For a very long time, discussions about cars and cocktail culture in India focused almost entirely on metro cities. Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru were seen as the only places pushing boundaries, matching international standards, and setting trends. Tier 2 cities like Jaipur, Amritsar, Shillong, Guwahati, or Chandigarh were celebrated for their history, food, and culture, but rarely for their bars. Now, a new cocktail revolution has been brewing in India as the bars here are creating original identities, using local ingredients, regional stories, and global techniques. Some of them have even made it to the Top 100 bars in India by the 30 Best Bars.
Best Bars In India’s Tier 2 Cities
1. Bar Kin-Rü, Hyderabad
Bar Kin-Rü is a place you discover. Tucked inside Rü Craft Bar & Art Cuisine in Jubilee Hills, this hidden bar feels intimate, calm, and almost meditative. What makes Kin-Rü truly special is how thoughtfully the cocktails are created. The name itself comes from Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. That philosophy flows directly into the drinks.
Take The Hidden Garden, for example, a cocktail made with freshly picked cherry tomatoes, red amaranth leaves, and baby carrots sourced from a nearby farm. Then there’s the theatre behind the bar. Watching the team shake yuzu juice with sage vodka and shochu, pour it into a glass and finish it with a candy stick before announcing, “Yuzumiru,” feels quietly magical.
Where: 377, Road Number 10, Jawahar Colony, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
When: 3 pm – 11:30 pm
2. Native Cocktail Room, Jaipur
Native Cocktail Room didn’t just introduce cocktails to Jaipur, it taught the city how to appreciate them. With its dim lighting, speakeasy vibe, and buzzing energy, it quickly became the Pink City’s first true destination for cocktail lovers. The drinks themselves are bold, layered, and seriously memorable. Willow, inspired by Maharaja Hari Singh, blends honey, caramel, and saffron, evoking warmth, unity, and the golden fields of Kashmir. Padrino, a Negroni-style cocktail inspired by The Godfather, is intense, bittersweet, and unapologetically powerful. Add to that excellent bar snacks, curated music, and a constantly packed room, and you have a place that truly changed how Jaipur drinks.
Where: 51, Hathroi Fort , Hari Kishan Somani Marg, Ajmer Rd, Jaipur
When: 12 pm – 12 am
Cost: ₹2,500 (For two)
3. Shad Skye, Shillong
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High above the city, nestled among the clouds, Shad Skye feels like a love letter to Northeast India. Perched on the rooftop of The Shillong Address, this bar offers sweeping views of Shillong Peak and an atmosphere that’s calm, elegant, and deeply rooted in nature.
The cocktail menu is inspired by all eight northeastern states, and every drink tells the story of its land. Indigenous ingredients take centre stage, from Diengjri roots (Ficus elastica) to tiny wild apples from Nagaland. In order to perfect Krypo Tzu, a colourful cocktail made with handcrafted wild apple wine, white rum, and Naga basil, the team even worked with a local wild apple winemaker.
Pearls of Sikkim, a cardamom-inspired cocktail with layers of pineapple and fragrant warmth, is another noteworthy option. Shad Skye offers an experience that celebrates the Northeast in every possible way.
Where: Rooftop, The Shillong Address, Khyndailad, Police Bazar, Shillong
When: 1 pm – 1 am
4. The Johri, Lal Haveli, Jaipur
Set inside a beautifully restored haveli near Jaipur’s jeweller’s market, the bar carries the same philosophy as fine jewellery. It’s about patience, precision, and respect for craft. Each cocktail is created with seasonal, local ingredients. Here, Fridays are especially memorable, with street-style bar snacks like masala cashews, burrata on khakhra and reimagined samosas served with cocktails.
One standout drink, Banana Tart, features butter-washed Black Label with maple, citrus, and a house-made banana chocolate liqueur. The Johri doesn’t chase trends. Rather, it maintains its Jaipur roots while providing cocktails that are comforting, familiar, and memorable.
Where: 3950, MSB Ka Rasta, Johri Bazar, Ghat Darwaza, Jaipur
When: 1 pm – 5 pm; 7 pm – 11:30 pm
Cost: ₹1,400 (For two)
Also Read: From Speakeasy To Artisanal Gelato, 8 New Restaurants In Pune To Check Out This January
5. Terra Maaya, Guwahati
Spread across a massive rooftop space, Terra Maaya is Guwahati’s answer to a full-fledged cocktail destination. It easily adjusts to any mood thanks to its many zones, balcony, terrace deck, lounge, and cocktail bar. The cocktail menu is interesting but approachable. Robab’Tenga is a popular cocktail made with tequila, fizz, agave nectar, and spiced pomelo. By experimenting with richer, more complex flavours, their chocolate cocktail demonstrates that dessert-inspired drinks can still feel sophisticated.
Where: 6th, Anil Plaza – II, 2, GS Rd, ABC, Near IDBI Bank, Tarun Nagar, Guwahati
When: 12 pm – 12 am
Cost: ₹1,700 (For two)
6. The Bagh, Amritsar
Surrounded by old Champa trees and winding waterbodies, The Bagh feels like a peaceful escape, until the cocktails arrive and completely steal the show. Drinking in Amritsar is being redefined by this outdoor garden bar. Peaches showcase the softer side of whisky with stone fruit and kaffir lime, while wildflower is subtle, flowery, and perfect for long conversations. Tiki Ambarsar’s clarified ginger, pineapple, and whisky give it a tropical warmth and Punjabi soul. The Bagh is quietly promoting Amritsar’s cocktail culture, proving that innovation can flourish even in traditional cities.
Where: The Forest Resort, Bypass Rd, Vallah, Amritsar, Amritsar Cantt.
When: 12:30 pm – 1 am
Cost: ₹2,000 (For two)
7. Koyo Koyo, Hyatt Centric, Chandigarh
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Located inside Hyatt Centric Chandigarh, this award-winning Pan-Asian restaurant and bar combines striking interiors with a cocktail program that’s theatrical yet refined. Every drink is crafted to suit the moment, whether you’re easing into the evening or dancing late into the night. Signature cocktails like Sun-Kissed are designed to be visually stunning and flavour-forward. Koyo Koyo has become Chandigarh’s favourite place for elegant nights out thanks to its modern Asian cuisine, DJ nights, and welcoming design.
Where: Ground Floor, Hyatt Centric, 17A, Sector 17, Chandigarh
When: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm; 7 pm – 11 pm
Cost: ₹3,500 (For two)
8. Sura, Jaipur
Sura is where modern mixology and Rajasthani culture come together. Here, local ingredients, festivals, and folklore serve as inspiration for each cocktail. The famous Mathania mirch is combined with citrus and fig shrub to create the Mathania Margarita. Playful but profoundly symbolic, the Moustachy Paloma is topped with fragrant foam and infused with Gondhoraj lime. From clarified cocktails to festive creations like Teej-inspired Sassy Sesame, Sura shows how tradition can evolve with grace.
Where: Hathroi Fort, 5th Floor, Ajmer Rd, inside Hotel Kalyan, Jaipur
When: 2 pm – 1 am
Cost: ₹2,000 (For two)
India’s cocktail culture is evolving outside of metropolitan areas thanks to these bars in tier 2 cities.
Cover Image Courtesy: Native Cocktail Room/Instagram and The Bagh/Instagram
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