PEAKLIFE
14-Jan-2026
The PEAKLIFE Gourmet Awards, in Goa, brought together India’s best chefs, restaurants and culinary enthusiasts.
Held against Goa’s coastal backdrop, the PEAKLIFE Gourmet Awards 2025 were hosted at JW Marriott Goa on January 8, 2026. The annual awards celebrated India’s leading restaurants, bars and beverage brands, while also highlighting Goa’s growing stature as a destination for food-focused travel and luxury hospitality.
The awards brought together chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality professionals and industry stakeholders from across the country, including culinary stalwarts such as Chef Vikas Khanna, Food critic Rashmi Uday Singh, Chef Ajay Chopra, Chef Rohan Dsouza, Chef Avinash Martins, and restaurateur Gauri Devidayal and Zorawar kalra, among others, to recognise excellence in dining experiences shaping India’s evolving food and beverage landscape.
The PEAKLIFE Gourmet Awards 2025 were supported by a strong lineup of partners, including Goa Tourism as Destination Partner, JW Marriott Goa as Hospitality Partner, Zeeba Basmati Rice as Culinary Partner, and Radico as Pouring Partner. Their association played a key role in bringing together the culinary community for an evening dedicated to excellence.
The PEAKLIFE Gourmet Awards 2025 honoured winners across 78 categories, including favourite restaurants, cocktail bars, new openings of the year, brunch destinations, cloud kitchens and beverage brands. The awards included a mix of hotels as well as standalone favourites, spotlighting consistency, innovation and strong consumer connect within the industry.
Check here to see the full list of winners of PEAKLIFE Gourmet Awards 2025
The evening also saw strong representation from Goa’s culinary community, underscoring the state’s growing influence on India’s dining narrative. Acclaimed chef Avinash Martins, whose restaurant Cavatina continues to shape contemporary Goan dining, was among the prominent names present, alongside restaurateurs, hospitality leaders and members of the local food community.
Special Honours of the Evening
One of the evening’s most significant moments was the presentation of the PEAKLIFE Gourmet Award for Cultural and Culinary Ambassador to Chef Vikas Khanna, recognising his contribution to showcasing Indian cuisine and culture on a global platform. Accepting the honour, the Michelin-starred chef revealed, “This is my first award in India, and I am truly honoured to receive it.” “To be recognised at home by a platform like PEAKLIFE, which consistently celebrates the spirit of Indian gastronomy, makes this moment especially meaningful for me,” he added.
Another key highlight was the recognition of Zorawar Kalra, who received the award for The Mastermind Behind India’s Evolving Food Scene. While accepting the honour, Kalra emphasised the importance of acknowledging the collective effort required to run successful restaurants—from service teams and kitchen staff to housekeeping.
Rashmi Uday Singh was honoured with the PEAKLIFE Gourmet Award for Gastronomy Game-Changer, acknowledging her influence on India’s dining discourse through writing, criticism and advocacy. Adding a meaningful dimension to the evening, she also presented the Hospitality HOPE Awards, led by her non-profit initiative, Hospitality Hope. These awards celebrated family-run, value-driven eateries, and this year’s winners were: Longuinhos, Cafe Tato, Spice Goa, and Doda Atelier.
Unveiling of The PEAKLIFE Gourmet Issue
A standout moment of the evening was the unveiling of the PEAKLIFE Gourmet Issue, which celebrates the chefs and changemakers shaping contemporary Indian gastronomy. The cover, featuring Chef Ajay Chopra, Chef Rohan D’Souza, Chef Suvir Saran, Guntas Sethi and Rakhee Vaswani, was unveiled by Chef Ajay Chopra and Chef Rohan D’Souza, Rashmi Uday Singh, Parineeta Sethi (Chief Editor PEAKLIFE), Abhinav Kaushal (CEO, PEAKLIFE), and Shilpi Madan (Managing Editor, PEAKLIFE).
“Goa is where my culinary journey began, and I feel so happy to unveil this cover in Goa – my first cover,” said Chef Ajay Chopra.
“It feels special to be part of the PEAKLIFE Gourmet Issue at a time when Indian dining is evolving so rapidly,” said Chef Rohan D’Souza. “And I am really excited to be here in Goa and unveil the cover.”
An Evening of Culinary Exchange
Hosted at JW Marriott Goa, the awards unfolded in a relaxed yet refined setting, with curated food and beverage experiences complementing the celebrations. With its 2025 edition held in Goa, the PEAKLIFE Gourmet Awards reaffirmed their position as a platform that celebrates India’s diverse culinary voices—spotlighting the restaurants, bars and brands shaping how the country eats, drinks and experiences hospitality today.
