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…
Must-see nightlife in Delhi
South Delhi
The real thing, this popular, atmospheric place with proper musos is a dim-lit speakeasy with some excellent live jazz performances.
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…
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…
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…
South Delhi
This chilled-out restaurant-bar-club is a Hauz Khas hub, and has an urban warehouse-like interior with stone walls, high ceilings and huge plate-glass…
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…
South Delhi
On the upper floors of a building in the exclusive area of the Defence Colony, this place has stylish, kooky decor in deep, earth-jewel colours, serious…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Quenching Chandni Chowk’s thirst for over a century now, this stalwart has a menu comprising just one item: homegrown fizzy lemonade that comes from a…
New Delhi
Up on the 2nd floor of Mohan Singh Place, Indian Coffee House has faded-to-the-point-of-dilapidated charm, with the waiters' plummage-like hats and…
New Delhi
This buzzing, split-level cafe specialises in healthy chai infusions (masala, ginger, cardamom, lemongrass; ₹75 to ₹100) but also serves good lassis (₹119…
South Delhi
Close to Hauz Khas, this roomy, rustic 1st-floor bar has a spacious terrace and is a popular, lively evening haunt for a mixed crowd of men and women…
New Delhi
Connaught Place’s Oxford Bookstore contains the hugely popular cafe Cha Bar, with more than 150 types of tea to choose from, as well as a good-value food…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
This is the most comfortable and most popular of the many cafes in the Tibetan enclave and does good strong coffee plus a range of set breakfasts (until…
New Delhi
Keventer’s has a cult following for its legendary creamy milkshakes (₹80), slurped out of milk bottles on the pavement in front of the stand.
Delhi
A small neighbourhood bar built along the lines of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, Cocktails & Dreams (called simply 'Speakeasy' by regulars) is a local…
Delhi
Allied to the Full Circle Bookstore, this brightly painted boho cafe gets busy with chattering bookish types, and is ideal when you're in the mood for…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
If you can nab one of the two tables by the big window overlooking Main Bazaar this is a fine place to chill with a couple of beers (from ₹115). Sam’s Bar…
New Delhi
If you feel the need for some five-star style after visiting Jantar Mantar or shopping in Connaught Place, Aqua is an ideal place to flop, forget the…
Delhi
Popular, film-poster-lined cafe at Khan Market, packed with chattering Delhiites. The menu is a telephone directory of Continental and Indian dishes (₹290…
New Delhi
A cavernous space done up in wood, leather and metal trim, with cosy corners and a huge sports TV screen. Serves trademark oversized drinks, including…
South Delhi
Quirky Kunzum has a pay-what-you-like policy for the French-press coffee and tea, and sells its own brand of travel guides to Delhi. There’s free wi-fi, a…
New Delhi
This long-time favourite Connaught Place lounge bar has DJ-mixed tunes (and occasional live bands), reasonably priced drinks (Kingfisher ₹180, cocktails…
Delhi
Up on the top floor of DLF Cyber Hub, this popular bar brews four different beers in-house (₹325 for a half-litre glass), stocks numerous single-malt…
New Delhi
A long-running upscale Connaught Place drinking hole, with a Q-shaped bar and sultry lighting. Beers start at ₹175; cocktails at ₹475. Upstairs is for…
Delhi
A cosy bookworm favourite (with a tiny branch of Full Circle Bookstore in one corner), this very expensive cafe has excellent brunch, cakes and tea.
New Delhi
The 24-hour lobby bar at swanky Lalit Hotel is laid back and welcoming and has a decent range of single malt whiskeys (from ₹1000). Two-for-one happy hour…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Cakes, shakes and very affordable Lavazza coffee, plus floor-to-ceiling windows for that full-on street-view experience.
Delhi
Cute cafe with shaded terrace seating, serving pizza, pasta and salads in this serene garden shopping complex.
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Cute little cafe for an email catch-up, espresso in one hand, brownie or muffin in the other.
Delhi
A thigh-slapping Bavarian-themed restaurant and brewery, Brauhaus was one of the first bar-restaurants to open on Golf Course Rd and is enduringly popular…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
A dark but lively bar, this place is loud and fun, with a cheery, mixed crowd of backpackers and locals, who may even start dancing… There are several…
New Delhi
With branches across Delhi, this divey, cheap and cheerful bar is hugely popular, and this CP outlet sees crowds of local men and women shouting over the…
Delhi
Above the bijou Good Earth homewares store, this is Khan Market’s prettiest cafe, awash with colour and sparkly chandeliers, with global snacks, such as…
Delhi
One of a few bars and small clubs in the otherwise largely empty Global Foyer Mall, 200m north of Sector 42-43 metro station, Manhattan is where Gurgaon’s…
Delhi
The relaxed beer garden at Anya Hotel is a small outdoor space where you can enjoy the chef’s recommended pairings of Indian tapas with up to 18 varieties…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
A cosy cafe with an interior resembling that of a traditional Tibetan stone blockhouse, Kham brews decent coffee, Tibetan butter tea and a few choice…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
This wood-panelled dive is the kind of place you can forget what time of day it is – a dark, smoky, long-standing Paharganj hang-out that's popular with …
