Bar Palladio

Bar Palladio opened in December 2013 in the gardens of Narain Niwas Palace and has since become one of Jaipur's best-known evening addresses, listed by Fodor's among the city's places to eat and drink. It was created by Barbara Miolini, who grew up in St Moritz and worked for the Cipriani group in Italy before moving to Jaipur, and the interiors were designed by the Dutch designer Marie-Anne Oudejans. The name honours the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio, and the inspiration mixes the grand cafés of Venice, Palladian architecture and the courts of the maharajas.

The look is unforgettable: deep, vivid blue walls painted with white Mughal-style motifs, with murals by the artist Vikas Soni. Almost everything, from the lamps, glassware and china to the block-printed fabrics, furniture and tents, was made by hand in Jaipur. Inside there are two private dining rooms, and outside a covered balcony and a garden area of tented canopies and small fires, lit by candles in the evening. Peacocks roam the gardens.

The kitchen serves classic Italian cooking, with homemade pasta and salads, and the founder has singled out the tiramisu as a highlight. Cocktails are a big part of the draw, and the bar suits a long, relaxed evening that moves from aperitivo on the patio to dinner under the canopies. The atmosphere aims to be welcoming rather than stiff, and the bar was built as much for Jaipur's residents as for visitors.

Bar Palladio opens in the evening, and it is at its best around sunset, when the light fades and the candles come on. Fodor's notes late-evening patio seating, and it is a popular spot, so reserve a table, especially at weekends and in the winter season. Prices are moderate to high for Jaipur. Smart casual dress fits the setting.

The bar sits within the grounds of Narain Niwas Palace on Narain Singh Road, so guests at the hotel only need to walk across the garden. From the old city or MI Road it is a short taxi or auto-rickshaw ride. Combine an evening here with a stay at Narain Niwas, or with an afternoon at the Albert Hall Museum before heading over for sunset drinks.