Bengaluru (Bangalore)
With a prime site on Church St, this popular cafe offers the usual line of coffee creations, cakes and snacks. Plug into the free wi-fi, or browse the…
Must-see nightlife in South India
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
All scattered cushions and polished bamboo, the laid-back terrace bar at Wild Orchid resort is perfect for kicking back over cold beers or a G&T.
Visakhapatnam
The Shack, a breezy beach bar right on the sands at the Park hotel, is a popular place for a beer or cocktail.
Nashik
Nightlife is scarce in Nashik – it's primarily a spiritual city, despite the surrounding vineyards – but this new, small club inside multipurpose BLVD …
Mumbai (Bombay)
Though a tad gimmicky, this Bandra hot spot is filled to the brim almost nightly with mingling 30-somethings with one eye on the drink ticker – prices…
Kochi (Cochin)
Rust-red walls, cushy sofa booths and sports screens set the scene at this cosmopolitan bar at Ernakulam's art deco Grand Hotel, where beers, cocktails…
Calangute & Baga
The long-running titan of Goa’s clubbing scene, Tito’s has done its best to clean up its act and organises regular event nights that take on a distinctly…
North Goa
The initials stand for Love, Peace and Karma: the whimsical, sculpted waterfront LPK across the Nerul River from Candolim is the biggest club in the area,…
Chennai (Madras)
Decked out in neorustic style, Brew Room does coffee like you've never had in Chennai, from espressos and cappuccinos to Turkish coffee, French press,…
Kozhikode (Calicut)
The laid-back bamboo bar at the Beach Hotel delivers light snacks, chilled beers and respectable pan-Indian cuisine (mains ₹150 to ₹300).
Chennai (Madras)
Reliably good hot and cold coffees and teas. Also at Egmore, Khader Nawaz Khan Rd, Express Avenue Mall, Alwarpet and Phoenix Market City.
Chennai (Madras)
Teas from across the globe collide in fabulously refreshing hot or iced concoctions at this soothing, contemporary teahouse. Pick from green teas, herbal…
North Goa
The SinQ entertainment scene, almost directly opposite Taj Holiday Village, is one for the cool people but it has expanded to include the Showbar…
Chennai (Madras)
A stylish, early-20s bunch packs into this sparkly, two-level, Persian-themed club, where Bollywood night takes over on Wednesdays and big-name…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Love it or hate it, most tourists end up at this clichéd Mumbai travellers’ institution at one time or another. Around since 1871, Leopold’s has wobbly…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Friday and Saturday are thumping here, but it’s a classy place most nights with its sophisticated decor (low beige sofas, intricately carved iron screens)…
Panaji
The riverside location on the banks of the Mandovi is the main redeeming feature of this open-air garden restaurant and bar near the Betim Ferry dock…
Anjuna
The clifftop sunset views, blue-and-white colour scheme and swanky bar at this beautifully situated restaurant could easily transport you to Santorini…
Chennai (Madras)
Casual British-themed pub (Big Ben on the wall, fish fingers on the menu, the Beatles and the Who on the sound system) with a small dance floor. It's…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
With water channels and palm trees in the outdoor seating area, Hoot makes full use of the pleasant Bengaluru weather. The brewery's craft credentials are…
North Goa
The African wall hangings, palm-thatch, communal tables and terracotta sculptures are a nice backdrop to the rava (semolina) fried mussels, but this…
North Goa
Selling juice, lassis, fruit salads and muesli to travellers, Scarlet is the second-most popular of Chapora’s juice bars. There’s a useful noticeboard…
Chennai (Madras)
Glossy contemporary styling, pounding house music, a tiny dance floor and a lengthy list of colourful cocktails make this upscale Taj-hotel bar a…
Calangute & Baga
The most laid-back of the Tito’s venues, Cape Town has a street-front lounge bar with wi-fi and live sports on big screens, while inside international DJs…
Alappuzha (Alleppey)
Espresso coffee, cold drinks, lassis and light breakfasts (₹80 to ₹250) are served from this tiny, cheerful canal-side cafe, which also organises kayaking…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
With six floors, this is microbrewing on a macro scale. Events include concerts, pub quizzes, karaoke and a barbecue buffet. Its Brazilian brewer does six…
Anjuna
UV Bar flies under the radar compared with the likes of Curlies and Vagator's Hilltop but its becoming known for wild trance parties, with two dance…
Mumbai (Bombay)
This white-on-white rooftop lounge has awesome views of Mumbai’s crescent beach from its 8th-floor vantage and cocktail prices (₹1250 to ₹1450) that will…
Chennai (Madras)
‘Leather’ refers to furniture, floor and wall coverings rather than anything kinky. This tiny pad has mixologists serving up fancy drinks and, sometimes,…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Successful ventures in Delhi and Bangalore led this chill gastropub to Bandra, where scenesters gather on the excellent patio – particularly great when it…
Chennai (Madras)
Belting out beats from hip hop to Bollywood, this longstanding three-floor party place is an Irish pub until everyone arrives, then it becomes a busy club…
South Goa
Head on down to the north end of the beach, but on the river side of the road, for a friendly, rustic bamboo-bar hang-out with regular live music, open…
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
A quirky little semi-open-air rooftop bar/cafe lounge that's friendly, laid-back and sociable, and which does good cocktails (assuming the bartender hasn…
Chennai (Madras)
India's favourite coffee shop has many branches around Chennai. This Egmore branch is small and more downmarket than others, but handy if you're visiting…
Telangana & Andhra Pradesh
In the basement, this large bar has very low lighting and lacks atmosphere, but if you need a beer and cheer after a tough hike it might suffice.
Chennai (Madras)
Good old Café Coffee Day does a range of decent hot and cold coffees and teas, and some tempting cakes, in comfy air-conditioned surroundings.
Palolem
Palolem's latest club/dance event is a day-into-night event, where disco and funk meet house and techno at the popular Neptune Point venue.
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Reliably good coffee, tea and cakes. There's another branch on Church Hill Rd.
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Dependably tasty coffee, tea and cakes. There's another branch on Garden Rd.
Chennai (Madras)
This much-loved cafe chain is always decent for coffees, cakes and teas.
