I recently took my team to Skygarden Rooftop Bar in Bangalore for a party, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing.
Seating & Atmosphere: We were placed in one of the most undesirable areas of the floor, which felt like an afterthought rather than a planned setup for a group event.
Package vs. A La Carte Ordering: We had purchased a package for the team, but the staff repeatedly encouraged everyone to order additional items from the menu. This completely diminished the value of the package, making it feel like a mere formality rather than a genuine deal. Additionally, the package supposedly included two non-alcoholic drinks per person, but there was a catch—these were pre-determined options rather than selections from the menu. This critical detail was never communicated upfront, leading to confusion. Meanwhile, the servers kept pushing for non-alcoholic drinks as well from the menu, making it seem like those welcome drink tokens were just a gimmick rather than something guests could actually enjoy.
Billing Issues & Transparency: I noticed multiple discrepancies in the drink billing. First, I had asked for Amrut at the beginning, but the server informed me it was out of stock. However, when reviewing the bill, I saw charges for it. When I questioned this, the server casually responded that they had restocked it in the meantime but never informed me—something that felt quite suspicious and unprofessional. The second issue involved a round of Paul John whiskey. We initially ordered seven servings, but the bill reflected 14 servings—double the amount. I never placed a second order, and several team members also had no recollection of another round. At worst, the bill should have reflected 13 servings since, in the first round, I had personally recommended the drink to the team and took one myself—making it (6+1), meaning the second round should have had only six servings. However, the mysterious extra charge made the total 14, which felt highly questionable. The server attempted to justify the discrepancy with vague explanations, saying some were paired with wine or included in other rounds, but his reasoning didn’t add up. These kinds of billing irregularities often go unnoticed, especially during a social gathering, but since both instances directly involved my drinks, they were impossible to ignore. These questionable billing practices raise serious concerns about the restaurant’s transparency and integrity.
Service & Food Timing: The timing of food delivery was chaotic. Instead of enjoying the party, I found myself constantly managing the staff to ensure food was served properly. They delayed serving the main dishes until almost everyone was about to leave while overloading the tables with cheap appetizers. When I asked for a proper serving, I was told that the appetizer service time had ended—despite the fact that the main food hadn’t even been served properly. The food was below average and did not meet expectations. As for the DJ experience, it was non-existent. Despite multiple inquiries, the staff kept giving vague responses like "on the way" or "almost here," but the DJ never arrived. Instead, some generic music played on autopilot, adding little to the ambiance. To make matters worse, in the corner where we were seated, the music felt more like background noise rather than an enjoyable beat to set the mood. It lacked energy and engagement, further adding to the underwhelming experience.
Misleading Reviews: Most of the five-star ratings seem to come from "Local Guides," likely incentivized or paid to write positive reviews. A closer look at independent reviews shows mostly 1 or 2-star ratings, which, in hindsight, I should have paid more attention to before booking.
Final Verdict: This was not worth spending my only Friday in Bangalore. I am certain there are much better places in the city with far superior service and hospitality. If you're planning a group event, think twice before choosing Skygarden, as they lack the space and the service mindset to handle...
Read more► Overview Nestled just opposite the Garudarcharpalya metro station, Skygarden Bar & Kitchen offers a blend of vibrant atmosphere and gastronomic delight. This multi-floor venue, boasting spacious indoor and rooftop seating, is an ideal spot for social gatherings, casual dining, or a romantic date night. They also have buffet counters along with TV screens mounted at the top. With a lively DJ floor and panoramic views of the passing metro, it’s a hotspot for those seeking both a lively and relaxed dining experience.
► Drinks:
We kicked off our evening with the Magic in the Summer cocktail, priced at ₹599. This drink is a refreshing mix that certainly lives up to its name, perfect for the summer heat. For non-drinkers, the Skygarden Delight mocktail, priced at ₹399, is a standout. Served elegantly in a wine glass, this mocktail is a refreshing fusion of rosemary, watermelon, red apple balls, elderflower, apple, and cranberry juice. The presentation was impressive and the flavors harmonized beautifully, offering a light and invigorating sip.
► Appetizers:
Our meal began with a duo from the charcoal tandoor section. The Bhune Murge Ke Pasande featured marinated chicken with tandoori yellow masala, brown onions, and cashew nuts. This dish was well-seasoned and flavorful. The Bombay Mirchi Techa Prawns, though tantalizing with its mix of peanuts, chili, and hang curd spices, fell a bit short in portion size, serving only six pieces. Despite this, the prawns were well-prepared and complemented by a vibrant red and green chutney.
► Main Course:
For the main course, we opted for the Laccha Paratha and Onion Kulcha, both of which are available with or without butter. These Indian breads were soft and perfectly paired with the Martaban Ka Lahori Mutton. The mutton, tender and cooked with a blend of Lahori spices, onion, and tomato, was a highlight. It melded beautifully with the breads, offering a rich and satisfying taste.
We also sampled the Lucknow Murg Dum Ki Biriyani, a fragrant dish of long-grain basmati rice infused with spices and cooked to perfection. The portion was ample for one, and the raita served alongside provided a cooling contrast to the spiced biriyani.
► Dessert:
To conclude our meal, we indulged in the Coconut Pannacotta with caramel sauce. This dessert was a creamy, delightful finish to our dining experience, with a smooth texture and just the right amount of sweetness.
► Overall Experience:
Skygarden Bar & Kitchen delivers a fine dining experience with its vibrant ambiance and attentive service. The spacious seating and lively DJ floor make it an excellent choice for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings. Its location, right across from the Garudarcharpalya metro station, adds to its convenience. If you’re in the area, this spot is worth a visit for its great food, engaging atmosphere, and...
Read more*Don't waste you time and money even on discount or free Skygarden took part in the Zomato Carnival and Swiggy Dineout GIRF deals but I'm not sure why bcoz on 50% off if u were gonna serve sub standard food which lacked in taste, delayed n burnt, why wud u risk loosing future business, bad reviews and overall unsatisfied customers. This was our 3rd outing here and even during covid times, the food was so good so decided to celebrate my hubby's bday here.
Peri peri Calamari rings - was over cooked, rubbery and lacked peri peri flavour too
Sharing platter - 3 pcs of fish fingers were the saving grace, the chicken tikka was hariyali chicken tikka lacking in flavor, pepper chicken was rubbery, cold and gummy, butterfly prawns tolerable
Beer battered Onion Rings - The server forgot to get it but was added to the bill, I had to get it removed
Meat lover pizza - sides were burnt, edible but not tasty, pepperoni was dry and rubbery
Chowmein fried rice chkn - not bad. The 2nd edible dish
Kungpao chicken - we ordered for gravy, were served dry dish as the server didn't register the gravy amidst so much noise. There were peanuts thrown in but didn't taste like Kung pao. Chicken was rubbery, fried on high flame n coated in sauce but bcoz it was so crispy, it didn't get coated in the sauce well.
Dum Ghosht biryani - Eventually asked for it to be parcelled and all leftovers. The next day, I barely managed 4 spoons. It was salty and for sure prepared in the afternoon or prior for some buffet. It was salty n smelled stale
Mai Tai - It was not bad but the size of the glass, I'm pretty sure was smaller only for customers availing the offers.
Beer - It was flattttttttttt.... who serves flat Beer even on 50% discount 🤔
Seating - the 3rd level was specifically for customers availing zomato and dineout offers and that shud have rung a bell in my head and got away from this place. Hated the distinction. They have the terrace for other patrons.
Menu - Can't believe I'm gonna crib about a menu but it was difficult to open, look and make a decision. It was neither soft or hard bound books so the way it was stapled, it kept closing on you and you had literally hold it down on the table with both hands to get a view Also the menu printed there is different with the one on Google and dineout... were the prices changed? Well, I won't be surprised
Overall, it was a pathetic n sub standard experience. Waste of time, food, money and a...
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