Mumbai (Bombay)
With an emphasis on Prohibition-era craft mixology, this shotgun-style gastrobar draws the spillover of Bastian's beautiful people (enter though the…
Must-see nightlife in India
Mumbai (Bombay)
Sorely needed and refreshingly well done, Mumbai's first take on a serious wine bar should please connoisseurs. Part shop (over 300 bottles), part bar (48…
Mcleod Ganj
Relax with good coffee or choose from a dozen varieties of leaf-tea, serenaded by jazzy blues (think Etta James) under low-wattage ball-bulb lights in…
Pune
The open-air rooftop at this Brazilian-themed Koregaon Park newcomer is a supreme drinking den, offering 10 craft beer options on draught, including Pune…
Aurangabad
Aurangabad's one and only trendy bar-restaurant caters to the city's upwardly hip who knock back cocktails (₹350 to ₹450) – like the cool burning basil…
Mumbai (Bombay)
A hip-and-happening Bandra bar that take its moniker from the good news stories the owners have collated and suspended on pages from the ceiling. It…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Mumbai's cheapest craft-beer pints require the furthest travel, into the northern depths of the growing nightlife scene in Andheri West. Brewbot has nine…
Shimla
Central Shimla's hippest drinking spot is sat atop a multi-storey building with splendid views enjoyed from stool-seats, beanbags or low-slung table-cubes…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Off the tourist trail and full of Mumbai's beautiful set, this new bar tucked away inside Cuffe Parade's World Trade Centre is a fun night out, with an…
Chennai (Madras)
In the glamorous Hyatt Regency, Chennai's hottest party spot bursts into life on weekends, when wild DJ sets kick off on the terrace, playing pop music on…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
This grungy yet oddly convivial watering hole is a low-key Kolkata classic. The upper-floor bar has comfortable sofa seating, although the downstairs…
Chennai (Madras)
From a keen young team comes this incredibly popular radio-themed bar in southeast Chennai. It's all about mismatched furniture, a bar made of speakers…
Mumbai (Bombay)
The centrepiece art installation at this all-day cafe/bar is inspired by Mumbai street stalls, with smiley balls, buckets, umbrellas and aluminium kettles…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Visually this place is stunning, with water pouring from the hands of a towering Japanese goddess into lotus ponds which reflect shimmering light on the…
Manali
Capacious settees around the fireplace, backed barstools, and garden seating complement a fine cocktail list and four happy hours (till 8pm). Welcome to…
Pune
This Bengaluru transplant has Punekars ditching traditional filter coffee for single origin, 100% Arabica Indian specialty espressos (₹110) and other now…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Dating back to 1927, Flury's is an enticing art deco palace that's a real Kolkata institution. The best time to drop by is during breakfast (English…
Jodhpur
This delightful modern cafe with espresso coffee, cakes and Italian dishes, as well as wine, spirits and beer, sits to one side of the wonderfully…
Chennai (Madras)
Where else in the world can you find DJs playing club music beneath bullfight posters next to TVs showing cricket? Sera is packed most nights with a young…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
A gold-plated low-rider motorbike in the window, helmet lampshades and a Clapton and Led Zep soundtrack set the tone in this youthful pub-diner. Mains…
Chennai (Madras)
Slickly contemporary and favoured by the elite, the high-energy, multilevel restaurant at the Park Hyatt morphs into a busy party spot from 11pm on…
Delhi
A small neighbourhood bar built along the lines of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, Cocktails & Dreams (called simply 'Speakeasy' by regulars) is a local…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
This bar makes a hip statement with its stripped-back industrial decor in metal and wood. It’s a mere stroll away from JP Nagar’s main market, with an…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
While it really needs no specific introduction, this newly opened branch of the global rock music–themed cafe brings some novelty to Kolkata's drinking…
Darjeeling
This two-floor tearoom run by the Nathmulls tea company offers aficionados a range of quality white, green and black teas by the cup or pot, with in-house…
Kochi (Cochin)
Hands down Fort Cochin's liveliest after-dark hang-out, this moodily lit muralled club-bar spills out onto a poolside terrace, serving cool Kingfishers …
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
This octopus-themed pub (yes, you read that right) offers a fun, freewheeling night out, with Jocose Juleps (a cocktail of Bourbon and crème de menthe) on…
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…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
A new gathering spot for South Kolkata's hipster crowd, Hola's main draw is its live-music evenings, which take place several times every month and…
North Goa
The 'village pub' is a welcome addition to the back lanes of sleepy Assagao, with pumping live music on weekends, salsa dancing on Sunday and a fun…
Shillong
This fashionable hang-out in bustling Laitumkhrah ('lai-muk-rah' or just 'laimu') has good coffee, yummy steaks and other dishes (₹250 to ₹500), plus live…
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer’s licensed Bhang Shop is a simple, unpretentious place. The magic ingredient is bhang: cannabis buds and leaves mixed into a paste with milk,…
Mumbai (Bombay)
A long and slender shotgun-style bar, with the narrow main room leading to a back patio with atmospheric umbrella lighting, Eddie's caters to a young and…
Mcleod Ganj
Ideal for a sundowner, this easily missed spot above the HPTC Bank has sunset valley views and an almost Greek interior of rough whitewashed walls with…
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
Down a shaded path off the main road across from Beach 5, Havelock's buzziest live-music venue and hangout has a groovy jungle location. Weekly events…
Parvati Valley
'The party starts here', declares Kasol's most sophisticated bar, more loungey than raving, with its giant-screen TV cycling pop videos, and an extensive…
Palolem
South Goa’s biggest outdoor dance club is a sight (and sound) to behold, with 3D laser light shows, pyrotechnics and state-of-the-art sound systems…
Eastern Rajasthan
Breezy Gigil Cafe has introduced espresso coffee to Alwar. There's also bakery items and a multicuisine veg restaurant kicks of at 10am. The baristas are…
Shimla
Upstairs in a building facing the old Town Hall, ever-obliging Mohan runs this outwardly unremarkable Western coffeeshop with a delightful low-key passion.
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
A kind of non-corporate, locally owned Hard Rock Cafe that's all about classic rock – Hendrix, Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa posters adorn the walls –…
