New Delhi,
L’Opéra, Delhi’s leading French pâtisserie and salon de thé, in collaboration with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), inaugurated Café du Jardin at Asita Park, introducing a premium outdoor café concept along the restored Yamuna floodplain. The launch was attended by over 300 guests, including ambassadors, diplomats, senior government officials, cultural patrons, business leaders and citizens, underscoring Delhi’s renewed engagement with its riverfront.
The launch featured guided nature walks followed by a French-style outdoor brunch at Café du Jardin, with guests widely acknowledging the space as a distinctive riverside destination combining natural serenity with refined café culture.
Located within 197 hectares of revitalised green spaces encompassing wetlands, riverine grasslands and bird habitats, Café du Jardin offers an open-air dining experience designed to integrate nature, community and culture. The café features eco-sensitive, fully biodegradable structures and has been seamlessly embedded within the park’s natural landscape.
At the inauguration, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, highlighted the project’s role in reconnecting citizens with the Yamuna, noting its contribution to creating an accessible and modern riverfront. Dr. Kazem Samandari, Executive Chairman of L’Opéra, emphasised that Café du Jardin blends French culinary heritage with Delhi’s rejuvenated natural corridors, while Co-Founder Dr. Christine Samandari described the café as a space for pause, reflection and community beside the river.
The café offers a curated selection of light meals, artisanal French bakery and patisserie, beverages and picnic-friendly options for walkers, cyclists and families visiting Asita Park. Panoramic views of the restored landscape, golf-cart accessibility and eco-conscious infrastructure enhance the visitor experience. The park’s entry ticket, priced at Rs. 50, is redeemable at the café.
Asita Park — A Landmark in Urban Ecological Revival
Asita Park, once a heavily polluted stretch of the Yamuna floodplain, has been transformed into a significant urban ecological asset through sustained restoration efforts. The restoration process involved planting of 4.35 million riverine grasses, 31,770 native trees of floodplain ecology, resulting in the augmentation of 60 million CUM of water. Today, it supports extensive vegetation and nearly 200 species of migratory birds. Further strengthening its appeal, the park is set to introduce Delhi’s first hot air balloon experience, offering aerial views of the riverfront and surrounding habitats.
About L’Opéra
Founded in 2008, L’Opéra is recognised in India for its authentic French pastry, bakery and café offerings, rooted in traditional savoir-faire and culinary precision. Under the leadership of Dr. Kazem Samandari and Dr. Christine Samandari, the brand operates across three formats—Pâtisserie & Boulangerie and Salon de Thé boutiques, Le Café by L’Opéra, and the newly launched Café du Jardin—and continues to set benchmarks in India’s premium dining landscape.
