The Saturday Club

The hot spot: Light Horse Bar.

Where: On the ground floor, bordering the lawn.

The look: The Light Horse Bar gets its name from the Calcutta Light Horse paramilitary regiment. “They were also one of the founding members of The Saturday Club,” says club president Utpal Singh Roy. “The Light Horse Bar moved to its present location about 30 years ago,” he adds. It replaced a dining room. A large war canvas, military medals, spears, lasso and stirrups make this place a treasure trove of history.

The attraction: “You won’t meet people if you don’t come here,” says a member of The Saturday Club.

Pop picks: The catering manager recommends the Chicken and Mutton Badiyani Kebab, Chicken Irani Kebab and Tandoori Aloo. “Whisky and vodka complete the tipple tale,” he adds.

 

CC&FC

The hot spot: Gorbatschow Lounge.

Where: Adjacent to the dining room, overlooking the field.

The look: With trendy decor in beige and steel, the Gorbatschow Lounge was built around four years ago. It can accommodate around 70 people. The sports club has reserved a spot here for the Bayern Munich jersey, acquired during the team’s visit. Autographed bats from members of the Indian and South African cricket teams from the 2005 tour also find pride of place.

The attraction: Very popular with members and guests, the lounge overlooks the greens of the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a game while chilling with a drink.

Pop picks: “The Pepper Garlic Prawn, Chicken Malai Kebab and Pan-Fried Chilli Fish are the most popular items here,” says Deepankar Nandi, club CEO.

 

Calcutta Club

The hot spot: Room No. 7.

Where: On the ground floor (behind the main hall).

The look: Room No. 7 is a classic. The 60-seater venue has been written about in author Mani Shankar Mukherjee’s Kato Ajanare. Framed stamps bearing pictures of stalwarts like Ghanshyam Das Birla, Satyajit Ray and Motilal Nehru dot the walls. Lovely tapestries add to the tastefully decorated interiors.

The attraction: “This place is not at all stuffy and you can really let your hair down,” says Sahana Bhose, 23, a member’s daughter.

Pop picks: Chicken Cutlet and whisky. The club’s continental delights are reserved for the main hall.

 

Bengal Club

The hot spot: Nagraj Bar.

Where: On the first floor, next to the dining room.

The look: The “principal bar” with a good selection of wines and spirits has the club’s symbol, the King Cobra, as its name. The same serpent is carved in wood above the white and green door. Through this portal, you enter the very classy and old-world bar with a gleaming black piano standing in a corner. Arches, a huge pendulum clock in wood, a red casket in a corner and old photographs all add to the yesteryear feel, while a view of the foliage outside brings in a touch of nature.

The attraction: “It has a lot of tradition and is a comfortable and quiet place to sit and have a conversation. The music is good. In fact, it becomes difficult to find a place to sit in the evenings,” says Biswadip Gupta, committee member.

Pop picks: Sample the mouth-watering Prawn on Toast, Fish Balls in Red Sauce and Chicken Reshmi Kebab.

 

Royal Calcutta Golf Club

The hot spot: The 3rd Shamiana.

Where: At the entrance to Starters Hut, near the first tee.

The look: It is the golfer’s chill zone. An open restaurant and a bar rolled into one, you get a view of quite a bit of the course from here. The 70-cover zone is as old as the club. “Previously, it used to have a thatched roof. It was the largest thatched-roof hut in Calcutta. But it got burned down in 1997-98 and what you see now is a smaller version of The 3rd Shamiana,” says M.M. Singh of RCGC. It is open from 5.30am to 8pm.

The attraction: The relaxed ambience. Golfers can walk in wearing their golfing attire for breakfast before they head off for a round, and it is also where they relax after 18 holes. “The greenery, the crowd… and sitting in the Shamiana sipping on Darjeeling tea listening to the sound of the golf club hitting the ball gives me a high,” smiles film director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.

Pop picks: Try the Chicken Breast Cutlet along with Cheese Chilli Toast with English Mustard Sauce.

 

The Tollygunge Club

The hot spot: Wills Lifestyle Pavilion.

Where: Right by the first tee and next to the 18th green.

The look: More than 50 years old, the Wills Lifestyle Pavilion, popularly known as The Shamiana, is at the heart of the club. In every sense. The 9.5m x 29.3m area has a tiled roof laden with purple blossoms that makes it impossible to resist (unless it is searing hot). It has seating for 100 on leisurely cane chairs, with lanterns adding to the timeless charm. “Members come and sit here before or after a game. You can be one with nature. The ambience is relaxed,” says managing member and CEO Anil Mukerji.

The attraction: “What makes this place a hotspot is the view of the greens. It feels great to sit here during the monsoon and on summer evenings,” says actress June, a member. Sourav Ganguly (above) can often be spotted here with friends.

Pop picks: “The draught beer and steaks are very good,” adds June.