New York's latest Indian fine-dining den now has a secret cocktail bar underneath it

"Over the summer, Houston's only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant found a second home in NYC. Translating to traveler from the Hindi and Urdu word, is a culmination of corporate executive chef Mayank Istwal's 100-day journey across India, where he picked up techniques, stories and subsequently dishes along the way. His resulting 72-hour cooked Dal married with its grand "labyrinth-like layout" of a space housed within a Houston shopping mall earned the restaurant a Michelin Star on Houston's inaugural listing."

"This August, the restaurant continued the journey, but up north, opening a second location right here in Tribeca. Bringing its opulence with it, the resulting 10,000 square-foot, bi-level space is a sight to see, from a soaring dining room that mimics the breathtaking masterpiece of the Taj Mahal to the mirrored, semi-private dining named the Sheesh Mahal. And as of last month, the restaurant's underground bar is now ready to take you on another trip, this time exploring India via the glass."

"On September 10, the Musaafer team unveiled the basement-level bar Saaqi. The name, which translates to "one who serves wine," nods to the cupbearers of ancient Persia who once served wine to the royalty of the Mughal courts. Mirroring the opulence of the long-gone clientele, the 88-seat venture follows suit with grand portraits and paintings, 16th-century brickwork and low-slung chairs and couches wrapped in velvet. The showstopper of them all, however, goes to the all-glass, illuminated 40-foot bar that stretches the length of the room."

Musaafer opened a second location in Tribeca in a 10,000-square-foot bi-level space featuring a soaring dining room inspired by the Taj Mahal and a mirrored semi-private Sheesh Mahal. Executive chef Mayank Istwal developed menu items from a 100-day journey across India, including a 72-hour cooked Dal that helped secure a Michelin Star in Houston. The basement-level bar Saaqi opened on September 10, seating 88 and honoring Mughal and Persian cupbearer traditions. Saaqi features 16th-century brickwork, velvet seating, grand portraits, and a dramatic 40-foot illuminated all-glass bar. Beverage programs at both locations are led by Afzal Kaba, who creates regionally inspired cocktails.

Read at Time Out New York