Weekend in Bangalore: Much Beer & Coffee Flow In India's Silicon Valley
If you are in Bangalore for the weekend, your happy time should ideally start on a Friday night. This Silicon Valley of India is better known as the pub capital of the country in the party circuit. Here are a few things you should try out while in Bangalore. It is guaranteed that you will have a gala time and some beautiful moments for you to cherish in the times to come.
Pubs and bars: There are a galaxy of bars in and around the city and you will be spoilt for choice which water hole to go. If you are willing to travel, make sure you are in the vicinity of MG Road and Brigade Road where some of the coolest ones are located. Tapwater on Brigade Road is for Karoke lovers, or you could go to Hard Rock Café at St Marks Road which is close by if you want to listen to recorded music. There are many outlets of Xtreme Sports Bar across the town and if you head there, make sure you get corporate ‘happy hours’ as you produce your ID card. Tavern at the Inn on Museum Road is for the crowd that loves hard drinks. If you just want to blend in with the beer-loving crowd, the Bierre Club at Lavelle Road is the right place for you.
Do you want to see all of Bangalore? You can do so with a drink in your hand at UB City’s Skyee, the rooftop bar which holds the best view of the city.
Coffee, coffee and more coffee: Are you looking to nurse that hangover of pub-hopping? That is a good excuse to head to the aromatic coffee houses across the city. Even if you have no excuse, enjoy a mug of good filter coffee at India Coffee House on Church Street. The culture of coffee houses started in Bangalore and every big chain across the country had first soft tested this market. While big chains are present in large numbers, go for the un-branded ones and check out the USP of Bangalore coffee houses. The aroma of pounded coffee will definitely please your olfactory senses.
Dosa, sandwiches and chutneys: You might not have stopped with just one cup of coffee, but there is more to satiate your gastronomic urges. No coffee is complete without the perfect South Indian snacks. Do not just go for the regular idli and vada, try the wide varieties of dosas on offer. Set dosa is Karnataka’s contribution to the world of dosas. Every dosa comes with at least three kinds of chutneys. Try all of them in generous amounts. Do you think rice is for a heavy lunch? The variety of rice baaths might change your mind. There is tomato rice, masala rice, Pongal, vaangi baath and the king of them all, Bisi Bele Baath.
Where do you find such outlets? There is one on each street corner. If you are into continental food, do not miss the local version of Fish n Chips at Koshy’s on St Marks Road. There are also many Andhra food joints which are a rage in Bangalore for some spicy non-vegetarian fare.
Shop while on the street: Mysore silk sarees, sandalwood artifacts, second-hand books? They are all there in Bangalore. Go to Karnataka Silk State Co-operative or KSIC showroom on MG Road for authentic Mysore silk sarees. MG Road also has Cauvery Handicrafts to check the grandeur of sandwood art. If you are not ready to spend much, make sure you pick up sandalwood powder and aromatic sandal soaps, perfumes and incense sticks. Want to do some light shopping? Head to the Commercial Street for clothes of all sorts, walk around Jaynagar Fourth Block with a sandwich from Pavitra/Cool Joint in hand, at the start of the street.
Cubbon park, Lal Bagh and the palace: Do you want to know how Tipu Sultan lived? Go to the Sultan’s Summer Palace and suddenly you can see the building which is featured as a billionaire’s mansion in most of the movies in India. Lal Bagh garden tells you why the city should keep its old title of garden city. There are hundred-year old trees with canopy that cover buildings and flowers that you might not even know existed. Learn about their botanical names and classifications too! After that, head to the Cubbon Park for a long walk through the greens or sit with a book on one of the benches. Do not miss the historic Cubbon library.
(The writer has been working as a business journalist for the last nine years, and has covered beats across banking, pharma, healthcare, telecom, technology, power, infrastructure, shipping and commodities)