4 Delhi Bars Where A Cocktail Isn't Just A Drink, It's A Whole Experience
Looking for a drink that's a cut above the rest? These bars in Delhi-NCR might just be the place for you!
The Delhi drinking scene has always been a mix of chaos and class. The speakeasies took over a while ago. But what about the drinks being poured down eager mouths?
Amidst the heady mix of whisky on the rocks, vodka in the shots, and classic G&T for sundowners, a new player has emerged - the elaborate cocktail(s), served at Delhi’s finest bars.
Like most things in Delhi, even the cocktails arrive with a side of extra. It’s no longer just a mix of spirit, sugar, water, and bitters in a highball glass. Or specialty liqueurs served in a champagne coupe. It’s an experience in a glass!
You May Also Like: Who Says Men Don't Drink Wine?
And places like these have turned this experience into an art form.
Margaret's Eye
There’s a new kid on the block, or rather in the famous Basant Lok market in Vasant Vihar — Margaret’s Eye, India’s first “vegetable-inspired” bar, serving only white spirits.
The menu, written like a diary entry, tells the story of Margaret, who translated her travel tales into cocktails. There’s a lot to sample, from the sake and gin mix Meron to their take on a Pina Colada, Faq Thong, and the gorgeous-looking Bandinjan. I’ve never seen a drink of this exact color or inspired by aubergine. And it tastes as good as it looks.
What we love?
El Aguate, a tequila and avocado-based cocktail inspired by Mexico. Cilantro, lime, and pepper hit a perfect note, giving a freshness to the drink that reminds you of early-morning smoothies and not late-night drinks. You’ll be tempted to keep them coming!
You May Also Like: 5 Drinks Every Man Should Know How To Make
Lair
As a lifelong movie lover, I first fell in love with this modern-day speakeasy because it served complimentary butter popcorn with the drinks. And then I fell in love with their drinks.
Lair gives a twist to many classic cocktails, from the Peach and Lavender Bellini that looks fit for a ball to the traditional Irish coffee that spells warmth or the delicate Nilgiri made with lavender milk. There’s also the classic picante, which the bartenders tell me is the most popular drink on the menu.
What we love?
It’s a whisky-based cocktail called Wisdom. And it’s the perfect name. Few places get whisky cocktails right. It’s tricky to pair flavours with whisky because the liquor tends to overpower most mixers. But not with Wisdom. You start with the bite of a bark and end with a chocolate-filled cone that reminds you of cornettos. In the middle of the bark and the cone is a drink where every sip is boozy decadence. It’s one for the books!
You May Also Like: Best Bars In Delhi-NCR For Cocktails And Conversations
Klap
There’s never a shortage of good places to dine and sip at in Khan Market. In this melee of new and old bars lies Klap, which describes itself as a “gathering place for curious palates.” And it does serve this curiosity well.
It’s an eclectic mix. You’ve got Pour Over, which both coffee and gin lovers would enjoy, or Maria Maria, a vodka, mango, and coconut mix, which is as breezy as the song it reminds you of. There’s also the elegant-looking Tamarind Affair that you’ll be sorely tempted to rendezvous with. Or if you like it spicy, sip on Hola Chef - but after biting into the crunchy nachos on top.
What we love?
For me, it’s the Jamun Lady. Don’t let the glass fool you because it may look delicate, but the sparkling wine, gin, and jamun sorbet mix packs a punch. It’s easy on the palate and great for the gram - in case that’s the vibe you’re chasing.
INJA
INJA, the world’s first Indian Japanese restaurant, experiments with cuisine and cocktails. Do these experiments serve well? I’m not a frequent visitor, but I still can’t get their drinks out of my mind, so I’d say it’s an experiment well done.
You May Also Like: The Modern Man’s Guide to Drinking Well
INJA serves drinks inspired by, and crafted for each of the five sense - touch, sight, taste, hearing, and smell. Along with legacy cocktails. So you have the Satori Hi-Ball that mixes Irish whisky, Panch Phoron cordial, and a Green Apple kombucha bubble, the vodka-based Bouquet, that combines matcha with clarified mishti doi and rose water. And the Sudachi Paloma, that balances the tough flavours of tequila, chilli, lemonade and sudachi cordial. Though the last one no longer appears on the online menu.
What we love?
Guava is the underrated star of drinks, and deserves a lot more attention. Luckily, INJA is giving it just that with Drunk Guava, that combines tequila, guava, tamarind, ponzu, and togarashi. It pairs well with most items on the menu and even comes with its own set of foxnuts.
Special Mentions:
Sidecar
Sidecar repeatedly makes it to the list of Asia’s and the World’s best 50 bars. Why and how? Well, because they keep reinventing! Their latest bar menu takes you around the globe. And if you haven’t been there in a while, it’s the perfect time to revisit.
Hoots
Hoots is a classic speakeasy, tucked inside the building that houses Perch and Margeret’s Eye. It has the ambience of an underground den - with dark interiors, an elaborate smoking place, and vinyl in the corner. It serves three interpretations of the same drink for three generations. But it keeps them classic. Which has its own charm, because I’ve never had a Hoots drink I didn’t like.
Call Me Ten
At Call Me Ten, the architecture, food, and ambience are a ten on ten, pun intended. But the drinks? They’re a hit-and-miss. But Tirreti Bazaar, inspired by the area of the same name in Kolkata and the Mango Sticky Rice cocktail are worth trying. And so is their take on the classic Espresso Martini.