Ek Bar: Cocktails Shaken And Stirred With A Dose Of Desi

One of the first Indian cocktails bars in the city, Ek Bar promises glassfuls of nostalgia, tradition and seasonal Indian flavours in sync with the best of liquor.

You’ll see him when you enter; he’s on the wall, wearing sunglasses, watching you daintily sip on a teacup. He’s not fooled, he knows you’re indulging in some good ol’ Royal Indian Punch {a concoction involving whisky, fermented kahwa tea, pink grapefruit, spices and ice; this used to be a favourite amongst British royals in the 17th century}.

If you’re looking for something lighter, the Mojito 6 is a great option. In contrast to a regular mojito, this contains rum, amrak {starfruit} and Ek Bar’s in-house six spice mix. If neither of us these adhere to your taste, do ask the peeps at the restaurant to hook you up any of mixologist Nitin Tewari’s creations.

Ek Bar is an endeavour by the Olive Group, in collaboration with Chef Sujan S from the Olive Qutub, and the menu {a mix of modern Indian regional fare} clearly reflects this. You’ll find a melange of the savoury and the sweet and may end up being confused about the various courses. We suggest you sit back and let the flavours play around with your taste buds.

Highlights on the food menu include the Ek Bar Granola Bar {dahivalla ice cream, coriander, avocado and imli gel} and the Coorg Pandi Curry {steamed rice dumpling with pear chutney}.

Ek Bar is open only in the evening on weekdays but has a stellar brunch prepared on weekends. So, whenever you’re in the mood for some zesty, spicy cocktails amidst a classy yet quirky ambience, just walk in and make yourself comfortable.