Drink Till You Drop: 7 Smashing Watering Holes in Bengaluru

Delicious cocktails, craft beer, and short-eats – Bangalore’s pub culture is a matter of pride. And we do love pub hopping – from our good old haunts that will never go out of fashion, to some of the newer entrants that are the current flavours of the season. Here’s our list of favourite watering holes, in no particular order of course.The Black RabbitPosh, buzzing, and happy – The Black Rabbit is one of Bangalore’s cool addresses of the season. So if you’re planning to go on a weekend, go early. They have an impressive bar menu that includes wines, other spirits, and beer (we recommend the draught), but what you should keep an eye out for are the cocktails. The Musk Melon Martini is a must-try simply because they use fresh fruit to make it. And they do some interesting shots too – try the Yummy Gummies where gummy bears are soaked in vodka and served with Triple Sec and Lime, and the Lollipop which is literally frozen alcohol on a stick. To eat, try the Calamari Tempura, the Baked Mushroom, Spinach, and Cheddar Filo Parcels, Baked Asian Duck Cocktail Samosas, and the Twice Cooked Pork Belly. The music varies – from classic rock to EDM – depending on what day you’re visiting.Wallet Factor: Rs 2,000 (for two)
Location: IndiranagarBrewskyOpen to the sky, at least most of it, Brewksy is a casual hangout place with a lot of energy, especially on weekends. And good energy translates to: need reservations. Given that there aren’t too many pubs around the area, this place is literally a welcome relief for JP Nagar. They do a few craft beers, and even beer cocktails – such as the Weizen Up (nice touch there), which has wheat beer paired with orange flavoured vodka. Their infused cocktails might also be worth a shot; for instance, try the Poison Ivy, made with rum, pineapple and peaches. They also have the classic cocktails, such as Planter’s Punch, Sex On The Beach, White Russian, Bull Frog, etc.  To eat, the Brewsky Bhel – a take on the Mumbai street food, made special with the Mysore churmuri is a winner; then there’s the Chilli Cheese Toast and Pandi Fry.Wallet factor: Rs 1,800 (for two)
Location: JP NagarThe Humming TreeOne of the main reasons why people love The Humming Tree is because they’re constantly hosting some gig or the other, especially by independent artistes. That apart, the rooftop section of The Humming Tree is perfect for a few beers during sunset. And there’s a Foosball table too!What’s absolutely cool is their signature cocktail list – each is inspired by a song by a band, so you get The Rambling Man (by Laura Marling), which has fresh apple juice, Mont Castel Brandy, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, black grapes, and sliced apple; My Shallow Lover (The F16s) that has mixed peppers, ginger, Barcardi, gin, vodka, fresh limejuice and ginger ale; etc. Their bar food menu is fairly standard with a bit of this and that – crab cakes, spiced beef strips, fish fingers, chilli garlic prawns, crostinis, and so on. And go on a gig night – it’s bound to be fun. They also have happy hours till 7pm.Wallet factor: Rs 1,800 (for two)
Location: IndiranagarDrinks on MGIt was one of the most expensive cocktail bars in the city when it launched, and not without reason. They use some of the best liquor for their cocktails. The good news is that they’ve slashed their prices, and the drinks are still as good. It doesn’t see as much crowd as some of the other bars in the city, but it’s totally worth checking out, especially if you’re planning a girls’ night out. They’ve got some interesting mixes such as Green Tea Scotch, made with whisky, green tea, egg white, honey, chocolate bitters, and lime; Apple Cinnamon Strudel, which is actually a drink made with vodka, cinnamon and apple juice; or Platanos El Mole, made with dark rum, banana, and chocolate bitters. Their food menu is simple, and yet has interesting touches – there’s calamari, meatballs, tempura-fried prawns, pizzas, sliders, and so on. There’s quite a bit for vegetarians too.Wallet factor: Rs 1,800 (for two)
Location: MG RoadThe Fatty BaoEveryone goes to The Fatty Bao for its food, but the rooftop transforms into a vibrant Asian bar as the week comes to a close. Their quirky lights, décor, music, and the ambience cheer one up instantly. Make reservations in advance if you want a table, even though a seat by the bar can be as much fun. They have a new menu in place too – with cocktails including the Hello Moto! (Absolut Vanilla, pepper, fresh melon, and cardamom), Life’s Peachy (Absolut Mandarin, gin, peach, lime, and Martini Rosso) and the Green Kimono (Absolut Pepper, fresh pineapple, blended with curry Leaves and lemon grass). To eat, try the Curried Chicken and Shrimp Dumpling, the Wild Mushroom and Spinach Gyoza, the Chicken Katsu Bao, and the Steamed Baby Scallops with Fujiko Butter.Wallet factor: Rs 2,000 (for two)
Location: IndiranagarThe Lost CaravanGo for the ambience, if nothing else. It’s inspired from journeys, and for a travelling soul, The Lost Caravan can be quite the pit stop. Amidst the art deco, pop art, clocks frozen in time – you can choose from a menu that’s pretty much picked up from all over the world – nachos, quesadillas, burgers, pasta, paella, and they even have churros. The drinks menu follows a similar pattern, with Manhattans, Martinis, Cuba Libre, Irish cream with soda, and a bunch of signature cocktails that include something called Bailey-O-Bailey, which has Bailey’s, crushed ice, and chocolate cookies. Can you say no to something like that?Wallet factor: Rs 1,400 (for two)
Location: Church StreetBlistering BarnaclesOrdering from a comic book can be fun, and the guys at Blistering Barnacles figured that out. A rooftop space that favours classic rock music over other genres, the pub has a beautiful buzz around it. However, don’t expect perfection – the food and drinks are decent, and the service can get a little chaotic (although the boys do try), especially on weekend. For drinks, it’s best to play safe here. Go for the beers, and the regular gin and tonic kind of drink. To eat, the Chicken Steamed Momos, Golden Fried Prawns, Roast Chilli Pork, or the Buffalo Wings with your choice of sauce (Thousand Island, Barbecue, or Thai Crumb Fried) are worth trying. They also have a combination platter of bruschetta, and Tortilla Chips with Cheese – both of which work well with the vegetarians at the table.Wallet factor: Rs 1,200 (for two)
Location: IndiranagarDisclaimer:The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.