Nightlife – Being Expat https://beingexpat.com Expat blog, Directory, Resources Tue, 11 Jun 2019 17:54:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 Best Pubs in Mg Rd Bangalore (and surrounding areas) https://beingexpat.com/pubs-in-mg-rd-bangalore/ Wed, 08 May 2019 21:34:16 +0000 http://beingexpat.com/?p=568 The Mg road area, also called central business district (CBD) of Bangalore is one of the most traditional nightlife and pubbing locations in the city. Although several new hotspots have popped up in the last decade, CBD is still a favorite for old Bangaloreans.

Several pubs have come and gone in the last decade, and just a handful of the old Bangalore pubs exist today. However, some new and exciting bars have taken their place.

Here’s a list of some of the best pubs in mg rd Bangalore and nearby areas.

#1 Biere Club

One of the first micro-breweries in Bangalore, Biere Club, is one of those evergreen pubs. If you like craft beer, they brew some of the most excellent European style beers in the city. The best part of this pub is that it’s a casual environment, and it’s not necessary to be well dressed. One can walk in with shorts and a t-shirt and still feel comfortable. A place to visit almost any day of the week.

The ground floor has a bar counter, if you go alone, that’s a good place to hang out. If you go in a group, their second floor is a better option because it has open walls, and it’s a great place to enjoy the Bangalore weather.

Their wheat beers are a good option to try. Their food is average though.

Location: 20, Vittal Mallya Road, 2nd Stage, D’ Souza Layout, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

#2 Bootlegger

Exactly opposite to Biere Club is Bootlegger. It’s quite crowded late in the evening on the weekdays, probably because of the working crowd in the surrounding areas. The biggest draw at Bootlegger is that their beer is cheaper than most bars in the neighborhood. The place is quite small and cozy, which gives one an intimate and informal feeling.

Location: 36, Vittal Mallya Road, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

#3 Socials Church Street

One of the more crowded places in Bangalore is church street socials. The place is usually quite crowded on the weekends. The ambiance is casual reminiscent of a bar in America, and the price of drinks are reasonable compared to other places. A lot of people like the food, and their staff are courteous and professional.

Location: 46/1, Cobalt Building, Church Street, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

#4 Pecos Classic

It is one of the oldest pubs in Bangalore that is still surviving. Majority of the older ones have long closed due to stiff competition. However, Pecos has survived. They play classic rock. If you love rock music, this is a place to visit. The interiors are old school, which take you back in time. I remember coming here about 20 years ago, and it still looks the same. But that’s what makes Pecos special. The beer is cheap, food is good, and a little bit of Pink Floyd music doesn’t hurt either. They only serve beer. If your poison is something else then you should try other options.

Location: 34, Rest House Rd, Shanthala Nagar, Sampangi Rama Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

#5 Easy Tiger

Another pub just off Mg rd on church street. It’s modern, cozy, and the view from their balcony lets you watch the busy street while you sip on your drink. No air conditioning, so let’s you enjoy the cool Bangalore weather.

Location: Church Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

These are just some of the best pubs in mg rd Bangalore. It might be a good idea to pub hop and find a place that vibes with you. If you want to check out places in Bangalore, here is a guide to help you.

]]> Restaurants in Bangalore, The Indian Kitchen https://beingexpat.com/the-indian-kitchen/ Sun, 17 Jan 2016 18:33:06 +0000 http://beingexpat.com/?p=100

If you want to experience the most popular dishes from anywhere in India, this may be the place for you. Vinil and I stopped in for the soft opening of one of the upscale restaurants in Bangalore, and were impressed with what we found.

Located on MG Road just south of Brigade Road (nested next to the new City Bar, beside the Cafe Coffee Day lounge), it is set way back off the road. The ambiance is inviting, with lantern lighting hung from the high ceilings, and a multi-colored wall mural running the length of the restaurant; sweeping colors of painted wildlife and scenic views. The mural, which I liked very much was created by Ambika T. George.

Indian kitchen brings to you a little bit of everything; divided by states yet united by cuisine. This is a restaurant to celebrate, savor and relish India on a plate.

With a 5,000+ year history, Indian cuisine has been influenced by many cultures, most specifically Mughals, British, Arab and Portuguese. This, in combination with the intense spices used in Indian cooking, makes every meal a taste festival.

According to the manager of Indian Kitchen “Our aim is to broaden our customer’s knowledge and experience of Indian cuisine. Few restaurants in Bangalore do that. Our chefs have traveled the length and breadth of the country knocking on every household door in an effort to understand, learn and bring back those recipes so we could pass them on to our customers. And too, our mixologists have also crafted the finest cocktails inspired by color and tradition of various states in India.’

Indian Kitchen is open Sunday-Thursday from 12:00 – 15:00, and again from 19:00 – 23:00. Friday and Saturday they’re open from 12:00 – 15:00, and again from 19:00 – 01:00

We tried the Aloo Paratha and it was terrific; I enjoyed the Mangalorean Chicken. They feature dishes from Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Bengal, Calcutta, Punjab, Mumbai and others.

Desserts were varied, including all the regular options, like Ice Cream Sunday, cookies, cakes, and pastries, though I enjoyed the palm ice cream which was rich and tasty.

There is a full bar, though the Margaria, my staple drink, was good but a little off.

The menu is a bit pricey compared to other restaurants in Bangalore, though not as high as UB City, nor as low as the average restaurant in the MG Road area. With several drinks each, several starters and two main dishes and dessert we spent Rs. 6,000.

While during their soft launch they were still tweaking things, they’ve since had their grand opening. This new addition to the MG Road area, I believe is one of the restaurants in Bangalore to visit. It has something different to offer, a nice ambiance of just the right lighting, easy background music, and inspiring colors.

Check it out and come back to let us know what you think by placing your own review in the comments box below.

OUR RATING: 4 Stars

Also, check out this vietnamese restaurant in Bangalore.

]]> The Lady Bartender in India, Still Taboo? https://beingexpat.com/happy-hours-not-an-expression-for-female-indian-bartenders/ Mon, 08 Sep 2014 18:37:47 +0000 http://beingexpat.com/?p=115

Is bartending a skill only for men?

The Indian notion that women can’t take up bartending as a career might be a fact that is fast changing. The lady bartender who has the nerve to go against the taboo and choose this profession has to come across sexual harassments and disrespect from society.

Gender injustice isn’t an issue for the lady bartender across the world. Some of the lady bartenders who have made it big in this profession are::

Emilie Campesato-Mouragne: This thickly tattooed woman, juggles away to glory in the Lockhart, London.

Christy Pope of New York: She gave the cocktails a lip smacking twist by her mojo of mixing in Cuffs & Buttons.

Sara Mitchell: Her Red Dragon-a blend of Bacardi 8, Pineapple, Lime juice, and Chinese five spices stands witness to her creative finesse in the London Cocktail Club, London.

Sam Fish: Mojo in Leeds boasts of this female bartending genius who advocates Vermouth.

Juggling accentuates a bartender’s skills and a bartender with remarkable juggling skills can, of course, add to the event’s attractions, but Bartending has way more substance to it than just juggling. A bartenders job: enumerating the sales list for the day, keeping track of time during happy hours, supervising on the bar workers, checking out on the cleanliness of the bar and making sure there is sufficient supply of requirements like alcohol, syrups, etc.

On the other side, the glitz and glamour attached to this profession can make anybody go on board. If someone likes nightlife, alcohol, or music, can certainly make a career out of that and bartending would be a good fit. A glamorous job is one thing every woman craves for; especially those who want to break new grounds. Today, more women are taking up this job as it comes with high pay and not to mention the facilities. Bartending gives a choice to choose the event to work for depending on their convenience, making it a desirable job.

Bartending is better taken as a freelance profession. Also tucking along with some event management companies will help you gain your stability in this cocktail scene. Although in India, the starting salary may not be satisfying, but there is a high possibility of fast growth if you are creative and efficient. The bartending courses are rendered by most of the Hotel Management Institutes at affordable course packages.

Taking up this profession might surprise you, with side glares and sarcastic comments. But, it shouldn’t matter if you are a woman who thinks out of the box.

]]>