Rock Bands, Khaats & Desi Cocktails: This Rooftop Bar Is Unlike Anything We’ve Ever Seen

Hookkapani Baithak is the strangest and most fascinating bar we’ve discovered in the recent times. Spread over three floors {including a rooftop full of bright buntings and lights spilling out of hanging buckets}, it’s one of the newest, most unique addas to catch live Rock, Metal and retro bands while sipping delightfully Indian cocktails.

Just follow the fairy lights and quaint wall hangings to reach the first floor. Once you’re there, you’ll see grungy, mismatched couches and unpretentious khaats. The floor above is completely different in character; minimalist decor and wooden benches, if we may add. While both have a very underground vibe, it’s the rooftop that had a piece of our heart. For laters, you can find us here with a hookah and we’ll be closing the place down at 1am.

We’ve never gushed so much about the vibe or ambience of a bar because we felt like between pretentious clubs and CP bars, we’d seen it in all its possible avatars. Only when we visited Hookkapani, we realised how much we were missing something that appealed to us khaat and alloo bhujia-loving sons of the soil {looking at you, lovers of DDLJ}.

The fact that this hipster bar is the labour of love of four consultants, all of who came together purely for their love for khaana-peena also means that the bar menu is a stunner. Mixologist Viju Raj tells us that their USP is cocktails with desi masalas and fresh, homemade syrups {none of those coloured bottles of strawberry and kiwi syrups, yikes}. Also, you can pick your alcohol brand and even ask for it to be mixed with one of their house syrups… Customising like a gangster! 

A few amazing cocktails and tikka platters down, it struck us that the bar had also committed itself to hosting rock, metal and indie bands. This was music to our sick-of-Bollywood/sufi-ears. This, we have to say, kind of sealed our love affair.

On the food front, we wholeheartedly endorse the cocktails that make even the most unappealing things like beetroot have an identity of their own. We loved the Tangy Curry that came with kokum, gin and curry leaves and an Old Monk Old Fashioned.

The sigri waala chicken was the most tender tandoori meat we’ve had and the soya chaap was buttery and roasted to perfection. Other sidekicks like the spring roll and Hyderabadi chicken also played their parts bloody well. Plus, their chilli paneer was quite a rock star. If you like us is always confused; go straight for the platters.

Catch your gang and hit Hookkapani for a night of headbanging and drinking.

P.S. The bar opens at 6pm and stays open till 1am. You can keep a track of their gig nights on their Facebook page.