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 India
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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),…
-
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 …
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Leh
Excellent coffee from a Faema machine served in an uncluttered pine interior that has a traditional Ladakhi-style seating area, simultaneously balancing…
-
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,…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Gangtok
Find the easily missed Tashi Delek doorway, then walk past colourfully ornate Tibetan patterning to this wide, open terrace with decorative foliage and…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
