The city saw a range of F&B spaces open up in 2023. Some good, some great and some outright fabulous! Here’s looking back at the newsmaking F&B city debuts of the year!
CoBo
Erstwhile Aura became CoBo in November. Located in Aauris hotel on Robinson street, CoBo is spread over 6,000sq ft and identifies itself as an Asian skybar and brewery. Divided into three sections — glasshouse, semi-outdoor and open-air — it has found takers among people of different age groups. The cool interiors that lend a unique vibe during the day and night, smashing commercial music, an offbeat exotic menu, craft cocktails and in-house brewed cocktails make it a 10/10 for city peeps and celebrity guests (Aussie cricketing honchos Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson have been spotted chilling here!).
Drunken Teddy
2023 opened big with new F&B destination Drunken Teddy near the Exide crossing. With 15,000sq ft space and a ceiling height of 32ft, Drunken Teddy created the right noise and has been abuzz even now. Several months later, the outlet has become synonymous with hosting interesting club nights with an international feel, featuring the likes of DJ Chetas, Madhur Sharma and more. The beautiful terrace offers a breathtaking view of the Victoria Memorial, St Paul’s Cathedral, Vidyasagar Setu and it has become a go-to place to catch the sundown in winter. The sip-and-bite menu is varied with dim sums, pizzas, Indian, continental spread along with cocktails like Wedding Bell and Caramel Appletini being pop picks.
THAT PLACE
As unique as its name, That Place, located on the third floor of Shakespeare Point, was like a breath of fresh air. That Place is an all-day sports lounge with cool interiors that packs in games — bowling alley, pool table, darts to arcade games — along with bar, shisha and delectable food, thus instantly making it a popular hotspot for everyone. Get Bowled Over, Coffee Crew and interesting kombucha-based cocktails make the sip menu lit while Pan-fried Chicken Gyoza, Creamy Broccoli Planta, sushis and more are the stars of the food menu. From the young to the young-at-heart, everyone makes a beeline for the bowling alley that has a waiting of over 45minutes-1 hour even on weekdays!
LITTLE BIT SOBER
While the key to a successful F&B spot is sprawling space, shisha, Bollywood music and a huge food and sip menu for many, Little Bit Sober won hearts with just the opposite — their snug space, mellow music, minimal decor, tapas menu and cocktails. Yes, Little Bit Sober on 60 Chowringhee Road identifies itself as an out-and-out “cocktail bar where not food but drinks are the hero”. The USP of the 1,800sq ft bar is to educate guests about the varied global trends in cocktails. Renowned mixologist Nitin Tewari has created the cocktail menu that will blow you away with its choice of ingredients and taste. For example, their Bloody Mary is not bloody, err... red enough and it has clarified kasundi, while Ghee Rice Old Fashioned blends Bengali fave gobindobhog rice and Jharna ghee that has become a must-try cocktail at the bar!
PARK STREET SOCIAL
After years of waiting, Calcutta got its first Social outlet (49th Social outlet in the country) that opened its door in November. Owned by entrepreneur Riyaaz Amlani, the national F&B chain made its debut in the city on Park Street with three floors, each capturing a different vibe. There’s almost nothing to not like about Park Street Social because the interiors pay tribute to Calcutta, the menu has signature segments like Epic Lunch Thalis, Social Substantials, Glocal Heroes and the sip menu boasts of their signature LIITs, Trip on the Drip and The Pink Pound. For a shisha-loving city, there’s hookah too. From already hosting a Prateek Kuhad gig to being affordable, Park Street Social is winning hearts and how!
OG BY THE LAKE
Nestled by the glimmering lakeside right in the middle of the city in Mirania Gardens, OG By The Lake opened doors days before the city got engulfed in the Durga Puja madness. The 250-seater cafe was packed to the rafters right from day one, and that too without alcohol on the menu. With beach club vibes and a view to die for, in the past three months it has become a buzzing dine den with multi-cuisine offerings. Pebbled outdoor seating, lush greens, fountains, relaxed outdoor seating across multiple decks by the lake as well as chill indoor seating for those wanting to stay in air conditioning, the space has something for everyone. Come winter, and Sunday brunches have become the new buzz at the cafe, that’s currently also serving a winter special menu by chef Name all the way from Turkey.
145 CAFE AND BAR
Celica Park got yet another party pad in 2023 as Bombay-based 145 Cafe and Bar opened doors in July with a packed launch party. After four successful outlets in Mumbai, the brand was brought to the city by Ayush Killa and Tanay Agarwal of Transways Exim Pvt. Ltd who have also got places like Pa Pa Ya and Soda Bottleopener Wala to the city. The 10th floor party zone also has an alfresco space and covers a total area of over 7,000sq ft. The concept behind the space is that of a high-energy bar in the evenings and a fun casual-dining space during the day with a menu that has a mix of global and local delicacies with craft cocktails and meticulous mixology. Global street food gets a local makeover in dishes such as Guacamole Sev Puri and Kanda Bhajiya Sliders.
TAKI TAKI
After a successful culinary journey in Bangalore and Mumbai, authentic Japanese gastronomy brand Taki Taki arrived in the City of Joy in 2023. Located in the bustling neighbourhood of Minto Park, Taki Taki is a luxurious fine-dine den. ‘Taki’ means falling water in Japanese and the symbol of the brand is a Koi fish which has a special significance in Japanese culture. The luxe pad is a crafted sensorial escapade with meticulously curated food and a sterling ambience. With 180 seating spread over 6,500sq ft space and two mezzanine floors, the interiors of Taki Taki scream Oriental as it is edgy, modern and luxurious yet with a touch of Japanese culture.
BARAKA
This is the first Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean fine-dine in the city with a coveted spot at Quest Mall’s fifth floor. Baraka, the brainchild of Niyati Parekh from Global Kitchens, is all about the understated charm of Middle-East of the yesteryears. The name is a derivation of an Arabic term which loosely translates to blessing and abundance. With a seating capacity of over 70 guests, the menu ranges from hearty Mediterranean salads to comforting soups, pilafs, grills and a range of artfully crafted desserts. Ingredients typical to the area such as zaatar, sumac, saffron and so on have found their way into the cocktails at Baraka. The decor is done in shades of neutrals with a symbolic tree, ‘the tree of life and giving’, and a portrait of the sea to symbolise the Mediterranean waters. Our faves at Baraka include the Egyptian Koshari and the Saffron Milk Cake.