KESAR THANDAI GELATO @ MAMA MIA!

Welcome spring with a burst of Gelato flavours. Tender Coconut is for the gentle, Fruit Cocktail Sorbet is for the fun-loving and Triple Chocolate and Drunken Brownie are for the sinners. We recommend the festive special: Kesar Thandai. Made with a good amount of pistachio and saffron, it even has a subtle hint of spices like cardamom and pepper. Tastes great and looks divine!

Pocket pinch: Rs 59 (plus taxes)

PHUCHKA SHOTS @ SHISHA REINCARNATED

Down phuchkas with jaljeera water stirred with your choice of poison — vodka, rum or gin — and revel in the fact that you can bite into your favourite street food at night! The perfect finish to a festive day — on the fifth floor of 22 Camac Street.

Pocket pinch: Rs 350 onwards for a portion of six phuckhas (depending on the alcohol base and brand)

BHAANG KULFI @ SHIBUJI

This hot spot (outside Vardaan Market and at Shakespeare Sarani-Wood Street crossing) serves up kulfi, flavoured with bhaang. Garnished with syrups, this is all you need to beat the Holi heat. You can also treat yourself to an icy affair with ice golas served in Badaam and Kesar flavours, apart from the regular Kalakhatta, Strawberry, Rose and Rose-Khush.

Pocket pinch: Rs 40 for Bhaang Kulfi, Rs 40 for ice gola (special) and Rs 25 (regular)

SPECIAL THANDAI @ RALLI’S

They call it ‘special’ but it’s more than that. Available at the Gol Park branch from a day before Holi, try the stronger version (served with an extra goli) only if you dare to! The more sober revellers can sip on Kesaria Badaam.

Pocket pinch: Rs 50 for Special Thandai and Rs 45 for Kesaria Badaam

PRAWN PAPDI CHAAT @ THE STREET

Hit the street eat corridor at The Park for this unconventional seafood chaat. Made with crushed prawn papad, chopped veggies, chaat masala and the zest of methi and green chutney — if this won’t spice up your day, nothing will!

Pocket pinch: Rs 160 (plus taxes)

TRI-COLOUR CHEESECAKE @ MOCHA

This tri-layered mascarpone cheesecake adds colour to the menu at the 209 AJC Bose Road hangout. The top is strawberry, the centre is kiwi and the last slice is mango — plonk it all on vanilla sponge and feel it melt in your mouth.

Pocket pinch: Rs 150 (plus taxes)

THANDAI CHHANAR PAYESH @ GUPTA BROTHERS

Sometimes, traditional sweets are the best! Dig into the subtle flavours of pistachio and saffron in the Thandai Chhanar Payesh. Want a taste of more? Try the Chhanar Malpua, which reminds one of a proper Bangali Dol, and go home patting your tummy! Available at the New Alipore and Ballygunge (opposite CC&FC) outlets.

Pocket pinch: Thandai Chhanar Payesh comes for Rs 300/kg; Chhanar Malpua at Rs 15 a piece

HANGOVER HOOKAH @ KAFE BINDASS!

Replace the hookah base with Red Bull, and watch yourself get charged! We can’t promise it will cure your Holi hangover but puffing on this blend of paan supari, royal paan masala and mint flavours will certainly keep you happy, if not high.

Pocket pinch: Rs 350