Every time you think Park Street couldn’t get any cooler, a new chill spot pops up. And this time, after a long wait, Social has opened its gates in the city and we can’t keep calm! Located at 1A Russel Street (formerly home to Trapeze restaurant and bar), the place is designed drawing inspiration from the city. It spans across three floors, covering 10,000 sq ft. The decor is carefully curated with items from Kolkata markets and auctions.
My Kolkata took a stroll through Social — which opens for dine-in on Friday, November 3 — and listed 12 things that caught our eye, or as the viral social media trend goes, 12 things that make it ‘just look like a wow’!
The entry to Social, Park Street
The Bong connection
Social is known to reflect the different cities it calls home, and Kolkata is no exception. As you enter the property located on the first floor, you push through this old, antique-looking wooden door. Above the door is a beautiful curved piece of glass with alternating green and red colours. But if that isn’t Bengali enough, even the staircase has an alpona decoration on each step that leads to the second floor, and also the phrase, ‘Taratari cholo’ (come quickly) written on them. #AschiBaba.
Decor elements like an alpona and catchphrases in Bangla bring a unique flavour to the space
Stage, lights, action
Social has gone all out to make your experience special. The first floor of the hang has a small wooden stage for live music bands and stand-up comedy. The stage is not huge, but offers enough room for a small ensemble. A reddish curtain is draped across the stage for a touch of drama. Even though the stage is located to the left as you enter, it is still centrally placed on the first floor. So, if there is a show that is on, all eyes will be on the music or comedy act, creating an engaging focal point.
The stage area
Vinyling back
CD players, gramophones and record players have become a thing of the past, and might only be in places like Metro Music Hall, where they are actively restored and found. Social has tapped into this emotion and has placed a functioning record player next to the entrance. The entire system is made of wood where the player, vinyl and needle are on the top along with small compartments that go along the body of the system. Kolkata loves its music, and this record player stands as a testament to it.
The record player right by the entrance at Social
Carpet Diem
If you walk into a Bengali household, you are very likely to find those wool-velvet carpets that have red, white and maroon designs. Social has taken those carpets and attached them to the ceiling on the second floor. This floor is primarily used for small conferences and business meetings during the day. And we don’t mean as decor, but the entire ceiling is made up of these carpets! Each one has a different design and varies in size but represents and ‘seizes’ the Bangalir bari feeling. Hence, ‘Carpet Diem’.
The carpets on the ceiling
Pizza with a view
The third and topmost floor of Social is an open-air space by a glass-panelled kitchen. Here, they make Tandoori Pizzas in a pizza oven. You can order and enjoy your meal alfresco, seated on wicker and wooden furniture beneath small hanging lanterns. And through the glass panes, you can watch your Pepperoni and Bacon Pizza, Truffle Shiitake and Button Mushroom Pizza, or Smokey White Chicken Pizza getting prepared before your eyes.
The alfresco dining space on the third floor
Booth-iful nostalgia
Social embraces Kolkata’s love for booths — yes, from the old-school cabins you will still see on College Street — in the New Social Cabin Restaurant on the first floor. The cosy enclosures are entirely made of wood and feature plain white tables and benches for a simple look. Orange panels add privacy, and each booth is equipped with switches and sockets you would find in old Bengali houses (the ones that are always fun to fiddle with!) along with smol mirrors on the walls.
Bar-A-Bari
The first bar on the first floor of Social (the second bar is on the second floor) is crafted from wood with the inscription “Social 700 016”. The bar is lit up with two hanging lights on either side and the shelves behind are stacked with the ingredients for their famous LLITs. PS: Don’t call a waiter from behind because their response will most likely be, “#BRB!”
Versatile seating
Seating on the first floor
Sitting comfortably or comfortably sitting? Social has ticked all kinds of seating arrangements. The first floor boasts wooden chairs, benches in the booths and laidback wooden rattan cane chairs. On the second floor, you can choose to swing on swings with your buds, relax on comfy sofas with pillows, or opt for the more profesh leather sofas. You can even take your business meetings to the conference room section, which has chairs on wheels. The third section features wooden and wicker furniture.
The plush sofas and swings on the second floor
DJ Booth and dance floor
By night, the business meeting floor at Social transforms into a vibrant party hub! The DJ booth has parallel lines going down it, and the glass dance floor illuminates with red lights encircling each tile. The space is versatile, catering to both work and play. “This place is perfect for business meetings, and we even have a conference room. It seamlessly transitions into a party atmosphere, with music ranging from techno to retro,” said Riyaaz Amlani, CEO, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality.
DJ station and dance floor
Wall of memories
For a quick visual tour of Kolkata, this wall of frames and decor pieces should do the trick. The main pull is the antique clock surrounded by framed photos of iconic landmarks like Victoria Memorial and Howrah Bridge, a shot of a vintage car, rickshaws and more. Above the clock, a shelf holds wooden and metal ornaments the likes of which you might still find in old Bengali homes.
The wall of memories has sepia snapshots of Kolkata
Bangali Khabar
Kolkata’s love for food shines through at Social, where Shamsul Wahid, the group executive chef of Impresario, has tried his best to recreate some Bengali dishes. One of the must-tries is the Bengali Breakfast, which is not on the menu but can be ordered. It comes with Luchi and Aloor Dum and a Paratha with Ghugni plus a sandesh!
The Bengali breakfast
Another highlight is mutton biryani, yes Kolkatar Mutton Biryani, which comes with not one but two aloos and deems! “The amount I had to taste and work to perfect this biryani was really tough. I never understood why Kolkata loves their aloo so much in their biryani and then I realised that it brings a different taste and texture to the meal,” said chef Wahid. You can also dig into Kosha Mangsho with Luchi.
Kolkata Mutton Biryani
A lit LLIIT (not LIIT)
One of the things Social is famous for is their LIIT. It was Social that turned the Long Island Iced Tea into the Longest Long Island Iced Tea. They used to offer two sizes, 500ml and 1,000ml, but now they've introduced an even larger option: the 2,500ml LLIIT (for sharing with friends, of course!) Other preferred poisons? The Classic Mai Tai With A Twist. “It has white rum, dark rum, pineapple, orange grenadine cherry and bitters,” says Pratik Pangle, Impresario, cluster beverage manager for the west region. We also got to sip on an Asiasa, which is their take on a Whisky Sour.
L-R: The LLIIT, Asiasa and Classic Mai Tai With A Twist
SOCIAL @ Park Street
· Where: BFL Bangur Estate, 1A, Russel Street, near India's Hobby Centre, Park Street Area, Kolkata
· Timings: Open all days, 9.30am - 1am
· Pocket pinch: Rs 1,700 for two with alcohol