Nightlife

Nightlife in Kolkata is popped with energy and excitement. The people of Kolkata are believed to have a natural bent of mind and as such very creative. Whatever the reason be but the consequence reveals active participation and adoption of versatile lifestyle by the upcoming generations. The nightlife that started as a phenomenon in the state towards the last decade of 20th century has engulfed the city in deep chasm, an eternal bliss. Younger generations prefer action based participation rather being mute audience in the cinema halls. For these people it is innovation, it is discovering the beautiful side of night if not life.

Kolkata's nightspots are a great place to unwind in. The nocturnal activities take a full blast at midnight in the city. The pubs, bars, coffee shops and discotheques come to life. There are drinks, glittering neon, signboards and lots of noise. The dance floor rumbles and the music flows as more and more people come to these places. The best liquours and cocktails unfold under the roof of these places. Muscles move and heart thumps with the beats produced by massive amplifiers. It is hard to define such feelings one experiences at these places. An appropriate term would be like expressing oneself or maybe living life to its full.

Most nightclubs have a mix of Western music and Hindi pop, with variations of reggae, blues, trance and of course bhangra, and remixes of everything else. Dress code for hotel nightclubs is smart casual; locals are fashion conscious and often dress to be seen.

The city also has many art and culture centers wherein performances are regularly hosted. The city as such caters to both the materialistic as well the aesthetic parts of its population. Cultural shows, Classical music, drama and more are organized at such places. The Sangeet Research Academy at Tollygunge in South Kolkata and close to the school organizes Indian Classical music recitals on weekdays in the evenings.

Listed below are some reputed nightspots:

Tantra
The Park Hotel, 17, Park Street, Kolkata 700016
Beanbags rub shoulders with Rajasthani chic as Go-Go dancers add more color to the m?lange of green and orange. Tantra, the latest addition to the party scene in Kolkata, has a large dance floor and is perfect for some wild partying. The Onyx Bar here offers a good selection of wine and beer, but the place to check out is the Bodhi Bar. The latter, however, is open only to members, so it helps to be well-connected!

Someplace Else
The Park Hotel, 17, Park Street, Kolkata 700016
Someplace Else is under the same roof as Tantra, but appeals to the more relaxed pub hopper. Here, you can wind down to some music, shake a leg without bumping against too many people and get your fill of contemporary cuisine. Someplace Else has been a part of the Kolkata party circuit for a while now - and many of the city's party-goers swear by it.

Dublin
ITC Hotel Sonar Bangla Sheraton & Towers, 1 JBS Haldane Avenue, Opp Science City, Kolkata 700046
If you're looking for some old-world charm, Dublin is the place to head for. There's something about the Irish-Pub appeal of Dublin that warms the cockles of your heart - and it's definitely not just the great beer. Dublin doesn't offer much by way of raucous partying, but the dance floor here's as good a place as any to let down your hair in.

The Big Ben
The Kenilworth Best Western Hotel, 1-2, Little Russell Street, Kolkata 700017
It's as British as it gets, but there's no hint of the stiff upper lip about The Big Ben. This pub throws in an assortment of snack and some live music, and is more for the traveler who'd like to unwind after a long day in the city.

Sunset Bar
Lytton Hotel, 14, Sudder Street, Kolkata 700016
The ambience of the Sunset Bar is, like its name, very mellow. But don't get taken in by appearances - chances are, you'll find the best liqueurs and cocktails in Kolkata within the walls of this bar. The Sunset Bar is open well before and after sunset, and its cozy environs are the perfect place to relax in.

Shisha Bar
Camac Street, Kolkata 700017
This place has a central Asian ambience. It offers visitors the experience of smoking ‘Hookah’ which is a traditional smoking apparatus. Being centrally located and housed in a mall it attracts a lot of people.