Espresso Lounge is a picturesque dining place in Banani
By Ariz Hoque
Sitting in a bookstore for a good chunk of each day as part of my day job, witnessing small chunks of the lives of others as they walk in and discuss their favorite reads and their plans for the rest of the day, it is difficult to avoid FOMO. As a food blogger, I find myself going for dining experiences that give you something of a “story” along with a good meal.
My friends and I were on the search for just such a place when we stumbled onto this new outlet located by the Banani puja field. Stepping into this three-storeyed building, it was immediately clear to us why Espresso Lounge is already gaining a reputation for being the “most Instagrammable spot in 2025.” Every corner of the place has been created with intention.
The ground floor is a proper café, with a cozy setup, exposed brick walls, what my editor tells me are large French doors and studded couches that create an intimate feeling. I felt like I was walking into a Hollywood speakeasy. This is the sort of set-up where you can grab a quick cup of coffee after work, or hang back easy for a casual outing with friends.
A plush stairwell, upholstered in emerald green, with an elegant curved staircase leads to the upper floor, which is designed with a more formal dine-in experience in mind. The mood is set by the mirrored walls and you are greeted by a prop snack cart when you enter. It’s perfect for date nights, and family gatherings.
You take the dramatic red staircase lined with retro black and white posters to the rooftop, and this is what the Instagrammers come for. A glassed-in open space, it offers that feeling of al fresco dining while still protecting you from the elements. This area is designated for rooftop parties and BBQ grill, and designed to look like a lively European neighborhood, with vintage street lamps, bistro style seating, a prop piano, and a service counter built like a takeaway truck. Every corner of this area – actually the entire restaurant – has been designed with attention to detail, and if you care about aesthetics, you will love it.
To be honest, seeing all of this made me more sceptical because over the years I have been to many, many restaurants with the most aesthetic décor, and the food has rarely lived up to the look. Furthermore, a glance at the Espresso Lounge menu showed us a combination of different cuisines which can also be a red flag. This time, however, I was very happy to be proven wrong.
started my meal with their Creamy Spatchcock soup, which contains chicken velouté, buttered corn puree, green tomato and herbs. It was thick, rich, and well-seasoned. A very good first impression.
From their Pan Asian menu, I selected their Nasi Stack. This consists of an aromatic fried rice, chicken satay, prawns, pickled cucumber, and chill ginger. The satay comes with a mouth-watering peanut sauce. A proper meal indeed!
We were served a sampler of their expertly crafted steaks made from fine premium cuts – seared to smoky perfection, juicy, and bursting with bold flavor, and we also got to try their signature Wagyu Pizza, which turned out to be as decadent as it sounds, and worth the price tag. If you’re planning to splurge on a dish, this is worth a try.
From the drinks menu, I selected a salted caramel frappe, which wasn’t overly sweet, but had a lovely caramel flavor.
They have quite an array of desserts, and I finished my meal with a delicate almond tart, which was absolutely the perfect closing note.
Along with the good food, we were pleased by the excellent service. We observed some of the fancy drink orders by other diners being presented with a flourish, which added to the experience.
If you’re looking for a dining experience, whether it’s a quick coffee hang, or a longer, more elaborate gathering, or if you’re treating yourself to a visually appealing meal, I would totally recommend Espresso Lounge.
