Expats’ hangouts

“Australian citizens are welcome,and they can bring guests as well,” an official says. “Otherwise the club is restricted to diplomats and local staff.”

From there,it’s just a one-kilometre stroll to the Embassy of Ethiopia,where its Cultural Centre has opened a restaurant,Blue Nile,just two months ago.

Unlike the Australian High Commission and most of its international neighbours,anyone with an identity proof,Indian or American,can walk into the restaurant at any day of the week from noon to 10 pm. The menu is clad with Ethiopian novelties — from a cup of thick coffee brewed in a clay pot to mains served with injera,the spongy and slightly bitter equivalent of a roti. They also serve beer and wine.

“Thursday,Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular,” says Ashok Verma,director at the cultural center. “It is mostly filled with people who have lived in the USA and have been to Ethiopian restaurants,or people who have spent some time in Ethiopia.”

On Thursday afternoon,two friends,who are originally from Ethiopia but had moved separately to Delhi for school,said they were relieved to finally taste home. “I was so happy when I found the place,” Nadiya Balcha says. Nadiya lives in Vasant Vihar and moved to Delhi two years ago to study ecology.

From there,it’s a 10-minute walk to the German Embassy,where Germans,diplomats or their friends can potentially hit a massive party if they are invited.

The embassy usually hosts parties after cultural events,such as one after a a panel discussion about football. The parties have been known to run late into the night. At least once a year,the party turns massive,usually on German Unity Day in October,and draws upto 1,000 people.

The Italian Cultural Centre has drawn devoted patrons for more than 10 years to its posh outdoor restaurant with a wood-fired stove. This too is open only for members and their friends.