Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2026 celebrates ‘Redefining Excellence’ across Food and Lifestyle

The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2026 wrapped up in Mumbai with a dazzling celebration of India’s food and lifestyle innovators, all under the theme “Redefining Excellence.”

Event Highlights
- Venue: Taj Santacruz, Mumbai.
- Theme: Redefining Excellence — spotlighting restaurants, bars, cafés, spirit brands, hospitality concepts, experiential dining formats, and content creators.
- Celebrity Presence: Shalini Pandey, Madhurima Tuli, Karan Tacker, Avneet Kaur, Harleen Sethi, and Armaan Jain added glamour to the evening.
- Entertainment: High-energy performance by Agnee and a comedy set by Prashasti Singh.
- Jury: A powerhouse panel including Rashmi Uday Singh, AD Singh, Rahul Akerkar, Ajay Chopra, Karishma Sakhrani, Doma Wang, Sadaf Hussain, Priya Ganapathy, Rukshana Kapadia, and Nitin Tewari.

Cuisine
- Best Japanese Restaurant: Naru Noodle Bar, Bengaluru
- Best Luxury Dining: The Table, Mumbai
- Best Regional Indian: Amar Khamar, Kolkata
- Best Vegetarian: Avatara, Mumbai
- Best Café: Cafe Lento, Goa
- Best New Restaurant: SoBo 20, Mumbai
- Best European Restaurant: La Panthera, Mumbai
- Best Dessert: Lick, Bengaluru
- Best South Indian: Dakshin (ITC Grand Central), Mumbai
- Best Designed Restaurant: The Sarvato, Jaipur
- Best Asian Restaurant: Wabi Sabi (The Oberoi), Bengaluru
- Best Thai Restaurant: Khao Man Gai by Seefah, Mumbai

Beverage & Spirits:
- Best Cocktail Bar: Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru
- Best Indian Whisky: Amrut Expedition
- Best Craft Gin: Cherrapunji
- Best Indigenous Spirit: Six Brothers Mahura
- Best Indian Rum: Pipa Rum

Individual Honors:
- Chef of the Year (Male): Gresham Fernandes (Bandra Born, Mumbai)
- Chef of the Year (Female): Koyel Roy Nandy (Rannaghor by Sienna, Kolkata)
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Vinesh Johny (Lavonne, India)
- Restaurateur of the Year: Gauri Devidayal
- Mixologist of the Year: Jeet Rana (Barbet & Pals, New Delhi)
- Unlimit Icon: Chef Manish Mehrotra

Special Recognitions:
- Iconic Restaurant: Crystal Restaurant, Mumbai
- Best Cloud Kitchen: The Junglee Kitchen by Armaan Jain
- Unlimit Iconic Music Band: Agnee
- OTT Breakthrough Star: Harleen Sethi
- Dynamic Performer: Madhurima Tuli
- Emerging Talent: Shalini Pandey

Significance
The awards underscore how India’s food and lifestyle ecosystem is evolving—driven by entrepreneurship, creativity, and cultural innovation. With sustainability, inclusivity, and design excellence at the forefront, the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards have become a benchmark for recognizing pioneers who are shaping India’s gastronomic and lifestyle narratives.