If our last Bar Directory had anything to do with it, your bank balance hasn't completely been depleted, and you can still go out. If you like your Scotch older than Kimye's wedding photos, Wine seasoned with the tears of blind nuns, Cocktails so deceivingly divine you don't know where the alcohol or your money went, and alcohol brands you can't pronounce or afford, then you're in the right place. For a drink worth its blend and mixologists worth their salt, we proudly present a curated list of high-end watering holes.
Tease at Vivanta by Taj, Gurgaon | This high-energy bar with comfortable plush seating makes sure you have reason to celebrate {you know what we mean} pretty much every day of the week. On Wednesdays, they break their English-music-only rule for some Sufi tunes, both of which go equally well with the warm wooden interiors and bright, high ceiling. Whether it’s White Collar Tuesdays or Geek Fridays {for IT company employees}, they run special offers on their extensive drinks list. The top-sellers here are Bee’s Knees, which is a vodka and honey concoction, the Wasabi Martini and Citrus Shop, rum and citrus fruit cocktails. And if none of the above tickles your fancy, ask for the Vivanta Signature Cocktails menu – that’s a whole other deal!
Where: Sector 44, Gurgaon {Opposite HUDA City Centre Metro stop}
Contact: 0124 6671234 or click here.
Price: INR 650 upwards for a cocktail {taxes not included}
Connexions at Crowne Plaza, Gurgaon | The lobby level bar may not seem that spacious, but once you’re tucked into one of the high-backed pods, you can leave the rest of the world behind. Connexions serves over 80 varieties of whiskey, including some very fine single malts, and over 400 varieties of wine. Lucky for us, champagne by the glass is on offer too. From Monday to Thursday, finish off your round of drinks with the special Comfort Food Menu. That’s all our favourite things, in one place.
Where: Sector 29 {Opposite Signature Tower}, Off NH8, Gurgaon
Contact: 0124 4534000 or click here.
Price: Whiskey starts at INR 475, Beverage buffet on Fridays for INR 1,500 {taxes not included}
Rubicon Bar at The Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon | Walking in to Rubicon Bar is a treat for the eyes. Designed by a Japanese studio, the ornate setting seems perfectly fitting for their choice menu. Fine scotches from the Scottish Highlands, Lowlands, Islay and Speyside regions are on offer, including the not-so-common Glenfiddich 50 years, 90 years, and the much-celebrated Snow Phoenix. If you’d like to make like a Jay Z music video, you’ll be happy to know that their champagne collection includes Armand de Brignac, priced at INR 75000 a bottle. Or if you’re in a Regular Hoe kind of mood, you can stick with their signature cocktails like the Rubicon Julep, a delicate mix of bourbon, whiskey, crème de menthe, sweet & sour mix, and fresh mint leaves.
Where: Ambience Island, NH8, past Delhi-Gurgaon toll
Contact: 0124 4771234 or click here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 800, whiskey and wine prices vary according to the selection. 30 ml of Ladyburn costs INR 10,000; 30 ml of the Glenfiddich 40 costs INR 16,000; 30 ml of Glenfiddich 50 costs INR 60,000 {taxes not included}
The Piano Bar at The Oberoi, Gurgaon | We're not ones to play favourites, but we have to say we are especially fond of The Piano Bar. The ceiling-to-floor glass windows overlook the vast blueness of the reflective pool, and the view gets even more picturesque in the evenings, when the torches set amidst the water body are ablaze. Specialty martinis are shaken at your table, and all classic cocktails and champagne are served in handcrafted European glassware. You’ll be spoilt for choice {and maybe a tad confused!} with the variety of bottles stacked in the adjoining Wine Room, but the ever-helpful people at The Oberoi, Gurgaon will make it easier for you to pick between the Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Sangiovese and the Domaine Schlumberger Pinot Gris, among many, many others.
Where: Udyog Vihar Phase 5, Off NH8, Gurgaon
Contact: 0124 42451234 or click here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 600, wine and whiskey as per selection {taxes not included}
Blue Bar | Mid-sized, glass-walled, and the only room at the Taj with a pool view that you won't get charged for, Blue Bar nails its cocktails and shots. We recommend trusting the bartender with your eyes closed; just mention your base of choice and let him do the rest. We've noticed buying by the bottle works out more economical if you're in a big group. Blue Bar turns into a full fledged night club on the weekends, so if you're a spend thrift and like space to stand, book yourself a table. If dinner and drinks are the agenda, start your evening at Blue Ginger {shares a wall with Blue Bar}, for some authentic Vietnamese Cuisine, followed by drinks at Blue Bar.
Where: Taj Palace Hotel, 2, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave
Contact: 011 26110202, or click here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 1,000, and whiskey, vodka and beer as per selection; a bottle of wine starts at INR 4,500
Ricks | Next door to favourite after hours coffee shop, Machan, Ricks is frequented by a slightly older and more refined crowd. With skilled bartenders on hand, and a range of fine wines, international single malts and rare whiskies, Ricks stays true to the meaning of Bar more than most other places. They're strict on dress code {closed shoes for men}, and age checks, so make sure you have both things in order.
Where: The Taj Mahal Hotel, No. 1 Man Singh Road
Contact: 011 23026162, or click here.
Price: Whiskey and wine as per selection and cocktails start at INR 1,000
PCO | For the more relaxed big spender, PCO is a perfect fit. Delhi's first and only Speak Easy, PCO came into the limelight for their perfectly tailored cocktails {and bartender outfits}. LBB's Delhi Cocktail Club's headquarters, PCO does a mean 19th, Mint Julep and Clover Club {all cocktails to order}. What's even better, a customized birthday shot made from strawberries and cream. PCO has three different sections - a cigar lounge, cellar, and basement.
PS: You need a code, aka the right friends, to get in.
Where: D Block Market, Vasant Vihar
Contact: 011 46062444 or follow them here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 800, wine and whiskey as per selection
Library Bar | Definitely more suited for those who know their blends and brews, The Library Bar resembles the inside of what we'd imagine a Gentleman's private drinking quarters look like. First edition books {no, you can't borrow}, plush sofas, chesterfield chairs, cigars, an aged whisky collection and the perfect Martini and Whisky Sour, we recommend Library Bar for a true sampler of the art of mixology.
Where: The Leela Palace, Chankayapuri
Contact: 011 39331340, or click here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 1,000 and whiskey and wine as per selection
Anidra | Anidra peaked in popularity around the time of its opening, but has steadily stopped registering on people's radars. Situated in The Lodhi, Anidra is perfect for a pre-drinking session, or if you want a less crowded bar {read:date night}. They have an extensive food menu and wine list, and are in a hotel so oh hey date night. Major points for screening the FIFA World Cup 2014 {bye date night}.
Where: The Lodhi, Lodhi Road
Contact: 011 4363 3413 or click here.
Price: Wine and Whisky as per selection and a pint of Beer starts at INR 400.
Guppy by Ai | Although predominately one of the finest Japanese Restaurants in the Capital, two words: Sake. Bombs. Another winner from the Olive Bar and Kitchen family, Guppy has a list of traditional Sake choices, Shochu {a Japanese distilled beverage}, and signature cocktails, along with a wine selection. The bar space itself is relatively small, but you can always sake bomb at your table, over your Ramen. PS: Careful with those Sake Bomb chopsticks.
Where: Guppy by Ai, 28 Main Market, Lodhi Colony
Contact: 011 24690005, 9650185005, click here, or follow them on Facebook here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 525, and Sake at INR 450 {for 45 ml}, INR 8,500 {for 720 ml} and INR 11,500 {for 1,800 ml}
Keya | Keya is a club, and makes no attempt to call themselves anything else. A reservation is strongly recommended, as is the Cosmopolitan. If you're looking for seating, easy access to the bar, and the ability to hear your own thoughts, please look further. The resident DJ is hands down one of the best in the city, and far from techno beats, their playlist is always commercial and popular.
Where: DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj
Contact: 9560715544/9560715533 or click here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 600, and wine and whiskey as per selection
China Kitchen | The most legit after-hours bar in the city, China Kitchen seamlessly transitions from a fine-dining Chinese restaurant to an over-crowded and loud bar. One of the few places to stay open all night long {we've definitely seen the sun rise}, China Kitchen leaves much to be desired when compared to other bars around the city. But, they serve alcohol and don't seem to shut shop, so are inadvertently a city hot-spot. They don't require a reservation, and neither are they fussy about who they let in; just finish everything else you had planned in a night, and show up.
Where: Hyatt Regency, Bhikaji Cama Place
Contact: 011 26791234 or click here.
Price: Cocktails start at INR 1,000 and a double vodka tonic is priced at INR 1,200