The Next Big Thing In Delhi's Cocktail Scene? A Bar Inside A Bar

At this point, there’s little that Delhi’s cocktail scene has not tried. We’ve got bars hiding behind sandwich shops, drinks named after medicines (and not just the penicillin), and cocktails that come with a side of vinyl (listening bar, anyone?). While some concepts are done to death (speakeasies listed on Google Maps really defeat the purpose), others are slowly making a dent in the world of cocktails and bars. Delhi’s best bar right now isn’t a bar. It’s a room (or a floor) inside one — smaller rooms with their own identities, nestled inside bigger bars and catering to intimate, experiential settings. Let’s take a look!

When I stepped into Barbet & Pals, I felt a hum in the air. The kind that had been missing from bars that took their “aesthetic” more seriously than their drinks. Here, the buzz was in the pickle back shots, the 90s music beats, and their warring cry, “birds of a feather, sip together”. In the middle of it all, I could not help but notice people sneaking behind a door, never to emerge again… or at least, not in the hour I spent there. Not-so-subtle enquiries brought me to Cavity, a 9-seater cocktail tasting experience within Barbet & Pals.

Do you know the best part about hanging out at a friend’s place? Comfortable, lived-in conversations with soulful food. Now imagine that, but with expertly crafted cocktails. Not one, two, or three, but nine of them. Each is paired with a dish that’ll have you asking for a second helping if you were actually at your friend’s place. The entire menu champions GI-tagged ingredients from across India, which means you get in-house mead made from West Bengal’s Sundarban Honey and a Margarita inspired by Goa’s cashew feni. Owners, friends, and master mixologists themselves, Chirag Pal and Jeet Rana host the evening. This is a quiet luxury, the kind that demands and values the most precious thing in today’s distraction economy — your undivided attention for 3 hours.  

You need to book in advance for a seat at Cavity. It’s operable only on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. The experience starts at 8 pm, runs for 2.5-3 hours, and costs INR 4,500+ taxes per person.  

The latest kid on the block is already getting more mentions than the seats in the room. No kidding. The Hidden Club at Olive Qutub in Mehrauli claims to be the smallest bar in Delhi, possibly India (but not the world!), with seating for only four people. All the reports coming out of the hidden bar talk about the set of six drinks (two mocktails, four cocktails) with varying potency and expert techniques. Here, the bartenders, Chong Sherpa, Rajat Tolia, and Anmol Chhetri, take charge of not just the cocktails on the menu (that’s not printed, apparently, but available in Minesweeper-style grid) but also the conversation in the room, curating a vibe that’s part experimentation, part fun, and altogether exciting.  

You’re knocking elbows with strangers in a room that was originally designed as the venue’s R&D centre. But three nights a week, it now opens up its doors to strangers looking to experiment with new cocktails and simple bar nibbles.  

THC opens its doors at 8 PM every week, from Wednesday to Friday. It costs INR 3,000+ taxes per person.  

There’s old-school energy. There’s new-age, manufactured secrecy. In the midst of it all is Upstairs. Classy, elegant, and timeless, much like its parent restaurant, the Indian Accent. And yes, technically this isn’t a bar inside a “bar”, but it’s worth bending rules for.  

Located on the first floor of the fine-dining restaurant, Upstairs hides nothing. The beverage menu is available online, along with a note on the concept, food, and even the exact location. And yet, it maintains its exclusivity. Because this is a members-only bar. Listening to easy jazz in the background, you can sip on drinks from the martini trolley (served table-side) or other classic cocktails with Indian ingredient–rooted spins. You also get to sample house liquors like the rose-gulkand liqueur along with the usual spirits and zero-alcohol beverages. The food is largely made up of small plates or simple bar snacks, and delectable desserts. Come here for elaborate conversations, the kind that take place while sipping drinks, not downing shots.  

Upstairs opens at 6 PM. Cocktails start at INR 1250. 

The first time I noticed Hoots, I almost didn’t notice it. Which, considering it brands itself as a speakeasy, made complete sense. Nestled between the floors of Perch Wine & Coffee Bar, Hoots is designed like a smuggler’s den with plush seats, low ambient lighting, and expertly crafted cocktails. Perhaps one of Delhi’s earliest examples of a bar within a bar, Hoots opened its gate in 2016 and continues to earn a spot on India’s list of best bars. Because while trends came and went, Hoots stuck to what it does best – serving a damn good cocktail!

Hoots is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 6 PM to 1 AM. The average cost for two is approximately INR 2,500 per person.