Life & Style

As 2025 draws to a close and we enter 2026, it is significant to note that the housing and real estate sector has been one of the most standout and transformative sectors of the past year. From a burgeoning growth in the luxury housing segment and Tier 2 cities such as Lucknow and Indore displaying record growth to an increased focus on sustainable and innovative building materials, 2025 was definitely the year when the real estate sector showed unprecedented investment. The interior design space too witnessed the emergence of trends such as colour drenching, flexible layouts, as well as vintage and retro influences.

Microconcrete flooring and subtle copper accents set the tone for a workspace built on discipline, performance and understated elegance.
| Photo Credit:
Jubin Johnson

“Premiumisation is one of the strongest trends we have observed, but it is no longer about opulence for the sake of it,” says Ganesen Viswanathan, vice president of Bengaluru-based MagickHome India. “Homeowners are choosing premium where it adds real value. Think better finishes, smarter storage, superior hardware and cleaner detailing. Interiors are increasingly being planned around individual needs and routines rather than following a fixed or generic design template. The focus is on longevity and performance rather than visual drama alone. This reflects a maturing market where customers understand the difference between surface-level luxury and well-designed, high-performing homes that age gracefully.”

Here is a look at the trends in the real estate and home interior space in 2025.

Boom in premium homes

India’s luxury housing segment is experiencing a notable boom, with branded residences growing rapidly, outpacing the other luxury formats. “According to Knight Frank’s Residence Report, India ranks sixth globally in ongoing branded residential projects, contributing about 4% of the world’s supply. The number of branded residential developments is forecast to increase by nearly 60% by 2027, reflecting rising demand from affluent buyers seeking curated, experience-led homes that blend convenience with quality living,” says Mitu Mathur, director of New Delhi-based GPM Architects and Planners. “These residences also emphasise thoughtful design that embodies brand values and creates spaces fostering community and shared experiences. This shift marks a broader change in India’s urban housing market, where luxury is increasingly defined by experience, service, design, and a sense of belonging.”

Ananya Sharma and Aditya Tognatta of Custom Design Stories.

Bharat Bahl

Harkaran Singh Boparai

Purchases are being driven by high net-worth individual (HNWIs), ultra-HNWIs, and non-resident Indian (NRIs). “Even as some phases saw moderation in volumes, value growth remained strong, supported by demand for larger, lifestyle-enhancing homes. Mumbai also reflected robust market health with a 20% year-on-year rise in property registrations in November 2025,” adds Manan Shah, managing director, MICL Group, based in Mumbai.

Harshita Nookula

Khushboo Bhansal

Manav Dangg

Growth of community townships

There has been a growing preference for integrated townships, which mirrors a broader desire for certainty in Indian cities. “Buyers are increasingly choosing environments where infrastructure, mobility, green spaces, and daily conveniences are planned as a whole,” says Monika Choudhary, co-founder and chief development officer of Habitat Architects, based in New Delhi and Ludhiana. “Large township developments across Pune, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and Hyderabad underscore this shift. The home’s value is no longer contained within its walls; it is reinforced by the ecosystem around it. Community is essential infrastructure.”

Manish Gulati

Mitu Mathur

Such townships are an opportunity for architecture to operate at an urban scale. “We have introduced elements like large ‘urban windows’, shared courtyards, and intergenerational parks that allow residents to balance privacy with vibrant community life. The approach is all about designing spaces where a sense of belonging and resilience can flourish,” says Khushboo Bansal, principal architect of Sthapati, based in Lucknow and New Delhi.

Key focus: innovation

While traditional materials such as cement, steel, and bricks remained essential, there was a clear move towards low-carbon, high-efficiency systems like precast construction, AAC blocks, fly ash bricks, and green cement alternatives. India’s green building materials sector is projected to grow at over 10% compound annual growth rate, reflecting a market-wide transition rather than a niche preference. “Sustainable construction has moved into the mainstream in 2025. Low-carbon cement alternatives, carbon-reduced concrete, and recycled materials are being adopted at scale to meet cost and environmental objectives,” says S.B. Sarveshaa, chairman and MD of Bengaluru-based Bhadra Group. Industrialised building systems are also gaining momentum, improving speed, precision, and quality control. “Prefabricated and modular components accelerated construction, reduced waste, and improved precision. Enhanced materials for waterproofing, insulation, and energy efficiency became mainstream, reflecting the growing demand for durable, comfortable, and green buildings,” says C. Rakesh Reddy, director of Hyderabad-based Aparna Constructions.

Monika Choudhary

Ganesen Vishwanathan

“This includes the use of heavy thermal curtains, strategic placement of reflective surfaces to bounce natural light deeper into rooms, and zoned ventilation,” adds Mueen Haris, founder of DS2 Architecture, a multi-disciplinary practice based in Bengaluru, Kochi and Mangaluru. “A major trend is the return of natural stone and terracotta floors for their ‘thermal mass’ properties, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night to stabilise indoor temperatures.”

Trending construction materials

Material choices in 2025 were driven by performance and not novelty. “Natural stone, due to its inherent beauty, durability and versatility, has remained a go-to material. From statement marble countertops to understated limestone flooring, this versatile material works across styles, blending seamlessly into both traditional and modern homes. It is also an ideal choice for outdoor spaces, including pool decks, patios, terraces, and balconies,” says Harkaran Singh Boparai, founder and principal architect of Harkaran Boparai Studio (HBS), located in New Delhi. “While access to international styles and materials has expanded, it is essential to design in a way that responds to place through materiality, craft, and narrative, without becoming pastiche. The use of stone helps in balancing these layers while still creating something emotionally compelling and functionally seamless.”

Mueen Haris

Smita Vijaykumar

Digital shift

Real estate, by definition, is always racing against the clock — with deadlines, approvals, handovers, and more. This year saw technology and AI begin to meaningfully compress those timelines. “The more transformative change is inside the delivery pipeline. From feasibility to floor area ratio (FAR) modelling, test-fits, and massing options, to coordinated building information modelling (BIM), automated checks, clash detection, documentation, and finally the last-mile detailing that used to consume weeks of human bandwidth, AI is accelerating the entire arc,” says Manish Gulati, principal architect and founder of MOFA Studio.

Policy support

GST rationalisation in 2025 addressed long-standing concerns around the inverted tax structure in real estate, where input taxes were higher than output taxes. “Rates on essential materials such as cement were rationalised from 28% to 18%, while tiles, bricks, and several construction inputs were aligned to a 5% slab, thus simplifying the tax structure,” shares Reddy. “This correction improved input tax credit efficiency, reduced working-capital blockages, and enhanced cash-flow predictability for developers.”

S.B. Sarveshaa

Equally important is the alignment of GST rates for government and private contracts. “Simplified registrations, faster refunds and clearer rate structures also reduce working capital stress and planning ambiguities,” says Bharat Bahl, joint managing director of New-Delhi based Krishna Build Estate Pvt. Ltd.

Poonam Mehta

Home interiors

Speaking of home décor and interior design, 2025 has been a year of experimentation and bold choices. “Homeowners have become far more open to exploring new ideas; they are more intentional and deeply personal about what they want in their homes. At the same time, they have been open to understanding what design can offer beyond the obvious,” says Disha Subramanium, founder and principal designer of New Delhi-based Design by Disha Subramanium. Here’s what ruled in 2025.

Soft light, handcrafted details, and lived-in textures create a space that feels deeply personal.

Colour drenching

The year definitely brought in the use of bold colours and colour-drenched spaces. “2025 embraced emotion-driven colour stories, where entire rooms were drenched in one dominant hue, including walls, furniture, ceilings, and décor. From deep plums and forest greens to burnt oranges and midnight blues, saturated palettes were used to evoke mood and identity,” says Harshita Nookula, lead-visual merchandising of Bengaluru-based Livspace India. “This trend worked especially well in bedrooms, lounges, and powder rooms, turning spaces into immersive, sensorial experiences rather than neutral backdrops.”

Pratyusha Kethinedi

The focus on muted, dusty shades akin to colourful extensions of neutrals was also popular. “Sage green, soft grey, and light coral colours that evoke a sense of calm were favourites. Sage green, in particular, has emerged as a go-to for cabinetry and walls, providing a soothing link to the outdoors without overwhelming the senses,” says Smita Vijaykumar, founder of ReNNovate Interiors, Mumbai.

C. Rakesh Reddy

Dark wood finishes

The year saw an increasing number of homeowners gravitating towards wooden floors. “Walnut, mahogany, and dark oak are being used to add warmth, depth, and a sense of quiet luxury to interiors. What stands out this year is the mixing of multiple wood tones within the same space, combining light and dark finishes to create visual balance and character. Wood is no longer limited to one element; it appears across cabinetry, wall panelling, flooring, ceilings, and custom furniture, giving spaces a cohesive yet layered look,” says Manav Dangg, founder and principal designer at Studiio Dangg, New Delhi.

A dining space where heritage narratives, natural materials, and contemporary restraint meet.

Soft curves

Hard lines softened in 2025 as curves dominated furniture, architecture, and décor. “Arched doorways, rounded sofas, sculptural coffee tables, and fluid silhouettes took over the interior world. These forms add a sense of calm, movement, and approachability while still feeling refined,” states Nookula. According to Dangg, more homeowners were open to having unique furniture shapes in their houses, creating a space filled with fluidity, comfort, and spatial harmony.

Vintage-inspired details and layered textures come together to create a bedroom that feels calm, timeless, and quietly elegant.

Tactile textures

The year saw the ample use of handcrafted ceramics, carved wood, woven textiles and lime-plastered walls. “Our interest in micro concrete and limewash comes less from their popularity and more from their discipline. It is robust, economical, and quietly expressive,” says Aditya Tognatta, co-founder of Custom Design Stories in Gurugram. Stone has been featured as a focal point. “Whether it is statement island countertops, floor-to-ceiling fireplace walls, or richly veined coffee tables, stones bring a dramatic and luxurious feel to the interiors. This is because the variations in veining and tone make each application feel unique,” adds Subramanium.

Muted tones, bold mood in the bedroom.

Groovy retro

Retro patterns such as geometrics, psychedelic prints, and classic motifs like paisley and florals made a comeback. “Woven rugs, embroidered fabrics, and vintage quilts are being used to add texture, while reclaimed wood, distressed finishes, and classic designs add character to modern spaces, says Poonam Mehta, co-founder of Pune-based Poonam Akash (formerly known as AMPM Designs). “Further, vintage lighting like mid-century modern chandeliers and antique lanterns were popular statement piece ideas.”

A warm minimalistic space with unusual curved lighting and a textured sofa.

Minimal–maximalism

Maximalism with intention was another key trend of 2025. “There was a conscious move away from greys and beige towards layered, expressive spaces that are curated and not overwhelming,” says Pratyusha Kethinedi, principal designer and founder of Bengaluru-based House of Katha.

Curved seating with vibrant orange color, perfectly blending in the space giving a more illuminating look.
| Photo Credit:
Avesh Gaur

Functional and flexible spaces

With remote work and evolving lifestyles, flexible and multifunctional spaces were essential in 2025.

“There is a clear demand for integrated study units, flexible storage, reading corners and layouts that can adapt as children grow. Safety and comfort also play a larger role, with preferences for softer finishes, rounded edges and practical materials that are easy to maintain,” says Viswanathan.“At the same time, these spaces are being designed to blend seamlessly with the overall aesthetic of the home rather than feeling separate or overly themed. This reflects a more mindful approach to family living, where children’s needs are addressed without compromising on design quality or longevity.”

The Bengaluru-based freelance writer is passionate about all things design, travel, food, art and culture.

On the third day of chillai kalaan (a period of extreme cold weather that starts on December 21 and lasts 40 days), while everything outside lay buried under a heavy blanket of snow, we all sat in Phuphee’s kitchen trying to hold on to the warmth emanating from the daan (a mud oven). It was my first winter in Kashmir after having spent many years in England.

We were sitting in Phuphee’s kitchen talking amongst ourselves about nothing and everything. Though the topics were harmless enough, one could feel a mild irritation in everyone’s tone, which often presents itself in the late afternoon coinciding with a drop in everyone’s blood sugar.

During chillai kalaan, Phuphee never let the fire in the daan go out. She often woke up in the middle of the night to feed wood and kindling into its hungry mouth. Detecting the rise of temperatures in the kitchen, Phuphee got up, rustled up some potatoes and started roasting them in the kangri (a portable heater made of an earthenware pot inside a wicker basket).

She made a hollow in the middle of the kangri, placed the potatoes inside, covered them with the burning embers and ash, and left them to roast until they were done. She then pulled them out with her bare hands, broke them into two, salted them a little and handed them to us. Once everyone was satiated, they all dispersed for prayers. I was still sitting by the daan raking the embers. She came and sat next to me.

‘Kya daleel myoan gaash? Tche kyazi loatiy? [What’s the matter, light of my eyes? Why do you seem low?],’ she said, gently rubbing my head.

Since I had arrived from England in the late summer and started at the new school, I had found the adjustment challenging. Everything was different. It felt loud and harsh, especially school. I missed my school in England, but most of all I missed my friends.

One day I had a very difficult conversation with a teacher, who couldn’t comprehend why I hadn’t caught up with the new curriculum. She decided the best way to get me to learn faster was to tell me in front of the whole class that I would amount to nothing. I wept bitterly and asked to be excused. I ran out of class, and when I finally came to a stop I found myself in front of the chapel.

The school was a missionary school run by nuns. The chapel was for their use, but the students were allowed to use it, too. I went in and it was very quiet. I walked to the front where there was a pulpit on one side and a statue of Mary on the other. In the middle there was Jesus, on the cross.

I was not a Christian, but I felt reverence and a strange feeling of peace descended over me. It was the first time since starting school that I had felt this calm, and not wanting to let go of this feeling, I sat down on one of the benches at the side. After some time another girl came in. I watched her intently as she walked to the front, dipped her fingers into a bowl and sprinkled water on her head and then sat down.

The next day during break time, I went back. I walked in, sat on the side and after a little while I left. It was a moment of calm in a day that felt overwhelming. Those few minutes in the chapel every day helped me cope.

One day I casually mentioned it to my cousins who went to the boys missionary school. They were shocked. How could I do something so grave? They proceeded to tell me how it was a terrible sin and that on the day of judgement I would be boiled and roasted like a potato in the deep fires of hell. Though I didn’t pay attention to everything they said, I started wondering whether there was any truth in it. I was 15 at the time and though I had never been a deeply religious person, I certainly didn’t want to be turned into fries.

Phuphee sat there listening patiently. She said it was an important question and she would speak to her best friend, Maetonji (a nun who was the matron of a local maternity hospital). I felt relieved that she had not laughed it off. The next day, Phuphee asked me to come to her room. She was roasting potatoes again in the kangri.

She said she had spoken to Maetonji earlier that day and they had both come to the conclusion that I would not be roasted or grilled, and would be safe from god’s wrath. She explained that though sometimes people got a bit confused between gods, in this particular case, there was some overlap in beliefs and that should be enough to see me through.

I was relieved but a small thought niggled away at me. Was it an act of betrayal to find peace with someone else’s god?

‘Myoan jaan [my life], what you have to remember is that sometimes God sends us our answers through channels we least expect from. You know Maetonji is a Christian and a nun. I am a Muslim and clearly not a nun. We are close friends. We are similar in many ways but different, too. There is only one universal fact that you must remember: that we are all potatoes, some boiled, some roasted. Differently cooked but still potatoes,’ she said, a little smile playing on her lips as she got up to get ready for her prayers.

At the door she stopped again and said, ‘A hungry person needs food and a troubled person needs peace. Do you think god, any god for that matter, would be offended by what nourishes the soul of his follower?’

With those words, she washed away any unease that still lingered in my heart and, for the first time since being there, I devoured the potatoes she had left on my plate, to my stomach’s and heart’s content.

Saba Mahjoor, a Kashmiri living in England, spends her scant free time contemplating life’s vagaries.

Published – December 26, 2025 12:01 pm IST

People wearing Santa Claus’s outfit take a selfie in a snow-covered valley on the eve of the Christmas festival, in Gulmarg, Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Christmas cheer sets in early at Cafe Diem in Coonoor, a cafe where a winding pathway past a garden bursting with colourful blooms opens into stunning views. Here, festive decorations emerge gradually. The Christmas village display comes up, table mats turn red and green, and panels wish visitors a Merry Christmas.

“The idea is to let the spirit build slowly,” says Radhika Shastry, who moved to the hills and started the cafe. “In the Nilgiris, Christmas has its own rhythm. Warm and celebratory. The hills come alive as people arrive from across the country. Many have second homes here. There are gatherings almost every evening, yet the mood remains calm, never chaotic.”

Classic margherita
| Photo Credit:
K Jeshi

On a sunny day, I sample dishes from a seven-course festive menu that will go live from Christmas. After a hearty, creamy pumpkin soup, flavoured with coconut milk and crushed pepper corns, I bite into the tangy goodness of sourdough pizza, the classic margherita, and enjoy the gooey, cheesy goodness. The cuisine is largely Mediterranean, European, and with Italian influences. “It was a conscious decision. People eat with all their senses. Conflicting aromas confuse the palate. Consistency allows flavours to shine,” explains Radhika.

Chimichurri mushrooms
| Photo Credit:
K Jeshi

Everything is made in-house. Sauces, pizza bases, sun-dried tomatoes, dips, nothing from bottles or packets. Even fries are freshly cut. The result is food that tastes clean, light, and unmistakably fresh. This year’s menu includes smoked feta with beetroot, warm salads for chilly evenings, savoury éclairs filled with feta and herbs, falafel made with moringa leaves, artichoke pizzas, saffron gnocchi, mushroom risotto, and gluten-free desserts made with millets.

The blueberry ravioli packs a pleasant surprise. The crunchy and soft pockets enclosing sweet blueberry interiors is a play on textures and flavours. The mezze platter arrives with a variety of dips from roasted red peppers, artichoke, hummus, labneh, and more, and is served with pita pockets. “Avocados, artichokes, passion fruit, ingredients that are expensive elsewhere are abundant here. Salads, once unpopular with Indian diners, are now among the most-ordered dishes. People want authenticity, not heavy spices masking flavours,” says Radhika, who starts planning the Christmas menu as early as October. “Food trials are an event in themselves. Small groups are invited to taste, critique, and grade dishes. Anything that scores below eight is reworked or removed entirely. Only the best make it to the final menu.” Some favourites like the pumpkin soup, lemon tart, savoury tarts, and pomegranate cheesecake stay on the menu.

Mezze platter has a variety of dips made from roasted red peppers, artichoke, hummus, labneh, and more.
| Photo Credit:
K Jeshi

Over plates of chimichurri mushrooms that are zesty and earthy, Radhika recalls her recent high-altitude trek to the Everest Base Camp at 17,598 feet above sea level. “The year before, a visit to Bhutan included the Tiger’s Nest monastery hike, an experience that, at the time, felt like the pinnacle. But one adventure often leads to another.” Christmas, she says, is celebrated with intention.

“Reservations are mandatory. There’s no rush, no crowding. Guests take their time, enjoying six- and seven-course meals,” she explains.

Mezze platter is served with pita pockets
| Photo Credit:
K Jeshi

As I wrap up with the Paris-Brest, the classic French pastry featuring a crisp, almond-studded baked ring liberally filled with praline crème, mist begins to settle over the hills, a beautiful sight indeed to round off my meal in the hills.

Paris-Brest, the classic French pastry
| Photo Credit:
K Jeshi

Christmas menu is available from December 25. Priced at ₹1700 plus taxes per adult. For details, call 9663849639/9845001111

Published – December 25, 2025 11:35 pm IST

Bizou Cafe, Saibaba Colony

A decorated red tin box arrives with plum cake, assorted cookies, and festive cheer. The plum cake coated with a thin layer of flat icing holds the assorted toppings of dry fruits in place lending the cake a festive finish. The plum cake is light, balanced, and I can taste the cake and the rum-soaked fruits (used in moderation) together, without it feeling heavy.

Alongside the plum cake is a curated assortment of artisanal cookies, each handmade after several weeks of trials. The result is nearly 15 varieties including chocolate crinkle cookies, matcha and white chocolate, red velvet and white chocolate, orange-cranberry cookies, snicker doodles coated in cinnamon sugar, sesame cookies, and festive shapes like Santa boots. Each tin offers a mix of two to three pieces of each flavour.

Artisanal cookies
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“There are no shortcuts, no artificial flavours, essence or preservatives” says Kirthana Sendhilkumar, founder of Bizou Cafe & Grill located at Alagesan Road, Saibaba Colony. For a cafe celebrating its very first Christmas, the preparations for the debut plum cake began in November the old-fashioned way with soaking of fruits, handmade cookies, and Christmas music playing in the background. “Dry fruits were soaked in rum nearly a month in advance, allowing flavours to mature naturally. We even did a soaking ceremony with the entire staff and posted videos on our Instagram page, marking the start of our first festive season.” 

Festive boxes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Kirtana’s own Christmas memories were shaped in pastry kitchens abroad, where December meant long hours, Christmas songs on loop, and trays of cookies moving in and out of ovens. “That’s what Christmas feels like to me, music playing all day and baking without stopping.” This year, for the first time, she brought that memory home with the café decked up in red and green, windows painted with festive drawings, and Christmas décor filling every corner. “It’s my first time decorating a café for Christmas,” she says. “That itself has become a memory.” Her focus is on keeping the traditions alive. “It’s our first Christmas,” she says, adding “We just wanted to get it right.”

Decorations at Bizou Cafe
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The rich plum cake is priced at ₹699 plus taxes for 500 gms and ₹1299 plus taxes for one kg. The festive cookies box comes at ₹499 plus taxes. Individual flavour bags (red velvet, matcha grinch, orange & cranberry, X-mas sugar, candy cane, chocolate crinkle, snickerdoodles, sesame) cost ₹299 plus taxes. Bizou is hosting a year-end market on December 28 from 11am to 7pm. To book a stall and to pre-order cakes and cookies, call 8925905037.

Cafe Diem, Coonoor

At this quaint cafe in Coonoor that opens into stunning views of the valley and tea gardens, every loaf tells a story. The plum cakes are handcrafted with the finest ingredients to ring in a rich, flavourful Christmas. “Cake mixing is an annual ritual. Fruits soaked in rum and wine are carried forward year after year, deepening in flavour. This time, even the district collector, Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru IAS joined the tradition,” says Radhika Shastry, who quit her corporate career and moved to the hills.

Handcrafted cakes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The plum cake is beautifully moist, the kind that gets better with time, and packed with apricots, cranberries, blackberries, pistachios, dates, almonds, spices, candied ginger, and citrus rinds — all soaked in rum for an entire year. While it is slightly spiced, the flavour is deep, just what one would expect from a classic plum cake. The quality of ingredients shines through with no overpowering artificial essence, and the sweetness is just right. Says Radhika, “The outcome is a cake that has the best ingredients and the love of the people of Nilgiris who participated in the annual cake mixing ceremony. They enjoy the experience of mixing dry fruits, and spices like cinnamon nutmeg, and lots of rum.”

Classic plum cake
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Available in half and one kg packs. Priced at ₹630 and ₹1050 including taxes. Courier charges will be additional depending on location to be sent to and weight of the cake. Call 9845001111/ 9663849639.

Treat Factory, Ramanathapuram

CB Sowmya, a home baker who sells from a cloud kitchen called Treat Factory, came up with her plum cake recipe after a lot of trial and error. “I wanted to offer plum cakes baked in the traditional, European way,” says Sowmya, whose kitchen is based in Sreepathy Nagar in Ramanathapuram in the city. She soaked 15 kinds of nuts and dry fruits in rum after Christmas last year to be used to bake plum cakes this year.

 Plum cakes baked in the traditional, European way
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“I also offer a non-alcoholic version in which once the order is placed, I soak the nuts and dry fruits in orange juice,” she says. Sowmya’s version also consists of orange zest, lending it a slight tang along with the denseness of the spices. Another variation she incorporates is using jaggery instead of treacle that is made of sugar. The molasses derived from jaggery is a deep gold and nutty, adding more flavour to the cake.

A 250gm plum cake is priced at ₹500. To order, visit them on Instagram @the_treat_factory, treatfactory.in

Akila Kannadasan

Chocko Choza, Race Course

While a lot has changed at Chocko Choza since its inception in 1998, the founders like to keep certain things true to traditioned. This includes their Royal plum cakes for which nuts and dry fruits left to mature for a year. The cakes are baked at low temperatures to let them soak in the flavours of the spices and nuts. A highlight is that they avoid tutti frutti, hydrogenated fats, and artificial colours or flavours.

Royal plum cakes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Also part of their Christmas offerings is the stolen load, a traditional bread that has dry fruits, nuts, and spices. Then there is plum pudding, a classic treat; the Yule long rolled with chocolate cream; the Christmas plum gelato; and of course, ginger bread man cookies.

The plum cake is priced at ₹945 for half-a-kilogram. Located at 10, West Club Road, Race Course, Gopalapuram. Call 8220400100.

Akila Kannadasan

Published – December 25, 2025 07:47 pm IST

Bizou Cafe, Saibaba Colony

A decorated red tin box arrives with plum cake, assorted cookies, and festive cheer. The plum cake coated with a thin layer of flat icing holds the assorted toppings of dry fruits in place lending the cake a festive finish. The plum cake is light, balanced, and I can taste the cake and the rum-soaked fruits (used in moderation) together, without it feeling heavy.

Alongside the plum cake is a curated assortment of artisanal cookies, each handmade after several weeks of trials. The result is nearly 15 varieties including chocolate crinkle cookies, matcha and white chocolate, red velvet and white chocolate, orange-cranberry cookies, snicker doodles coated in cinnamon sugar, sesame cookies, and festive shapes like Santa boots. Each tin offers a mix of two to three pieces of each flavour.

Artisanal cookies
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“There are no shortcuts, no artificial flavours, essence or preservatives” says Kirthana Sendhilkumar, founder of Bizou Cafe & Grill located at Alagesan Road, Saibaba Colony. For a cafe celebrating its very first Christmas, the preparations for the debut plum cake began in November the old-fashioned way with soaking of fruits, handmade cookies, and Christmas music playing in the background. “Dry fruits were soaked in rum nearly a month in advance, allowing flavours to mature naturally. We even did a soaking ceremony with the entire staff and posted videos on our Instagram page, marking the start of our first festive season.” 

Festive boxes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Kirtana’s own Christmas memories were shaped in pastry kitchens abroad, where December meant long hours, Christmas songs on loop, and trays of cookies moving in and out of ovens. “That’s what Christmas feels like to me, music playing all day and baking without stopping.” This year, for the first time, she brought that memory home with the café decked up in red and green, windows painted with festive drawings, and Christmas décor filling every corner. “It’s my first time decorating a café for Christmas,” she says. “That itself has become a memory.” Her focus is on keeping the traditions alive. “It’s our first Christmas,” she says, adding “We just wanted to get it right.”

Decorations at Bizou Cafe
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The rich plum cake is priced at ₹699 plus taxes for 500 gms and ₹1299 plus taxes for one kg. The festive cookies box comes at ₹499 plus taxes. Individual flavour bags (red velvet, matcha grinch, orange & cranberry, X-mas sugar, candy cane, chocolate crinkle, snickerdoodles, sesame) cost ₹299 plus taxes. Bizou is hosting a year-end market on December 28 from 11am to 7pm. To book a stall and to pre-order cakes and cookies, call 8925905037.

Cafe Diem, Coonoor

At this quaint cafe in Coonoor that opens into stunning views of the valley and tea gardens, every loaf tells a story. The plum cakes are handcrafted with the finest ingredients to ring in a rich, flavourful Christmas. “Cake mixing is an annual ritual. Fruits soaked in rum and wine are carried forward year after year, deepening in flavour. This time, even the district collector, Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru IAS joined the tradition,” says Radhika Shastry, who quit her corporate career and moved to the hills.

Handcrafted cakes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The plum cake is beautifully moist, the kind that gets better with time, and packed with apricots, cranberries, blackberries, pistachios, dates, almonds, spices, candied ginger, and citrus rinds — all soaked in rum for an entire year. While it is slightly spiced, the flavour is deep, just what one would expect from a classic plum cake. The quality of ingredients shines through with no overpowering artificial essence, and the sweetness is just right. Says Radhika, “The outcome is a cake that has the best ingredients and the love of the people of Nilgiris who participated in the annual cake mixing ceremony. They enjoy the experience of mixing dry fruits, and spices like cinnamon nutmeg, and lots of rum.”

Classic plum cake
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Available in half and one kg packs. Priced at ₹630 and ₹1050 including taxes. Courier charges will be additional depending on location to be sent to and weight of the cake. Call 9845001111/ 9663849639.

Treat Factory, Ramanathapuram

CB Sowmya, a home baker who sells from a cloud kitchen called Treat Factory, came up with her plum cake recipe after a lot of trial and error. “I wanted to offer plum cakes baked in the traditional, European way,” says Sowmya, whose kitchen is based in Sreepathy Nagar in Ramanathapuram in the city. She soaked 15 kinds of nuts and dry fruits in rum after Christmas last year to be used to bake plum cakes this year.

 Plum cakes baked in the traditional, European way
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“I also offer a non-alcoholic version in which once the order is placed, I soak the nuts and dry fruits in orange juice,” she says. Sowmya’s version also consists of orange zest, lending it a slight tang along with the denseness of the spices. Another variation she incorporates is using jaggery instead of treacle that is made of sugar. The molasses derived from jaggery is a deep gold and nutty, adding more flavour to the cake.

A 250gm plum cake is priced at ₹500. To order, visit them on Instagram @the_treat_factory, treatfactory.in

Akila Kannadasan

Chocko Choza, Race Course

While a lot has changed at Chocko Choza since its inception in 1998, the founders like to keep certain things true to traditioned. This includes their Royal plum cakes for which nuts and dry fruits left to mature for a year. The cakes are baked at low temperatures to let them soak in the flavours of the spices and nuts. A highlight is that they avoid tutti frutti, hydrogenated fats, and artificial colours or flavours.

Royal plum cakes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Also part of their Christmas offerings is the stolen load, a traditional bread that has dry fruits, nuts, and spices. Then there is plum pudding, a classic treat; the Yule long rolled with chocolate cream; the Christmas plum gelato; and of course, ginger bread man cookies.

The plum cake is priced at ₹945 for half-a-kilogram. Located at 10, West Club Road, Race Course, Gopalapuram. Call 8220400100.

Akila Kannadasan

Published – December 25, 2025 07:47 pm IST

Anamika Khanna with Ishaan Khattar
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The stars of Puliakulam

At Preethi’s Unique Fancy House in Coimbatore
| Photo Credit:
PERIASAMY M

S Vincy is seated within a tiny galaxy of stars in Puliakulam. Her roadside shop at a street corner, some distance from St Antony’s church, is lit up by Christmas stars and lights. “There are stars in paper and plastic, as well as those studded with LED lights. Choose your pick,” she says, emerging from her position on a plastic chair in the middle of Christmas paraphernalia. Vincy sells fairy lights, streamers, Christmas trees, cribs, and Nativity set figurines her husband Antony Raj sources from wholesale shops in Ernakulam.

Season’s greetings from Coimbatore’s Puliakulam
| Photo Credit:
PERIASAMY M

Vincy sets up the makeshift shop towards the end of November, but business picks up a week before Christmas. “This year, plastic stars are in trend,” she says, pointing to yellow and blue stars with a row of LED lights framing them. “These are among our new arrivals.”

She sells Nativity set figurines in clay and resin, ranging from five to 12 inches in height. “They consist of 12 pieces, including Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, sheep, and the three kings,” she says. Vincy’s home, located in a by-lane behind the shop, has been done up with lights, stars and a Christmas tree. “My husband, a catechist at St Antony’s church, makes it a point to do this every year,” smiles Vincy. “He chooses the kind of décor and lighting with care.”

Christmas cribs at a shop in Puliakulam
| Photo Credit:
PERIASAMY M

Vincy was born and raised in Puliakulam and says that during her younger years, her family couldn’t afford much in terms of Christmas décor. “My mother would hang a small star in front of our home and nothing more,” she says. When customers trickle down and Vincy is alone in her stall with nothing but her stars for company, she thinks about how her life has changed for the better. “I’m fortunate to be surrounded by stars every Christmas season,” she grins.

Across the road from her stall is Preethi’s Unique Fancy House that boasts cheerful inflatable Santas at the entrance. M Preethi, who owns the store that sells everything from stationery, cosmetics, and toys through the year, explains how she stocks up on Christmas décor in November and December.

On December 1, her store dons a new look: that of stars, Santas and lights. Her shelves are packed with Nativity figurines and colourful baubles. “For three weeks, I focus on all things Christmas,” she says, adding that she sources her ware from Bengaluru. Her shop’s highlight this year are collapsable trees that come affixed with springs. “They open up once pulled and can be easily stored at home after the festive season,” says Preethi. These are available in four ft to eight ft-tall options. “We have churches approaching us for the eight ft-tall trees,” she explains.

Decked up for Christmas in Puliakulam
| Photo Credit:
PERIASAMY M

Her shop also has cane cribs made by an artisan in Pollachi. “While cribs are available in materials such as plastic and cardboard, there’s something special about cane,” she says. “They look like the actual stable Jesus was said to be born in.”

Butter beer on the Christmas menu

The hum of Christmas songs fills the air at Chocko Choza as we step in for a festive meal one afternoon. The resto-café wears a minimalist festive look with miniature reindeer and Santas strung here and there. This year, the newly-launched space in Race Course offers a compact festive menu with drinks and meals inspired by movies and sitcoms. Think Harry Potter, Friends, and The Polar Express.

Butter beer at Chocko Choza
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Many a Potterhead has fantasised about the butter beer that Harry, Ron, and Hermione have at Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade village. In the books, the drink is described as warm and creamy with a foamy top, perfect for a cold day. Based on popular opinion, butter beer is a fizzy cream soda that tastes of butterscotch and caramel, and is non-alcoholic since students drink a lot of it.

Gingerbread cookies at Chocko Choza
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Chocko Choza serves butter beer with a twirl of whipped cream on top and the drink consists of caramel and soda, and is served mildly cold. It warms our insides, preparing us for the onslaught of flavours of the dish that is next in line: the Moist Maker sandwich from Friends. The sandwich is Ross’ favourite and consists of an extra slice of gravy-soaked bread in the middle. In the sitcom, it is made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Chocko Choza’s version is quite an elaborate assembly of bread, gravy, a drizzle of jam, chicken slices, onions, lettuce and baby potatoes.

It takes some time to demolish it, and we order a plate of Dragon Balls, also inspired by Harry Potter, to go with it. While there is no dish of the name in the books, this dish takes its name from the fiery sauce on which the crunchy, golden balls arrive. They are made of potatoes, broccoli and molten cheese in the centre: crispy on the outside with a gooey inside.

The Christmas menu also boasts Polar Express Hot Chocolate, served with whipped cream and Kevin’s ice cream sundae. The dessert from Home Alone 2 has a whooping 16 scoops of ice cream with toppings. Do we order it? No, not all of us are Kevin.

Keeping traditions alive

By the first week of December, the aroma of freshly-baked plum cake wafts through the air at Kovai KRS Bakery in RS Puram, as one of the oldest bakeries in the city gets ready for Christmas. But the work begins six months earlier, when dry fruits are soaked in home-made wine and set aside to mature slowly. “That’s how plum cakes are meant to be made,” says KS Naresh, the fourth generation owner and grandson of Rangaswamy, founder of KRS Bakery. “We have customers who came here as children,” adds Naresh, who has been part of the business since his school days. “Now they come to order cakes for their children. Some even come back for wedding anniversaries.”

Subhashree Naresh
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Their cake exhibition, an annual ritual, showcases elaborate designs. More than 1000 cake designs in as many as 50 flavours are a highlight at the ongoing one. “In the 1990s, theme cakes were rare. Only a few bakeries attempted shapes, and we were one of the pioneers,” says Naresh. From jungle themes and sports-inspired cakes to handbags, chandeliers and sculpted showpieces, the bakery now handles over 1,000 custom designs. One of their cakes, a 12-foot chandelier cake, made for a wedding, weighed close to 120 kilograms.

Today, the bakery offers more than 50 cake flavours, many fruit-based, using pineapple, strawberry, apple, banana, walnuts and other fresh ingredients. Subhashree Naresh, managing partner, who specialises in cake sculpting says this year, they made cakes themed on actor Ajith and the women’s cricket team. “It was for paying a tribute to the team. They have made us proud,” says Subhashree as a chocolaty Gucci bag catches my attention.

“We take challenging orders. Though the bag cake will look better when made with traditional butter cream, our customers prefer whipped cream, and fresh cream and thin layers. We deliver complex designs within three hours.” Recently, the bakery has begun experimenting with reducing maida, increasing cashew sponge ratios, introducing almond flour, millet-based elements, and sugarless custom cakes.

A themed cake at KRS Bakery
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Naresh also recalls a stand out moment, where the bakery made birthday cakes for former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, the late J Jayalalithaa, crafting cakes that matched her age. “We made 60 kilograms of cake for her 60th birthday, delivered across multiple locations on the same day. One year, when she won the Cauvery water dispute case, a Cauvery-themed cake became a highlight.”

Christmas, however, remains rooted in tradition. “Christmas is cake season,” he says. “Everyone buys plum cake now.” The bakery makes two main varieties, plum and rich plum, soaked in dry fruits, and continuously replenished through the year to ensure consistency. 

The rich plum cake is dense, moist, and aromatic with as many as 12 varieties of dry fruits including dates, figs, cherries, raisins, candied orange rind and ginger rind. What sets this bakery apart, however, is a tradition few still follow. They make plum cake with almond icing, or marzipan. Made exclusively for Christmas, this old-style cake is topped with a sugar-coated almond layer.

Ingredients like fresh cream, premium chocolate, refined flour, and vegetable oil are chosen carefully. “We don’t use anything that will affect people’s health,” he says. “That’s important to us.”

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the city, there was a pause. The airport rush has thinned and Chennai slips back into its chaotic rhythm. Christmas here does not arrive with snow-laden streets or orchestral excess; it unfolds through glowing windows, busy kitchens, and bakeries running low on plum cake. By evening, stretches like Santhome High Road and Cathedral Road are filled with churchgoers, traffic slowing to a crawl as bells mark the hours and crowds spill onto pavements. Fairy lights flicker across neighbourhoods, cafés linger over seasonal menus, and homes prepare for long lunches. Evenings stretch outdoors, with just enough of a chill to justify the thickest cardigan you own. The sea breeze carries through it all, grounding the day in a sense of familiarity. It is a celebration shaped by traditions and rituals, by food shared and time slowed. For those who stayed back, for those who never left, the city is very much in the mood to celebrate. Here are 12 things to do today and over this joyous weekend that will make your days jolly.

People dressed as Santa Claus gather during an event held ahead of Christmas celebrations at Mint in Chennai on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Attend a mass at Santhome Cathedral: Christmas in Chennai truly announces itself at Santhome. On Christmas Day, the cathedral hosts holy masses and the pews fill with families, regulars, and once-a-year churchgoers alike. Built over the tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, it remains one of the city’s most recognisable places to mark the day. This year, as always, the church also features one of the city’s tallest Christmas trees, standing at 30 feet, that is lit up after dark, making an evening visit a particularly festive way to experience the space.

Christians offering special prayer in the eve of Christmas Celebrations at St Thomas basilica in Santhome on Friday Photo
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B

Go Christmas tree hopping: Beyond churches, Christmas trees across Chennai take on many forms. Hotels and malls across the city put up their own interpretations each year, often tying them to craft or sustainability. At ITC Grand Chola, the tree brings to life an indigenous art form from the Nilgiris, while Hyatt Regency has a 20-foot tree made of fabric dolls woven by artisans from the same region. Le Royal Méridien has taken a different route, constructing its tree using 854 kilograms of repurposed hotel linen. These are just a few — how many others can you spot across the city?

Christmas tree at ITC Grand Chola
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Festive snacking: Christmas brings with it plum cakes, panettone, stollen and a season-long excuse to snack. Pick up goods from speciality bakeries such as Pumpkin Tales, Amethyst, Brod Bakery, Ajantha Bakers or Glen’s Bakehouse, and take it outdoors to a park or the beach while the weather is still outdoor friendly. For something warm to sip, cafés across the city are serving hot chocolate and peppermint lattes, with spots like Bask by Coffee?, Ciclo, Brew Room and Café Ave leaning into the season. Where do you go for your Christmas bake fix?

Baked goods from Pumpkin Tales
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Not the last supper: If snacking is not your style, Christmas Day in Chennai offers plenty of sit-down options, from brunches to leisurely dinners. The Park’s 601 is hosting a Christmas feast and buffet dinner (for reservations, call 044 42676000), while The Flying Elephant at Park Hyatt is running its festive brunch with live music (for reservations, call 8939871128). Taj Coromandel is laying out an indulgent festive Christmas Day brunch at Prego (for reservations, call 7824862310). Beach Terrace rounds it off with a Christmas Day lunch by the sea (for reservations, call 7550036697). Whatever your mood, the city has a table waiting.

Christmas roast at Taj Coromandel
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

12 pubs of Christmas: Bring a little Irish cheer to Chennai, by gathering your friends to make your own pub crawl. The 12 pubs of Christmas tradition has as many or as few rules as you would like, but here are the non-negotiables. Wear Christmas colours, have the same type of drink at each place, use public transport or walk, and speak in an accent! Have fun with your crawl but do not linger for long in one place. Some bars to include on this fun adventure are — MadCo, Sundays, Secret Story, Radio Room, Sin & Tonic, No Name, Black Orchid, Madras Taproom. Just narrow down 12 pubs and commemorate each pub with a picture. And remember to never drink and drive!

Christmas decor at Black Orchid
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Merry shopping spree: Here is how to celebrate Christmas unhurried. Make a visit to this cosy Christmas market set up as an evening hangout with fairy lights, live acoustic music and café specials. The event features performances by Bun Butter Jam, a karaoke session, and a small curated market. There are interactive touches too like a Christmas confession wall, a Letters to Santa post box, and a pop-up photo corner, alongside games, shared tables and easy conversation. Designed to be lingered over rather than rushed through, it is the kind of Christmas evening that is more about company than spectacle.

December 28, 5pm onwards, Backyard, Chennai. Tickets from ₹250 on Bookmyshow.

A vendor arranges Santa Claus dolls and other Christmas decorations at her stall in a market ahead of Christmas
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement (PTI)

Use your hands: Christmas is also a good time to gather friends and family around something hands-on. Beyond meals and shopping, the city is hosting a range of creative, festive workshops. Third Wave Coffee is hosting three such sessions over the weekend — Christmas tree decoration, candle making and cookie decoration, offering a relaxed, social way to spend a few hours together. Organised by Social Sailor, the workshops are being held in multiple slots across the weekend. This might also be a great time to start fermenting your grapes for next year’s homemade wine.

Tickets available on BookMyShow starting at ₹1,499.

Christmas theme cookies
| Photo Credit:
cueapi

Jingle bells: Christmas music usually comes with carols and church bells. This year, try something different. On December 25, Beachville Coffee Roasters in Alwarpet is hosting a Carnatic jazz concert as part of the Margazhi season. The afternoon performance features Vishnu R on the Navtar — a nine-string instrument he designed to bridge Indian raga and Western harmony, alongside tabla and world percussion by Muthu Kumar. Titled Raga, Roots & Jazz, the concert blends Indian classical forms with contemporary sounds, offering a fresh way to mark Christmas Day.

December 25, 3pm, Beachville Coffee Roasters, St Mary’s Road. For tickets, visit @beachvillecoffee on Instagram.

Vishnu R on the Navta
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Trip to the North Pole: If Christmas still means Santa Claus, Santa Stores in Adyar is leaning fully into the spirit of the season. The store is hosting a cheerful meet-and-greet where families and children can spend time with Santa, share their Christmas wishes, and pose for festive photographs. The space will be decked out in holiday decor, making it an easy stop for those already out shopping or simply soaking in the day. Known across the city for its Christmas trees, ornaments and festive accessories, Santa Stores turns into a bright, buzzy hub of Christmas cheer.

December 25, Santa Stores, Indira Nagar, Adyar. Entry free.

Santa from Santa Stores
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Run towards joy: Christmas Day feels like a good moment to pause, reset, and move a little. Cloka Run Club’s resolution run offers a thoughtful way to do just that. The community-led initiative brings together members for a five-kilometre run, followed by an informal hangout where runners reflect on the year gone by and set personal resolutions for the year ahead. These goals are not just talked about and forgotten. You log them on Cloka.in, turning a passing resolution into something you are publicly accountable for. It is less about quick fitness wins and more about building habits that last. Register on cloka.in.

Run with Cloka
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Last minute solutions: Christmas gift shopping has a way of sneaking up on you. If you are still ticking names off your list on Christmas Day, shopping physically is your best bet. Kaii in Nungambakkam is packed with local brands and playful finds that work well as thoughtful, last-minute gifts. For something more traditional — from Christmas cards to faith-based gifts, the Evangelical Literature Service stores across the city are a reliable stop.

Christmas earrings from KAII
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Movie marathon: There cannot be a Christmas evening without either Jude Law or Hugh Grant gracing your screens. So huddle up your friends and family and binge on one, or three classic Christmas movies. And yes, Die Hard is a Christmas movie, so cue the movie marathon. You can keep it classic with Home Alone and Jingle All The Way, or lean into newer comfort watches like Last Christmas, Christmas Heist and Champagne Problems. Snacks mandatory, judgment optional. Merry Christmas!

Poster of Love Actually
| Photo Credit:
STAR MOVIES