The Mayura restaurant, a trip to India pairing gastronomy and mixology

Indian cuisine is a symphony of spices, ingredients, and ancestral techniques that dance to enchant the diner. At Mayura, the Barcelona restaurant that has honored the amalgam of flavors, aromas, and colors of India for two decades, they have embarked on a new sensory journey, a recital where cuisine and mixology merge to evoke an experience that transports us to the heart of India.

Since this June, Mayura diners can not only enjoy succulent and popular Indian cuisine, but they can also pair it with an authentic ode to liquid gastronomy, a collection of signature cocktails specifically conceived to accompany some of the most representative dishes on their menu.

Mayura & La Llibreria

After more than a year searching for the perfect fusion, fate had it that Rajnish Kapoor, director and soul of Mayura, found in the Les Corts neighborhood the ideal cocktail bar and bartender to begin this new journey. Thus, together with Lluís Lins, bartender of La Llibreria Cocktails, one of Barcelona's most unique cocktail bars, they have created something that goes far beyond a drinks menu. The goal was not to transfer a curry to a glass or reproduce obvious flavors, but to capture emotions, nuances, and sensations. To translate the essence of Indian cuisine into the language of contemporary mixology.

The result is a pairing experience where dish and cocktail complement, challenge, and transform each other. And it is that Indian gastronomy is, in essence, a balance of forces. For this "pairing between Mayura and La Llibreria," they wanted to go beyond traditional mixology, seeking inspiration in the concept of the Trimurti: the triad that represents the eternal cycle of creation, transformation, and preservation.

The new liquid menu

Thus, the new "liquid menu" proposes four cocktails, three inspired by the Hindu deities Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, plus the best ambassador, Prince Siddartha.

The Prince Siddartha, born from the patience and rigor of La Llibreria, is "like a round trip". With a gin base infused with turmeric and cinnamon, this drink is a lesson in balance, a reminder of the middle path that seeks perfect harmony between the intensity of spices and the clarity of the palate. A cocktail that pairs with Mayura's Achari Chicken, because the creamy, fruity, and spicy character of the long drink finds a perfect balance with this creamy and spicy chicken dish in a sauce inspired by traditional Indian pickles.

More floral, elegant, and refreshing is the Vishnu (The Preservation), the absolute balance, conceived to accompany the Salmon Tikka. This mixed drink, which unites the earth —turmeric and saffron— with the floral subtlety of elderflower, provides freshness and cleanses the palate after each bite, balancing the character of the tandoor smoked salmon and the intensity of the tamarind, garlic, and black mustard marinade. The result is a light, sophisticated, and especially summery pairing.

The inspiring gods

Shiva (The Transformation), kinetic energy in liquid state, displays a citrus, spicy, and floral profile with a long and refreshing finish on the palate. Through the intensity of black cardamom and the freshness of toasted orange peel, this drink is an agent of change that pairs especially well with Chicken Biryani, a dish of infused basmati rice and chicken marinated in yogurt and spices. In this combination, Shiva cleanses the palate, dancing between smoke and flower, transforming the experience of each bite.

Finally, Brahma (The Creation) opts for warmer and deeper notes. A cocktail of complex structure, where the infusion of black tea, cinnamon, and the milky touch evoke the origin. It is the beginning, the creation of flavor. A creamy and spicy construction that finds its ideal partner in Lamb Madras, one of Mayura's most intense curries.

'Agni Nights at Mayura'

But Mayura's novelties don't end here. Coinciding with the arrival of the summer solstice, the restaurant will celebrate from June 15 to 30 Las Noches de Agni, a ritual inspired by the Hindu god of fire. At the end of dinner, each diner will receive a paper on which to write a wish for the new summer cycle. The message will be deposited in a ceremonial bowl with water and floating candles, in a symbolic gesture that unites introspection, tradition, and celebration.

Two decades after its opening in Barcelona's Eixample, Mayura continues to demonstrate that Indian cuisine is much more than a succession of exotic recipes. It is a culture, a philosophy, and a way of understanding the pleasure of sitting at the table. And now it can also be discovered with a glass in hand.