India, Sept. 19 -- This month, chef Yosuke Suga's Sugalabo in Tokyo, Japan, made headlines for its selective dining policy inspired by Japan's old Ichigensan okotowari custom, where first-time guests are not admitted without an introduction. With just 20 seats, no online bookings and no fixed hours, entry is by private number only.

Even in the Capital the dining scene is shaking up. If snagging a reservation felt like a challenge, the new age of invite-only and members-only restaurants is rewriting the rules. Moving beyond traditional VIP lounges and tiny, limited-seating spots, restaurateurs are curating spaces where access is not about money alone; it's about belonging.

For Zorawar Kalra, the founder of a members-only rooftop bar, Mam...