Drink your way through Bengaluru’s hip new cocktail scene

From India’s high-tech hub of Bengaluru comes a new obsession: the intimate neighbourhood bar. In a city once dominated by supersized beer breweries, local food and drinks connoisseurs are now relishing the arrival of cocktail culture in Bengaluru. 

One mixologist leading the charge is Arijit Bose. A drinks industry veteran and brand ambassador for Monkey 47 gin, Bose spent six years managing Singapore bar 28 Hong Kong Street. There, he “peered into India’s future” and returned to Bengaluru with a plan to revolutionise the city’s nightlife scene. “Bengaluru was ready,” he says. “It just needed someone to break the ice.” 

Now that the freeze has officially thawed, don’t miss exploring Bengaluru’s best new bars during your next visit. 

Spirit Forward  

Bose’s own bar, which opened on the ground floor of Hotel Southern Star in late-2023, became an overnight success. At its centre is a teak counter, around which well-heeled, cosmopolitan clientele enjoy classic cocktails in a relaxed lounge setting. Bose’s unique vision, and the manner in which he brought it to life, is one of the reasons Spirit Forward  was named the Best Bar in India  by 30 Best Bars India last year. 

“It’s all about personality,” says Bose. “It’s a welcome note scrawled in chalk across your reserved table, a high-five from your bartender and the friendly banter that makes the experience more memorable than what’s in the glass.” 

Soka

Centred around a communal table beneath a striking cocoon installation, Soka nurtures a convivial atmosphere that feels more like drinking at a friend’s house than a public bar.

Here, the co-founders have crafted a menu that marries storytelling with premium ingredients and elevated techniques, offering 15 nostalgic cocktails and 10 small plates of bold Indian bites.  

The decor reflects local craftsmanship through rattan chairs, diya lamps and rotating sculptures set against terracotta and copper tones.

ZLB23 

A 1920s speakeasy within The Leela Palace Bengaluru, ZLB23  has become a nightlife staple since opening in early 2023. Twice recognised on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, it blends prohibition-style cocktails, music and small plates.  

Velvet curtains reveal vintage decor: dark leather, Chesterfield furniture, brass accents and crystal chandeliers exuding timeless glamour. As night kicks in, the vibe shifts from chilled jazz piano to DJ sets. 

Along with the classics, the menu also includes unique drinks that celebrate regional ingredients, all of which are paired with grilled snacks. 

Dali and Gala 

Dali and Gala , Bengaluru’s most eccentric watering hole, revels in the romance between artist and muse. This high-concept venue takes the place of The Tavern (an institution in its own right) and features surrealist furnishings, interactive installations and themed spaces such as the Mirror Room, Rose Room and Animal Room. 

Artistry and mixology collide through an inventive menu that mirrors the surrealist’s sense of wonder. Playful presentation and tongue-in-cheek names nod to overarching motifs of passion and romance. Burmese tapas dishes complement the drinks. 

Una Hacienda  

Five storeys above Spirit Forward, Una Hacienda  is a rooftop sanctuary elevated by high ceilings, warm lighting and decorative lush greenery. 

In an ode to the cultures of South America, Puerto Rico and Mexico, Hacienda’s drinks programme spotlights pisco, mezcal and rum through creative cocktails that include the Hacienda Paloma and Three Citrus Pisco Sour. Bites draw from Peruvian Nikkei cuisine – a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese – think zingy ceviche, crispy chaufa, hearty pozole and stacked Cubanos. Rather than leaning on stereotypes, the atmosphere embodies genuine Latin hospitality, where dynamic and vibrant flavours, crafted drinks and great company come together. 

Bar Sama 

Blending old Bengaluru charm with contemporary aesthetics, Bar Sama epitomises balance. Fifty seats are divided between two distinct settings: antique charm outside, and a modern, floral interior.  

“It began in those old grunge bars, where the pour came from the heart,” says founder Pratheek Reddy. Today, guests gravitate towards more refined, global and technique-driven drinks, with a splash of spontaneity shaken in for good measure. 

In collaboration with Singapore’s Cat Bite Club, this bar serves agave-forward cocktails with fresh, house-made ingredients. Signatures such as the Century Cooler – a clarified, carbonated Bloody Mary – and The Chilli On headline the food-inspired cocktail programme, complemented by chef Vichita Kumar’s Thai-themed menu.

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