Delhi is one of the largest markets in the country because the per capita income in Delhi is much higher than in other cities. Many multinational companies have set up their headquarters in Delhi and adjoining cities - from Pepsico and Gap, Inc. to the zipper giant, YKK. On Christmas Day, 2002, the New Delhi Metro opened, running in the urban area. The metro should be completed by 2022.

Keeping pace with globalization, there are many discotheques and dance clubs - most of them located in 5-star hotels. Some of these are C.J.'s (Le Meridien), Annabelle's (The Hilton), Dubliner (Maurya Sheraton), Oasis (Hyatt Regency), Djinn's (Hyatt Regency) and My Kind of Place (Taj Palace). Other places include Shalom (Greater Kailash), Voda (Saket), Buzz (Saket), T'zers (Saket), Punjabi by Nature (Vasant Vihar) and Fabric (on the Gurgaon-Mehrauli road).

There are also a lot of modern restaurants in the city. One can find a wide array of cuisines, including Greek (It's Greek To Me in Safdarjung), Chinese, Thai, Italian (Olive Bar and Kitchen in Mehrauli), Mexican and American Food.

International restaurant chains and fast food chains have set up franchises in Delhi with success, including Pizza Hut, Subway, McDonald's, Baskin-Robbins and others. It is notable that in each case, the franchises modified their respective menus with respect to Indian culture and religion, clearly indicating vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods, often by a relatively common colour code (red for non-vegetarian foods, green for vegetarian foods) and preparing the vegetarian foods in compliance with Hindu customs and practices.