Oia (pronounced ee aa) is a tiny little village in Santorini, Greece with a population of 1,500 (according to a 2011 census report on Wikipedia) and is known for its whitewashed houses with blue domes. Oia in Hennur, is an 87,000-square-foot pub with a seating capacity of over 1,800 and it pretty much recreates the Greek village's aesthetics right down to the blue dome. When you enter the space at Oia Bangalore, which by the way is touted as Asia's largest pub, you are in for a visual overload. You're not sure where to focus (and that's okay)—maybe it's the mini waterfall by the koi pond that catches your eye, or maybe the towering arches, or just how expansive the space is.
Either way, finding a favourite spot at Oia Bangalore will be tricky because there are plenty—pond side, inside the cabanas, or maybe the theatre seating. But you're hardly going to sit because you'll want to walk around, take pictures of yourself against the beautiful backdrop and just take in the space. We did just that (hello new social DP). The decor is minimal and there's single-line drawing art peppered around the space, notably by the blue-domed tower. Cane lighting and wicker furniture add to the whitewashed aesthetics of the place.
Once you are back at the table, order from a menu that caters to all cravings. We started with Pani Puri Shots because why not—they were good. The BBQ Baos in an eclectic pink (the Barbie marketing team went all out we think) got us going and enjoying the vibe of the space that was like a little village. Families with their kids, couples on dates, girl gangs in their Sunday best making sure everyone gets aesthetic pictures by the bridge to post on social media, and pretty much everyone made up the population. The stand-out dish for us was the Pork Belly in soy chilli garlic sauce—delightfully succulent with a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
For drinks, the floral-heavy People's Obsession and Oia's LIIT are recommended.
