Cafes, Art Studios, Boutiques & Tattoo Parlours: Ballygunge Place Has It All

Take your dibs and pick any cuisine because Ballygunge Place seems to have it all. A hood brimming with cafes and eateries, this place is a foodie’s paradise. From authentic Bengali at two of Kolkata’s most popular eateries — 6 Ballygunge and Kasturi — to the best of Bengali fusion at the award-winning Bohemian, and the sea-food paradise Fish-Fish, the choices are abundant. You can also have great oriental fare at Asia In A Box or yummy conti fare at Melting Pot and Mad Hatter. And don’t forget to save a date for Karma Kettle to sip on the delicious brews of Darjeeling tea.

Think of a hood that boasts of a tattoo parlour. That’s still rare in Kolkata, right? Well, Ballygunge Place has one that ups its cool quotient. The Guiding Monk Tattoo studio run by tattoo artist {and a grad from the Government Art College} Debanjali Das is the place to check out if tats are your mojo or if you have been thinking of getting one for long.

The hood has plenty of stores to pick from — indulge in handloom sarees from Vastra Kuttimm or go crazy with curated handcrafted textiles at the Weavers Studio. Alternatively, head to Living Free for some eclectic fashion or to Deshaj for handicrafts from India. If quirky stuff is on your radar then head to Tram Station near 6 Ballygunge to pick up some personalised and quirky Mooch Wale stuff.

Known to all as the Chowdhury House, this old restored villa is a popular for hosting wedding and other social gatherings. With three banquets tucked within its perimeters, Chowdhury House is good blend of the old and the modern. So, next time a social is up for discussion BP’s Chowdhury House would be a good place to consider.

Old heritage schools like Patha Bhavan and South Point have been beacons of BP for long. But did you know chess grandmaster Dibyyendu Barua has his chess school in this neighbourhood? The Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy, run by the grandmaster himself, lets you hone your skills in the game. While events like open chess tournaments are a frequent feature here, what’s interesting is the online classes that the academy offers besides the regular ones.

If art is that special something you cherish, then the Weavers Studio Centre For Arts is the place to visit. A centre dedicated to performing and non-performing arts, it is a great place for collaborations and exhibitions.