8 Must-Do Activites & Experiences You Should Be A Part Of During Christmas In Kolkata

Get a table by the window while the fast-paced world outside passes you by. People always liked the restaurant because of the variety of cakes and pastries, and if you're searching for a cake for any occasion, this is the place to go. You must try the Rum balls, which are made with rum, cocoa, and chocolate sponge cake. There are international cakes, puddings, chocolates, and pastries on the menu. One of the most popular offerings at Flurys is its high tea. Flurys was initially established as an old English tearoom by Mr and Mrs J. Flurys in 1927. Well-known around the world for its rich, creamy cookies, puddings, and pastries, the restaurant, still as well-liked decades later, features chandeliers, fancy furniture, and pastel colours. 

Timings: 6 AM - 11PM

Price: INR 1,500 for two

Contact: 03340007452

Google Rating: 4.2/5

Instagram: @flurysindia

Nahoum's would be Kolkata's sweet spot if there were one. Established in 1902 by Baghdadi Jew Nahoum Israel Mordecai, who used to sell his baked goods door-to-door, this 121-year-old New Market treasure has stood the test of time. Along with Middle Eastern and Jewish sweets like baklava and challah bread, Nahoum's introduced Western sweets like brownies and cream puffs. Queues for their Plum Cake are longer than a Durga Puja pandal line, making it the undisputed Christmas king. Don't stop there, though; you must try the renowned macarons, chicken patties, lemon tarts, rum balls, Black Forest pastries, Madeira cake, and kakas (caraway cookies). 

Timings: 9:30 AM - 8 PM

Price: INR 200 for two

Contact: 03322520655

Google Rating: 4.3/5

The Kolkata Christmas Festival is now a yearly event in the city. Every year, Park Street comes to life with spectacular lighting, Christmas carols, unique choir performances, food booths, and live music from the city's most prominent artists and bands. This year too, there will be food stalls across the length of Park Street and at Allen Park. The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal, oversees this one-of-a-kind Christmas festival in collaboration with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Apeejay Surrendra Group and members of the Christian community.

How To Reach: Your best option is to take a metro train to Park Street Metro Station and start walking, following the crowd. It becomes very crowded real quick, so parking might be full if you’re driving your own car. You can also use Ola/Uber facilities too.

Situated in a small alley, this bakery has been a part of the Saldanha family home for a very long time. Purchase their well-known, delicious walnut cake. This traditional Goan bakery in Kolkata has been around since 1930 and is renowned for its taste and quality. It is exclusively run out of its home, factory, and sales counter. Coconut macaroons, rich fruit cake, chocolate walnut cake, lemon drop, chicken puff, and cheese puff are all must-haves. You must place your order ahead of time and pick up your food from the bakery. They work out of their kitchen on the premises of their home. All the work for the cakes is done by hand, from whipping the eggs to separating the dried fruit – this is a no-machine zone. They even use their old traditional ovens, which give the cakes the perfect temperature to cook in.

Timings: 9 AM - 8 PM

Price: INR 200 for two

Contact: 9831701085 | 9830917617 | 033 - 22174032

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Facebook: Saldanah Bakery

Instagram: @saldanahbakery

If you want to visit the churches around Christmas to attend the midnight mass, you can visit the 1847 Protestant church known as St Paul's Cathedral. People from many different faiths frequently participate in the midnight mass here, which is broadcast on national television. The entire street is lit up like one of those Pinterest mood boards come to life. 

Timings: 10 AM - 6 PM. Open through the 24th midnight during Christmas.

How To Reach: You can book an Ola/Uber or drive your car. But parking your car can be difficult. It is recommended to use public transport. The nearest metro stations are Maidan metro station and Park Street metro station.

Google Rating: 4.6/5

The ‘paper stores’ on Mirza Ghalib Street are where you’ll find decorations for the home. Bells, holly leaves and snowflakes that you can hang around the house are the most common (they start at about INR 100 for the smaller pieces and INR 200 for the bigger ones!). Red, gold, silver — you’ll find something for the house in all the Christmas colours. The closer you get to Christmas, the cheaper the stock becomes since the stores are trying to get rid of their supplies before the season ends. You can score a bargain if you buy in bulk.

How To Reach: You can use public transport like cabs, buses and the metro.

The decorations, though, are the things to look out for because every year there's some new product that you want to add to your already massive collection. Of course, the usual suspects of cheery red bells, sparkly baubles, chunky decorative tinkling bells, red socks, fairy lights, streamers and Santa hats with lights are all in stock. Grey holly sprigs, kids' Santa suits, cute decorated Santa bags and bright cherry wreaths are also our favourites every year.

Are we supposed to give up on feasting simply because our purses are tight and our pockets are small? If anyone ever tells you that, these classic and legendary eateries are here to prove them so very wrong. We've tanked our monthly budget on the gifts, so we're hitting up here to make a holiday feast! From Peter Cat, Mocambo and Moulin Rouge to Chinatown, five-star hotels and more, the city is bursting at the seams with a menu for the Yuletide season.