Must-see nightlife in India

  • 1911

    New Delhi

    The Imperial, built in the 1930s, resonates with bygone splendour. This bar is a more recent addition, but still riffs on the Raj. Here you can sip the…

  • Social

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Colaba is the best of the locations of the hip Social chain, which combines a restaurant/bar with a collaborative work space. The happening bar nails the…

  • Lala’s Art Cafe

    Leh

    Entered beside a 2000-year-old Dhyani Buddha stela, this tiny, traditional temple-like house was saved from demolition and immaculately restored in 2006…

  • Third Wave Coffee Roasters

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    A mecca for hardcore java heads, this temple to the arabica bean has a multitude of gourmet-coffee combos, including espresso classics, quirky cold brews…

  • Cafe Mojo

    Panaji

    The decor is a dark cosy English pub, the clientele young and up for a late party, and the novelty is the e-beer system. Each table has its own beer tap…

  • Koinonia Coffee Roasters

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Mumbai's best speciality coffee is served in this tiny Third Wave coffeehouse in atmospheric Chium Village. Single-origin Indian estate coffee is roasted…

  • Independence Brewing Company

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    A California-trained Indian master brewer oversees the craft at this trendy new Andheri West taproom from Pune-based Independence Brewing Company. Nine of…

  • Toto’s Garage

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    A highly sociable, down-to-earth local dive done up in a car-mechanic theme, where you can go in your dirty clothes, drink draught beer (₹200 a glass) and…

  • Curious Life

    Jaipur

    The latest coffee trends brew away in this showcase of Indian hipsterhood. Single-origin, espresso, French press, AeroPress, V60 pour over – you name it,…

  • Brahmin's Coffee Bar

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    This terrific darshini (South Indian cafe) is famous for its filter coffee (₹16). There are only four food items on the menu: idli (fermented rice cakes),…

  • Brew Estate

    Shimla

    Shimla's first brewpub is a large, hip, party space around a central bar-island serving its own trio of well-balanced German- and Belgian-inspired ales …

  • Dharma Coffee House

    Arunachal Pradesh

    A stunning find on the road to Tawang Gompa, this alpine-style wood-and-brick cafe brews proper cappuccino, a range of teas and delicious cakes (banana…

  • Jugmug Thela

    Delhi

    Another hidden surprise in Champa Gali – the mini art enclave down Lane 3 behind the fake Dilli Haat store – this tea specialist has more than 180 herbs…

  • Lassiwala

    Jaipur

    This famous, much-imitated institution is a simple place that whips up fabulous, creamy lassis in clay cups. They close when sold out – so get here early…

  • Unplugged

    New Delhi

    There's nowhere else like this in Connaught Place. You could forget you were in CP, in fact, with the big courtyard garden, wrought-iron chairs and tables…

  • Ja Khang

    Leh

    Excellent coffee from a Faema machine served in an uncluttered pine interior that has a traditional Ladakhi-style seating area, simultaneously balancing…

  • Prost Brewpub

    Hyderabad

    A highly popular, cavernous brewhouse with five tap beers, including an English ale and a stout, plus cider. There are several zones, all stylishly lit,…

  • MOB

    Hyderabad

    A stylish, sociable Belgium beer house that draws a refreshingly mixed-gender, mixed-age crowd. Try a 'beer platter' for a sample of four choice brews,…

  • Blue Tokai

    Delhi

    Found in a magically unexpected art enclave called Champa Gali, down a lane beside the fake Dilli Haat shopping centre ('Delhi Haat'), Blue Tokai is one…

  • Atrium, Imperial

    New Delhi

    Is there anything more genteel than high tea at the Imperial? Sip tea from bone-china cups and pluck dainty sandwiches and cakes from tiered stands, while…

  • 18Sixty

    Himachal Pradesh

    With lashings of dark wood and wrought iron, Infinitea's classy but welcoming bar is decorated with antique items from the tea estate which was founded in…

  • Haji Ali Juice Centre

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Serves fresh juices and milkshakes (₹50 to ₹400), mighty fine falooda and fruit salads. Strategically placed at the entrance to Haji Ali mosque, it’s a…

  • Coffee Cup

    Hyderabad

    Excellent neighbourhood cafe and creative hub that's a magnet for East Hyderabad's arty crew. Offers a fine selection of interesting coffees, teas, snacks…

  • Spindrift

    Mangaluru (Mangalore)

    The city's premier microbrewery is a big space with indoor and outdoor seating; the acoustic artists, indie bands and DJs create quite a vibe on weekend…

  • Shri Mishrilal Hotel

    Jodhpur

    Just inside the southern gate of Sardar Market, this place is nothing fancy, but whips up the most superb creamy makhania lassis (filling, saffron…

  • Cafe Sheesh Mahal

    Jodhpur

    Coffee drinkers will enjoy the precious beans and the care that is bestowed on them at the deliciously air-conditioned Cafe Sheesh Mahal. The beans are of…

  • Frosting

    Mysuru (Mysore)

    One of the city's most attractive cafes, occupying an elegant villa in an upmarket corner of town. It's a relaxing spot for an espresso or a glass of wine…

  • Biere Club

    Bengaluru (Bangalore)

    There's a continual buzz about this multistorey temple to craft beer, which always has a guest beer or two on the blackboard. You'll find plenty on the…

  • Prakash Lok

    Haridwar

    Don’t miss a creamy lassi at this Haridwar institution, famed for its ice-cold, best-you’ll-ever-have lassis served in tin cups (₹50). Just about anyone…

  • Blue Lassi

    Varanasi

    A tiny yoghurt shop with a big – and well-deserved – reputation for serving up Varanasi's freshest, creamiest, fruit-filled lassis for over 90 years.

  • Thirsty City 127

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    The former space of Mumbai's first microbrewery has been revamped into a slick craft beer and cocktail destination under the direction of Indian beer…

  • Independence Brewing Company

    Pune

    Reserve a table in the outstanding beer garden at this industrially hip craft brewery – Pune's finest – and you'll swear you're in California. The eight…

  • Cafe Zoe

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Exposed brick and railing dominate the bilevel hipster hideaway inside a redeveloped cotton mill at Mathurdas Mills Compound. Forty wines by the glass,…

  • Bar Palladio

    Jaipur

    This cool bar-restaurant has an extensive drinks list and an Italian food menu (mains ₹360 to ₹420). The vivid blue theme of the romantic Orientalist…

  • Bonobo

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    This bar champions underground and alternative music. DJs spin drum and bass and electronica, big beats and funky tech-house, and musicians play folk and…

  • Yak Bar

    Gangtok

    Find the easily missed Tashi Delek doorway, then walk past colourfully ornate Tibetan patterning to this wide, open terrace with decorative foliage and…

  • Cafe Cariappa

    Kodaikanal (Kodai)

    A caffeine addict's dream, this rustic-chic wood-panelled shoebox of a cafe crafts fantastic brews from its own locally grown organic coffee. It also does…

  • Downtown

    Gangtok

    Central Gangtok's most alternative little bar has seats like midget sofas with stuffing coming out, a little performance space and murals of Marley,…

  • Imperial Square

    Mussoorie

    With huge windows overlooking Gandhi Chowk, Imperial Square is easily Mussoorie's most scenic spot for a drink. The beer is pricey (₹340) but it's ice…

  • Toit Tap Room

    Mumbai (Bombay)

    Bangalore's iconic craft brewers opened their first Mumbai space for beer lovers in 2017, taking over the spacious former real estate of Bombay's long…

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