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Kolkata (Calcutta) Nightlife

Kolkata is a big, sophisticated city with a nightlife scene offering a broad array of evening entertainment, from the swish to the sleazy.

There are many bars in restaurants around Park Street, good for a few drinks albeit in slightly boozy all-male environments (lone women should exercise caution), and a few trendy clubs in upmarket hotels, but little in between. Unlike Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru (Bangalore), Kolkata is short on a middle ground of mainstream pubs popular with a mix of people, but there is a slowly growing number and variety of venues.

Most nightclubs have a mix of music styles, with variations of reggae, blues, disco, hip hop, trance, Hindi pop and remixed bhangra (Punjabi dance music). Dress code for hotel nightclubs is strictly smart casual; single males are often denied entry unless they are staying at the hotel in which the nightclub is located.

Check local listings in The Telegraph and The Times of India. Cal Calling, a handy monthly booklet with listings of exhibitions, retail outlets, bars, restaurants and more, is available from some of the more upmarket hotels, or you can buy it in the West Bengal Tourism Centre. Alternatively, visit Justdial Entertainment (http://www.justdial.com/entertainment/events/Kolkata) for information on upcoming events.

Bars in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Bakstage

A haven for music lovers, Bakstage is Kolkata’s quintessential rock bar, complete with walls covered in vinyl discs and cassettes and seat covers depicting everybody’s favorite musos. With rocking good vibes and an extensive drinks menu, the place is usually packed.

Address: , Kolkata, Sector V, Salt Lake City, 700091
Telephone: +91 98 8375 3337

The Junction

Located in the glamorous Taj Bengal hotel, the Junction is a railway-inspired watering hole. A celebration of old-fashioned charm, the bar makes the perfect setting for an intimate conversation. Connoisseurs will be pleased to know that the venue’s menu features some of the finest single malts and smooth liqueurs in the city.

Address: , Kolkata, Sector V, Salt Lake City, 700027
Telephone: +91 33 6612 3939
Website: https://taj.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj-bengal-kolkata/restaurants/the-junction-bar

The Park

This hotel nightspot has a great selection of drinking and dancing venues: Someplace Else, an English-style pub with different live music every night, Tantra, a very stylish lounge bar and club, and Roxy, which is a classy cocktail bar boasting a fantastic beverage list as well as cigars to puff on.

Address: , 17 Park Street, Kolkata, 700016
Telephone: +91 33 2249 9000
Website: http://www.theparkhotels.com

Clubs in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Roxy

Embodying the glamour of the 60s is Roxy, a swish venue that is a part of the smart Park Hotel and comes complete with exposed brick walls, mood lighting and one of the best dance floors in the city. Add an extensive cocktail and wine list, plus quality DJs, and you’re well set for a night out.

Address: , Park Hotel, 17 Park Street, Kolkata (Calcutta), 700016
Telephone: +91 98 8335 1887
Website: http://www.theparkhotels.com

Tollygunge Club

The city has a strong history of 'club culture' - of the private members' variety, that is, rather than dancing. The Tollygunge Club is one of such establishments, and Kolkata's most famous. Visitors who wish to stay here get a temporary club membership, and others may sometimes be allowed in unaccompanied by a member.

Address: , 120 Deshapran Sasmal Road, Kolkata, 700033
Telephone: +91 33 2473 5954
Website: http://tollygungeclub.org

UG Reincarnated

Both a pioneer and a veteran on Kolkata’s club circuit, UG Reincarnated (formerly the Underground) underwent an extensive revamp in 2015. Some of the highlights of the ultra modern venue include 3D laser lights, a 40-foot long bar, and a private lounge offering the utmost privacy behind a virtual laser screen curtain. The club is located in Hotel Hindusthan International.

Address: , Kolkata, 235/1 AJC Bose Road, 700020
Telephone: +91 85 0946 1251
Website: http://liveinstyle.com

Live music in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Academy of Fine Arts

The Academy stages many performances of regional Indian live music throughout the week. As well as being an excellent art gallery, it's a great place to get immersed in traditional music and song.

Address: , 2 Cathedral Road, Kolkata, 700020
Telephone: +91 33 2223 7096

Calcutta School of Music

Western music of many genres, from classical to jazz, is regularly performed here. Many of the concerts are staged by the students themselves, and there is a regular programme, primarily on Friday evenings.

Address: , Kolkata, 6B Sunny Park, 700019
Telephone: +91 33 2461 5375
Website: http://www.calmusic.org

Someplace Else

The Park Hotel's rock music venue is Kolkata's prime site for contemporary live music, with the top local bands appearing on a regular basis. If it's guitars and drums that excite you, this is the venue to visit.

Address: , Park Hotel, 17 Park Street, Kolkata,
Telephone: +91 33 2249 9000
Website: http://www.theparkhotels.com

Classical music in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Dance in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Theatres in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Music and Dance in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Culture in Kolkata (Calcutta)

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ITC Sonar

Spreading over 6.5 hectares (16 acres), this deluxe hotel has a gloriously tranquil ambience. Its top-class rooms surround a huge pool and are tastefully minimalist, with contemporary designs and fresh tones. Each room comes with Internet access, personalised vaults and 24-hour butler service. Guests can enjoy the health spa and beauty salon, with a variety of massage treatments, gym and collection of fine restaurants including delicious Dum Pukht.

Lytton Hotel

A comfortable, friendly, hotel in the heart of busy Sudder Street, the Lytton has pleasing rooms, all with air conditioning, fridge, Wi-Fi access, television and writing desk, making it a good value (for Kolkata) hotel for business travellers and tourists alike. It has a business centre, a good restaurant and a cosy bar – and it's just around the corner from the Indian Museum.

The Oberoi Grand

Set back from the chaos of Chowringee, this elegant Victorian structure has long been one of Kolkata's (and the subcontinent's) finest, and indeed most historic, hotels. Its courtyard is filled with columns and plants; the exquisitely restored hotel has beautifully decorated rooms (including sumptuous suites with grand four-poster beds and teak wood floors) in addition to a handful of superb restaurants, a tea lounge, spa, fitness centre and pool.

The Park

A great location in the heart of Park Street, this upmarket property is a member of the Design Hotels of the World. Standard doubles are very comfortable with soothing warm tones and there are also more opulent suites and larger 'Luxury rooms'. It's stylish, well run and home to the trendy Tantra nightclub as well as some commendable restaurants. Other treats include an inviting swimming pool, gym and spa (which offers traditional Ayurvedic treatments and heavenly body scrubs).

Hotel Lindsay

The Lindsay offers a degree of comfort that belies the price. A nice feature is the rooftop restaurant, which affords good views of the teeming city below. It also has Wi-Fi in the rooms, and all the usual 'mod cons' expected from a modern hotel.

Fairlawn Hotel

A living part of the city's history, this small-scale property harks back to the late 18th century and has retained a creaky charm, and the charming, eccentric octogenarian owner is proud to talk about the interesting photos lining the walls. Extensively renovated in 2010, the hotel is crammed with bric-a-brac, old wicker furniture and Raj-era memorabilia. Rooms aren't flash but are comfortable enough, with some bathrooms featuring great old free-standing bath tubs.