Entertainment in India
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High Spirits
Brand new bar that's caught the attention of the student population. Has a nice open terrace.
reviewed
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Bluefrog
The most exciting thing to happen to Mumbai’s music scene in a long time, Bluefrog is a concert space, production studio, restaurant and one of Mumbai’s most happening spaces. It hosts exceptional local and international acts, and has cool booth seating.
reviewed
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Liquid Lounge
The coolest (and loudest) pub in town, this place has funky posters and neon-lit interiors, including a backlit Les Paul guitar replica dangling above the bar! A good selection of beers is on offer, and its staff in floral shirts are a courteous lot.
reviewed
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C
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Shalom Med Lounge Bar
This lounge-style bar-restaurant, with its rustic wooden furniture and whitewashed walls, dares you to down an 'Angry Fijian' (crème de banana, Baileys & Malibu) or other similarly-exotic beverages. The 'happiness comes when you feed your soul first' menu is true to its word, with blissful Mediterranean fare like shish taouk (spiced chargilled chicken). Entry is via a back lane.
reviewed
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D
Leopold’s Café
Love it or hate it, most tourists end up at this Mumbai travellers’ institution at one time or another. Around since 1871, Leopold’s has wobbly ceiling fans, open-plan seating and a rambunctious atmosphere conducive to swapping tales with random strangers. Although there’s a huge menu, the lazy evening beers are the real draw.
reviewed
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Sound & Light Show
Each evening (except Monday) this one-hour show gives Red Fort history the coloured-spotlight and portentous-voice-over treatment. It’s great, if only to see the red fort by night. Tickets are available from the fort’s ticket kiosk. Bring mosquito repellent.
reviewed
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KC Garden Restaurant
One of Changspa’s liveliest evening spots, KC’s is the pickup point for all-night full-moon parties (Rs400 including transport; full-moon night May to August). Movies are projected at 8pm several nights weekly.
reviewed
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Cooperage Football Ground
The Cooperage Football Ground is home to the Mumbai Football Association and hosts national-league and local soccer matches between October and February. Tickets are available at the gate.
reviewed
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Sathyam Cinema
Chennai has more than 100 cinemas, a reflection of the vibrant film industry here. Most screen Tamil films, but Sathyam Cinema often shows English-language films alongside local fare.
reviewed
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Tantra
Considered Kolkata’s top club, contemporary sounds throb through the single dance floor and not-so-chilled chill-out zone around a central-island bar with an overhead observation bridge.
reviewed
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Mocha
The young and beautiful come here for coffee, hookahs (water pipes; Rs195 to Rs245) and snacks (Rs50 to Rs150). Lovely outdoor garden.
reviewed
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Lounge 31a
Swooping glass architecture offers Zen aesthetics and light-suffused sunset views from four storeys high, above the Sikkim State Bank.
reviewed
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Govind Hotel
Coffee drinkers will find the precious beans and espresso machines at the rooftop Coffee Bar at the Govind Hotel.
reviewed
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Shiva Valley
Shiva Valley is a very popular place for an evening drink, an alternative crowd and the odd impromptu party.
reviewed
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Dharohar
The beautiful Bagore-ki-Haveli hosts the best (and most convenient) opportunity to see Rajasthani folk dancing.
reviewed
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Flury’s
Great espressos (Rs60) and iced-tea (Rs60) layered like a tequila sunrise in an enticing art deco palace-cafe.
reviewed
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Blue & Beyond Restaurant
The open-air rooftop terrace offers unusual views over New Market.
reviewed
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Vie Lounge
Right on Juhu Beach is this glamorous party spot (opposite Little Italy restaurant). The drinks menu is 18 pages long and includes aged imported whiskies. It’s also a nice place for an early-evening coffee and snack. Call before coming to check there isn’t a private Bollywood bash on.
reviewed
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Cine Nacional
If you’re feeling up for a bit of grim local grime, you’ve found the place at the Nacional. It’s dismal, dark and dank, but with unique appeal if you’re looking for an unforgettable dose of Bollywood. Just make sure you don’t have too much soft drink, as the only filmic quality the toilets possess is their likeness to a certain scene in Trainspotting. Films are shown about four times daily; check at the box office for current screenings.
reviewed
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Chokhi Dhani
Located 15km from Jaipur, this virtual village provides a fantastical, magical evening. It’s pretend ethnicity, but don’t let that put you off. Stroll through gardens lit by glimmering lamps and dine on traditional Rajasthani thalis. Then take in some offbeat entertainment: traditional tribal dancers setting fire to their hats, small children balancing on poles, and dancers dressed in lion costumes. It’s hugely popular with Delhi-based families.
reviewed
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National Centre for the Performing Arts
Spanning 800 sq metres, this cultural centre is the hub of Mumbai’s music, theatre and dance scene. In any given week, it might host Marathi theatre, poetry readings and art exhibitions, Bihari dance troupes, ensembles from Europe or Indian classical music. The Experimental Theatre occasionally has English-language plays. Many performances are free. The box office ( [tel] 22824567; open 9am to 7pm) is at the end of NCPA Marg.
reviewed
