Good food is one of the important criterions for a good date. If you’re trying to impress your lady love, it is but understood that you would want to take her out to one of the finest restaurants in the city to make an indelible impact. Depending on the kind of people you are – music lovers, amateur sommeliers, foodies, or history buffs here’s a list of restaurants we have picked for you where you can book a table for a wonderful first date. Read on…

Koshy’s, St. Marks Road

This one is for the history lovers – founded in 1940, Koshy’s is as old as it gets. Lonely Planet calls it a restaurant for Bangalore’s ‘intelligentsia’, MTV refers to it as one of the ‘most stylish places in the city’. On the outside it looks like any other establishment, but inside it is all wooden pillars, high ceilings, uniformed waiters and black and white pictures of Bangalore on the walls. The food – specially the breakfast menu – does not disappoint and since there is no loud music blaring in the room, you can sit for a cozy hour or two and have a heart-to-heart over pots of English tea.

NGMA, Cunnigham Road

There are open-air cafes and then there’s the National Gallery of Modern Art on Cunnigham Road. An old mansion built in the colonial style with Indian influence, the building serves as the gallery’s southern centre. Greenery abounds, art from renowned Indian names adorns the interiors and a small café behind the library and visitor’s centre offers yummy food and hot cups of tea at throwaway prices. This is one of those few places in the city where you can munch on great food even on a budget, and sit for hours under leafy trees without someone asking you to give up your seat.

Ruh, Bellandur

Ruh is a multi-cuisine restaurant serving Persian, Lebanese, Mediterranean and North-Indian cuisine. Sufi influences in the décor and styling make for an Arabian Nights like setting straight out of a fairy tale. If fantasy or a love for Middle Eastern food is more your style, then this particular restaurant should rank high on your list of first date places.

By the Blue, Grand Mercure, Koramangala

An open air restaurant in the well-known Grand Mercure hotel, By the Blue is for those who love chef made Indian food from across regions, in a beachy setting that is at once posh and relaxing. If you have opted for a romantic dinner for two on your first date, then we suggest you book a table here by the pool and have a candlelit meal. If that doesn’t rev up your senses, we don’t know what will!

Grasshopper, Bannerghatta Road

Located in an urban warehouse, Grasshopper is one half European style restaurant with outdoor seating, and one half a gallery and art space. The food and ambience are top-end to say the least, and the chic industrial décor only adds to the lived-in allure of the place. With wine and champagne on the menu, this one definitely makes it to the list of places to visit with your special someone.

So, these were out picks for a lovely and romantic first date in the garden city. If you know of places that we missed, give us a shout out and we would love to include them as well. Leave your opinions in the comments below, and remember to keep it classy and comfortable on the first date. Best of luck, amigos!