As the sun sets and the city lights flicker to life, India’s vibrant bar scene gets ready to take centre stage once again. 30BestBarsIndia has just unveiled its highly anticipated Top 100 Long List for 2024, showcasing the creativity and innovation that continues to flourish across the country’s cocktail culture. This year’s list features 48 new entrants, emphasising a growing wave of fresh concepts and exceptional experiences in the world of mixology.
Explore The New Wave Of Bars Shaping India’s Cocktail Culture
Spanning 13 cities and the lively coastal paradise of Goa, this long list highlights the rich diversity of India’s bars. Delhi leads the charge with 18 bars, while Goa closely follows with 16, and Mumbai shines with 15. Other notable mentions include Bangalore with 14 bars and Kolkata with 12. Even beyond the metropolitan giants, non-metro cities are making their mark: Jaipur boasts 4 bars, and both Shillong and Guwahati contribute 2 each, alongside Udaipur and Chandigarh with 1 each.
The presence of 48 newcomers on this year’s list signals a thriving landscape where both established venues and up-and-coming bars are eager to innovate and elevate the drinking experience. Vikram Achanta, co-founder of 30BestBarsIndia, highlights this shift, stating, “In the past year, we’ve seen a significant emphasis on concept and storytelling, which has now become paramount. Bars are no longer just spaces to drink – they are immersive experiences.”
30BestBarsIndia’s 2024 Top 100 Long List
The 2024 long list features an exciting range of establishments, from chic urban lounges to artisanal cocktail rooms and speakeasies. Here’s a glimpse at the 100 bars that made it to the prestigious long list, with new entries marked with an asterisk:
- 7 Rivers Brewing Co., Taj MG Road (Bangalore)
- AER Lounge, Four Seasons (Mumbai)*
- Aidu (Hyderabad)*
- AMPM (Kolkata)*
- Americano (Mumbai)
- Bandra Born (Mumbai)*
- Bar 259, JW Marriott (Kolkata)*
- Bar Palladio, Narain Niwas Palace (Jaipur)
- Beno (Goa)*
- Bob’s Bar, Indiranagar (Bangalore)
- Byg Brewski Brewing Company, Hennur (Bangalore)
- Cirqa 1960 (Mumbai)*
- Cobbler & Crew (Pune)
- Cock & Bull (Hyderabad)
- Cocktails & Dreams (Gurgaon)
- Comorin (Gurgaon)
- Copitas, Four Seasons Hotel (Bangalore)
- Ekaa (Mumbai)
- Elephant & Co. (Goa)
- Elephant & Co., Kalyaninagar (Pune)
- Fig & Maple (New Delhi)*
- For The Record – Vinyl Bar (Goa)
- Forefathers (Hyderabad)*
- Grumps (Goa)*
- Hideaway (Goa)
- Hodd’s Bar, Hyatt, Gachibowli (Hyderabad)*
- HOME (New Delhi)
- Hoots’ (New Delhi)
- Hosa (Goa)
- Izumi (Mumbai)
- Jamming Goat 1.0 (Goa)
- Jamming Goat 3.0, JP Nagar (Bangalore)
- Joseph Bar (Goa)
- Khi Khi, (New Delhi)*
- Klap (New Delhi)
- KOKO (Bangalore)*
- KooX – Rooftop Asian Grill, Novotel Chennai Chamiers Road (Chennai)
- Koyo Koyo, Hyatt Centric (Chandigarh)*
- Lair (New Delhi)
- Little Bit Sober (Kolkata)*
- LMNOQ Skybar (Kolkata)*
- Loya, Taj Palace (New Delhi)
- Madam G (Kolkata)*
- Malaka Spice (Pune)
- Masque (Mumbai)
- Mehico (Kolkata)*
- Mezcalita, Churchgate (Mumbai)
- Mia’s (New Delhi)*
- Miguel’s (Goa)
- Muro (Bangalore)*
- Native Cocktail Room (Jaipur)
- Noho (Hyderabad)*
- O Pedro (Mumbai)
- Olive Bar & Kitchen, Qutub (New Delhi)*
- Olterra (Kolkata)
- Pablo’s (Goa)
- Pandan Club (Chennai)*
- Papa’s (Mumbai)*
- PCO (Mumbai)
- PCO (New Delhi)
- Perch Wine & Coffee Bar, Vasant Vihar (New Delhi)
- Petisco (Goa)*
- Piano Man Jazz Club, El Deco Centre (New Delhi)*
- Radio Room (Chennai)*
- Red (New Delhi)*
- Rick’s, Taj Mahal (New Delhi)
- Room One (Goa)*
- Roxie (Bangalore)
- RÜ (Hyderabad)*
- Sanctuary Bar & Kitchen (Hyderabad)
- SAZ American Brasserie, Vasant Kunj (New Delhi)
- SAZ On The Beach (Goa)*
- Shad Skye (Shillong)*
- Sidecar (New Delhi)
- Slink & Bardot (Mumbai)
- Slow Tide (Goa)
- Soka (Bangalore)*
- Sorano (Kolkata)
- Soy Como Soy (Pune)
- Spirit Forward (Bangalore)*
- SURA – Cocktails & Cuisine (Jaipur)*
- Terra Maaya (Guwahati)
- The Bar, The Oberoi Grand (Kolkata)
- The Barfly (Goa)*
- The Blue Bar, Taj Palace (New Delhi)
- The Bombay Canteen (Mumbai)
- The Brass Room, ITC Royal Bengal (Kolkata)*
- The Cheroot Malt & Cigar Lounge, ITC Grand Chola (Chennai)*
- The Evening Club (Shillong)
- The Grid (Kolkata)
- The Johri & Sons, The Johri (Jaipur)*
- The Library Bar, The Leela Palace Udaipur (Udaipur)*
- The Library Bar, The Leela Palace Bengaluru (Bangalore)
- The Library Bar, The Leela Palace (New Delhi)
- The Living Room (Chennai)*
- The Maroon Room (Guwahati)*
- The Piano Bar and Cigar Lounge, The Oberoi (Gurgaon)*
- The Reservoire (Bangalore)*
- The Second House (Goa)*
- TOIT (Pune)
- Tresind (Mumbai)*
- Waikiki (Mumbai)*
- Whisky Samba (Gurgaon)
- Whisky Samba (Hyderabad)*
- Windmills, Whitefield (Bangalore)
- Yauatcha (Kolkata)
- ZLB 23, The Leela Palace (Bangalore)
Radhakrishnan Nair, co-founder of 30BestBarsIndia, notes, “The record entry of 48 new bars in the Long List is a testament to the constantly improving standards of bars across the country, including in non-metro towns. The fact that so many of our regulars have dropped out of the Long List this year is a signal to bars that they have to be constantly innovating to stay in the reckoning and be counted among the best in the country.”
So raise a glass, celebrate the craft, and stay tuned for the grand reveal of the 30 Best Bars in India!
Cover Image Courtesy: AER Mumbai/Instagram and Grumps Goa/Instagram
Cover Image Courtesy: Press Release