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Time of India

Booked your hotspot yet? Cocktails & conversations get a makeover

Be it a weekday or a weekend, Kolkata doesn't just go out—it charts a course. Think: a 7 PM cocktail booking, 10 PM dinner elsewhere. The slow adda has evolved into a sharp shuffle through speakeasies and specialty bars. Think London polish with Kolkata pulse. With pop-ups, takeovers, and a crowd that plans their night like a playlist, the city's nightlife is now a strategy game. We speak to patrons, chefs, and bar founders to decode the shift — and how to keep pace. One night, many stops Weekend nightlife in Kolkata is no longer a one-venue affair. Patrons now chase mood, menus, and mixology across multiple stops — from bar stools to late-night kitchens. Avinandan Kundu, head chef at Sienna Calcutta, observes: 'After we got our liquor license, we saw fewer guests moving between venues. The aim is to offer a complete experience under one roof.' The city's new nightlife rhythm resembles more metropolitan habits: staged across pre-dinner drinks, main courses, and after-hour indulgences. Rudradipta Mukherjee, founder of Little Bit Sober, notes that while guests are more fluid, retention depends on resonance, adding, 'If the food and energy hold up, they stay – our space is privy to that.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free Solitaire. No Ads Ever. Play Solitaire Download Undo I enjoy a fancy cocktail but my benchmark for a bar is how well they do the classics. If your martini's off, I'm out – Shivangi Sen, media professional Mark your calendars Time is now currency in Kolkata's nightlife scene. Two-and-a-half-hour table blocks and timed entries are becoming the norm, especially on weekends. Some venues run bookings via apps and social media, while others enforce tight turnarounds to maximize flow. 'We manage reservations dynamically across phone, Instagram, and booking apps to keep things flowing,' says Rudradipta. 'The demand is strong, and guests are adapting quickly. ' Weeknights, once quiet, are gaining ground too. Live music nights, brand pop-ups, and early-in-the-week drink deals are nudging traffic into Tuesdays and Thursdays. We get a well-balanced array of guests, but mostly the well-travelled, cocktail-forward clan, in the 28-40s age bracket – Rituparna Banerjee, chef and co-founder of Nutcase Etc. Pocket pinch for a sip Kolkata's F&B scene may be catching up with Bangkok and Singapore on aesthetics—but the economics of indulgence remain a balancing act. Chef Avinandan is upfront: 'We're on the expensive side. But that lets us pay fair salaries, offer benefits like medical insurance, and retain talent. Our pricing reflects our principles.' Rituparna Banerjee, chef and co-founder of a cocktail bar, agrees that the cocktail culture remains niche: 'Craft cocktails need technique and premium spirits. That will always feel aspirational here — unless we grow the audience.' Still, a broader cross-section of Kolkata is buying in. 'Calcuttans are coming back with a sharper appetite for quality,' says Abhimanyu Maheshwari, co-founder of a speakeasy bar in the city. 'These aren't just trend-chasers—they're experience-seekers.' Guest behaviour is shifting. Weekend rituals are now weeknight habits —someone stopping by for a round of Old Fashioned on a Tuesday is no longer uncommon– Abhimanyu Maheshwari, co-founder of Conversation Room Vibes & reservations are a must Kolkata's new-age reveller is a hybrid planner. Media professional Ankit Santra says that he makes it a point to check menus online, pre-book tables via DMs, and toggle between bars and dining spots to optimise vibe and spend. 'Weekends are when I get time to step out so relaxing on a Friday night is the best. After a long week, I look forward to a good vibe, better drinks and the best music,' explained Jyotisko Saha, law student. While weekends still dominate, Thursday is now a low-key favourite for those seeking space and better service. A good night out means planning ahead — menus, reservations, the works. I don't think food and cocktails need to happen in the same place every time – Srideep Das, program manager Trends say that Wednesdays & Thursday are popular mid-week drink pitstop days, and Rs 2.5-3K is the average spend for a cocktail & one dinner stop. Notably, 2-2.5 hours is the average table turn-around time for a table at these pubs. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .