Kolkata (Calcutta) Nightlife

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.