Winter Hangouts Cafes and Sky Bars in Kolkata With Special Winter Menus

One of the best seasons to eat out in Kolkata is winter. Go out with your family and friends to dine at the recently opened sky bars and restaurants. Snuggle down in a quaint café with a book. You have lots of choices. 

Aminia

This popular restaurant known for its Awadhi (Lucknow) cuisine first opened its doors in the city in 1929. Now, starting with the flagship outlet in the New Market neighborhood, which opened in August 1946, they have several outlets across the city and the suburbs.

For the winter, they have laid out what they call the Nalli Nihari Darbar. Not to be missed dishes include Nalli Nihari with Taftan as well as the Gajar Ka Halwa.

Address  6A SN Banerjee Road, New Market, Kolkata 700087. Other outlets in Salt Lake, Rajarhat, Serampore, etc.

Black Brick Cafe

At this modern meets vintage café, you will be greeted with eye-catching murals, caged lights, and a long book shelf. The menu has been designed with an eye on the millennials and is therefore not a surprise you will find college-goers frequenting this place.

Menu highlights include Turmeric Latte, cinnamon hot chocolate, falafel pita pockets, wood fired pizza, char grilled lamb burgers, halloumi chicken shawarma, carrot cakes, etc.

Address Alexandra Court, 60/1 Chowringhee Road, Kolkata 700020 tel 7605033098

Burma Burma, Kolkata

This vegetarian restaurant reminiscent of the land of the Irrawaddy had caught Kolkata&rsquos fancy not only because of their food but for their artisanal teas too. This winter, they have decided to introduce a range of desserts.

Burmese desserts, where coconut and tapioca play key roles, top the list.  You may try the Tagu Piyan and the Burmese Falooda. There is butterfly pancake, strawberry and cream, BB carrot cake, gooey malt cake. There is also Durian ice cream for the adventurous.

Address Ground floor, Stephen Court, 18M Park Street, Kolkata 700071 tel 8047483191

La Macario Cafe

If you are looking for hearty conversations over bowls of comfort food, then this café and bistro can be your winter stop. Their specialty being transforming popular global cuisine into their vegetarian avatar (with some concession to egg-based dishes).

The menu is varied with interesting choices under every section &ndash soups, appetizers, mains and desserts.  You may start with a rustic tomato cream soup (served with garlic bread) or an Italian Broth with Tortellini bites. Followed by a round of chipotle cheese fondue or truffle oil and mushroom cheese fondue. For mains you may order an Asian comfort bowl consisting of burnt garlic rice with lemons sauce or baked feta pasta or Italian shakshuka to name a few. Round off your meal with desserts such as crepes with Nutella and berries or flavored cheesecakes.  The beverage menu has quite a few winter favorites ranging from peppermint hot chocolate to Kashmiri Kahwa.

Address First floor, 10 Wood Street, Kolkata 70001 tel 7439093294

LMNO_Q

&nbspEven before you settle down, you start picking out the Kolkata landmarks visible from this sky bar perched on the 12^th&nbspfloor. The mellow afternoon is best to have a family gathering or catch up with friends you have not met for long. The evening is definitely for those who love to let their hair down and have a good time.

The curated beverage menu includes hot apple toddy with rum and cinnamon mulled wine with spices and peels hot peach tea with mulled ginger, hint of lime and mint to name a few. The food is mostly north Indian with lots of options for kebabs.

Address 12^th&nbspfloor, Celica Park Building, 24 Park Street, Kolkata 700017 tel 9903040506

Lord of the Drinks

If you have missed the Christmas spread, this popular gastropub has promised to continue with their special menu until the end of January.

Maple-Glazed Roast Turkey, Classic Turkey Pot Pie, Spaghetti Bolognese, Turkey and Cranberry Crostini, Nano Cheese Board, Crab Cakes and Lemon Aioli, Flamed Pudding with Brandy Cream, Orange Brownie are some of the highlights that you cannot miss.

Address South City Mall, Fourth Floor, Kolkata 700068

Marbella&rsquos

This quaint café exudes a Mediterranean charm with lots of white and blue, retro furniture, and a profusion of greens. It is known for its soul food and jazzy evenings.

Highlights from the winter menu include Turkey-Ham Sandwich, Pesto Pine Nut & Parmesan Fettuccine, Triple Chocolate Layered Cheesecake, Nolen Gur Pancakes, along with beverages such as Belgian hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows, rum infused spiced chocolate shake, etc.

Address They have two outlets &ndash one at Hindustan Park (Gariahat) and Elgin Road (Bhawanipur)

Pancham er Adday

This musical café is located off the busy market hub of Gariahat in south Kolkata.  Dedicated to the memory of the late singer Rahul Dev Burman, the café with its very Instagram-friendly corners and a sunny veranda draws a lot of young people.

The café has introduced a range of home-baked desserts and dishes as part of their winter menu. You can choose from open tuna sandwich, stuffed croissants (the vegetarian one stuffed with bell peppers, Jalape&ntildeos and cheese, the non-vegetarian one with bacons, lettuce, tomato and veggies dressed with mustard mayo), egg benedict, hot dog buns stuffed with marinated chicken sausage, Fish Meuniere (Kolkata bekti fish served with caper butter sauce and boiled veggies), etc. You can pair them with a variety of coffees from their regular menu.

Address 62/3 Hindustan Park, Kolkata 700019

Potboiler

This trendy café is popular with young patrons who descend here to meet friends, enjoy a quiet hour with a book (yes, they have a library too), or for working from a café.

Their winter specialities include Mocha on the Shore (a combination of mixed chocolate Mocha), Calcutta Chromosomes (made from turmeric and Nolen Gur Latte), The Last Leaf (a peppermint Mocha), etc. If you are feeling peckish, your options include Not a Thukpa Soup, Broccoli and Almond Soup, Glass Noodles with Stir-Fry Veggies, and more. Desserts include Strawberry Crumble Pancakes, Nolen Gur & Roasted Nuts Cheesecakes.

Address P-468, Lake Terrace Road (near Vivekananda Park), Kolkata 700029  

The Salt House

Enclosed by an abundance of greenery, this roof top restaurant specializes in European cuisine with a quirky Kolkata touch. Expect seasonal flavors and fresh winter produce.

Spiced avocado and feta mousse tart roasted cherry tomato and Provolone cheese melt tart with chimichurri crab ravioli pork, ham wrapped chicken with mash and celery jus, are a few names that will get your expectations up. The inventive cocktails are equally interesting --  apple and four spice hot toddy, Calcutta Sour, Irish Coffee, Zinfandel rose and dragon fruit sangria to name a few.

Address 6^th&nbspfloor, Shakespeare Point, 40, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata 700017 tel 9836732154

Traffic Gastropub

This gastropub&rsquos winter menu (available till January 15) offers a selection of inventive dishes.

Sweet Face (Peri Peri Paneer skewers), Potato- 22 (Nazakat Potato), Go Green (Broccoli Manchurian) Bigg Boss (Prawns), Party Hat (Mutton Popcorn), Chinese Fire (Prawn Ball), Desi Pataka (Tawa Mutton Liver Benedict), and others are sure to grab attention.  How about a Drunken Calendula  A special dessert consisting of dates and cottage cheesecake dipped in creamy caramel sauce.

Address 2nd Floor, City Centre, Rajarhat Newtown, Kolkata 700157