection to India’s heritage. Here are some hospitality trends to watch out for in 2025

Vocal for local

In 2025, a noticeable trend is the growing demand for hyper-local experiences that connect people to the essence of a destination. Urban India, embracing its roots, is diving deeper into its rich cultural and culinary heritage. After decades of Western influence, there’s a renewed love for regional ingredients and traditional cuisine.

Take Benne in Mumbai, for example—its heritage dosas, inspired by Bengaluru, have captivated the city, with patrons queuing for hours daily. Restaurants like Hylo are reviving forgotten recipes, while Kerala Quarters pays tribute to Kerala's toddy shop culture. Waarsa preserves Awadhi culinary traditions with age-old techniques, and INDY by Q’La reimagines Indian classics with regional twists, such as nalli nihari infused with Assamese flavors. Meanwhile, Mool and Folk spotlight traditional Kashmiri dishes crafted by home chefs using locally sourced ingredients.

From artisanal crafts to ancestral cooking methods, the focus is on authentic, regional flavors that celebrate India’s cultural diversity and culinary legacy.

Indian food is now a lot more than what is conventionally seen as North Indian and South Indian cuisine. 

Experiential Dining: More than just a meal

Dining in 2025 is no longer just about food—it’s about the experience. Restaurants are turning meals into multisensory journeys, where everything from the lighting and music to the aromas is designed to elevate the dining vibe.

Take Papa’s in Mumbai, for instance—it’s like stepping into a food museum. Chef Hussain’s 10-course tasting menu is a feast for your taste buds and your senses, with the chef personally walking you through each course. Add drinking games for a fun community feel and a top-notch cocktail program, and you’ve got an evening to remember.

Then there’s Carnival by Tresind, where dining feels like a show. Inspired by carnivals worldwide, the playful dishes and creative cocktails turn every visit into a performance. And for a veggie-forward spin, Avatara Mumbai (a spinoff of the Michelin-starred Dubai spot) takes vegetarian cuisine to a whole new level. Chef Rana’s inventive dishes even win over hardcore meat lovers.

Whether it’s theater on your plate or a chef-led journey, dining out now is all about the full experience.

Apart from this, several restaurants, hotels and bars are conducting events, pop-ups and bar takeovers where the focus is on providing new experiences to customers. 

Elevated Cocktail Programs: The art of the pour

In 2025, cocktail programs are rewriting all the rules, with a major on craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability. Mumbai’s Bombay Daak is a trailblazer, a desi dive bar, that brings nostalgia into the mix, celebrating India’s culinary diversity with a cocktail menu that’s both inventive and rooted. Think tamarind-tinted concoctions, smoked jaggery infusions, and an effortless charm that makes it feel like home, if your home served world-class cocktails that is. 

Gone are the days of basic mixers—today’s elevated cocktail programs blend craftsmanship, creativity, and local ingredients. From house-infused spirits to exotic foraged botanicals, mixologists are crafting drinks that tell a story. Bars like Sidecar in Delhi,  Soka in Bengaluru and Hideaway in Goa are leading the charge, offering curated menus that celebrate regional flavors with a modern twist.

Innovative techniques like fat washing, clarification, and smoke infusions are now staples, while pairing cocktails with bar bites has become an art form. Whether it’s a reimagined negroni or a cocktail inspired by India’s spice routes, these programs offer a perfect mix of sophistication and authenticity.

Event and Hobby-Driven Travel: Journeys fuelled by passion

Travel is no longer just about destinations but about the passions that drive us there. In 2025, travel is not just about ticking off locations on a map, but rather, immersing oneself in experiences that truly resonate with personal passions.

From traveling to and for concerts that feature your favourite bands (take Coldplay for example)  to participating in fitness retreats that recharge and rejuvenate both body and mind, the focus is now shifting towards purpose-driven travel. Pottery workshops, wildlife safaris, diving and surfing workshops and curated yoga retreats are increasingly gaining popularity as travelers seek deeper connections to their interests. 

Concept-Driven Restaurants and Bars

Establishments with strong, unique narratives are captivating consumers like never before. Whether it’s a hidden speakeasy or a restaurant inspired by the local culture, concept-driven venues are thriving in 2025.

Take Bandra Born for example, Chef Gresham Fernandes’s culinary ode to Bandra. Inspired by his life living in Bandra he has curated a bar and food menu that truly capture the essence and emotions of Bandra. We also have Bombay Daak, which is the ultimate daru-chakna spot, featuring a selection of unique cocktails and dishes that are just quintessentially Indian, with a nod to our rich heritage. These spaces offer more than just food and drink—they tell a story, transporting patrons to another time, place, or mindset.

Supper Clubs: The intimate revival

Supper clubs are most certainly making a stylish comeback. These intimate dining gatherings, often in unconventional settings like private homes or exclusive venues, offer a chance to enjoy bespoke menus with a select group of people. The allure lies in the exclusivity and the focus on storytelling, as chefs share the inspiration behind their dishes, creating an experience that feels personal and memorable. They also foster a sense of community and conviviality

A few notable supper clubs include a Sichuan dining experience in Bandra, House of Mala and Soul Food’s Singapore Pepper Boil conducted in House of Mandarin and Mag Street Kitchen

Small Plates, Big Impact

The popularity of small plates continues to rise as diners opt for variety and shareability. In 2025, this trend evolves with an emphasis on global flavours and unexpected ingredient combinations. From tapas-style dishes to mezze spreads, these small plates are perfect to share with large groups, perfect to reminisce and have conversations over.

The Hotel-as-Destination Model

Hotels are no longer just places to sleep, they’re becoming destinations in their own right. Properties in 2025 are incorporating immersive experiences such as private cinemas, on-site art galleries, and wellness sanctuaries. By offering everything from amenities to coworking spaces to live music events, hotels are transforming into cultural hubs that appeal to both guests and locals, redefining the travel experience.

Sustainable Luxury in Travel

Luxury travel is taking on a greener hue in 2025. Travelers are prioritizing eco-conscious accommodations that combine opulence with sustainability with the focus on indulgence without compromise. Hotels are integrating sustainable architecture, locally sourced materials, and regenerative practices into their operations, setting a new standard for responsible luxury.

This mix of insights showcases a dynamic 2025 landscape across travel, hotels, and dining. These trends aren't mere predictions, but rather signposts of a world where experiences matter more than ever.