Say cheers to the season of love and thanksgiving. The merry spirit of the Christmas season and the annual dip in mercury is the perfect excuse to cosy up with a special cuppa (or glass) or something warm and spiced, rich and flavourful. While hot chocolate is always a classic winter warmer, there are many other tipples to enjoy during the holiday season. Whether you prefer hot or cold beverages, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, sweet or spicy, there is a Christmas drink for everyone in Kolkata’s pubs, restaurants and cafes. This holiday season, My Kolkata brings to you a list of places where you can unwind with your choice of Christmassy potion.
Baileys Coffee at Hard Rock Cafe
If you are looking for a Christmas-special cocktail menu, you can step into Hard Rock Cafe on Park Street — the pub’s cocktail lineup is sure to hit all the high notes of Christmas cheer! If you like a good Irish coffee, then indulge in the creamy taste of their cold Baileys Coffee, which is generously topped with whipped cream. Coffee and rum lovers can also enjoy the Kahlua Coffee, which has Kahlua Rum liqueur with a shot of espresso, topped with decadent whipped cream. If you’re more of a traditionalist, go for the mulled wine.
Pop picks: Mulled Wine, Kahlua Coffee, Baileys Coffee
Pocket pinch: Rs 750 each
Address: 57-A, Park Street, Taltala
Date: December 15 to 21
Time: 12pm to 1am
Eggnog, Hot Buttered Rum at Monkey Bar
Eggnog and (right) Hot Buttered Rum
Butter and rum — the classic flavours of Christmas in a warm, delicious cuppa! The Hot Buttered Rum at Monkey Bar combines rum and some hot water with a spiced butter concoction and a hint of ginger candy and it tastes like a warm hug this winter. Also, try their classic Eggnog which is J.W. Blonde blended with milk, cream, egg yolk, egg white and a sprinkle of nutmeg and sugar. Also add to your holiday celebrations the Drunken Snowmen, which is Bailey’s Irish Cream mixed with hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream — an instant mood lifter!
Pop picks: Eggnog, Hot Buttered Rum, Drunken Snowmen
Pocket pinch: Rs 400 for Hot Buttered Rum, Rs 450 for Eggnog and Rs 550 for Drunken Snowmen
Address: 901 A, Fort Knox, 6, Camac Street
Date: December 20 to January 1, 2024
Time: 12pm to 12am
Mulled wine and Eggnog at Polo Floatel
Feel holly jolly by the Ganges at Polo Floatel as you celebrate Christmas listening to the classic carols and a live band performance with a saxophone element. All of this with great food and of course, their classic Christmas tipples — mulled wine and eggnog! If you are someone who enjoys art, then Floatel is organising a Sailbrush Soirée, a sip and paint event on December 24. Show your creativity on canvas as you sip your drink of choice and a live barbecue station fires up some delectables at the Sky Deck.
Pop picks: Mulled Wine and Eggnog
Pocket Pinch: Eggnog is on the buffet Christmas menu which is Rs 1,999 per head (all inclusive)
Address: 9, Jetty, 10, Strand Rd, B.B.D. Bagh
Date: December 23-24
Time: 12pm to 12am
Reality Mash at Reality Cafe and Club
Looking for a unique cocktail? Reality Cafe and Club brings to a mashup of whiskey and wine that will get you high on the spirit of Christmas. The Reality Mash is a concoction of Jameson Irish whiskey, with sweet red wine infused with basil leave, and a citrusy kick. It’s winter in a glass!
Pop picks: Reality Mash
Pocket pinch: Rs 651
Address: 12, Camac St, Elgin
Date: All winter
Time: 5pm onwards
Mulled Wine at Scrapyard
If traditional is your Christmas flavour and you love your mulled wine, then you’ll find your winter potion at Scrapyard. Their Christmassy Red mulled wine perfectly mixes up dry-sweet red wine, maple syrup, brandy, fresh orange juice, with some warming winter spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise. Enjoy live music over their Christmas special menu while you sip on some spiced wine.
Pop picks: Mulled Wine
Pocket pinch: Rs 651
Address: South City Mall and Camac Street
Date: December 22 till the end of winter.
Time: 12pm onwards
Sulaimani Tea at Indu Coffee House
Not a fan of the booze and prefer some warm Christmas tea? Head to the new Indu Coffee House for a sip of their Sulaimani Tea. The brew is flavoured with spices that will transport you to a spice garden — a mix of cardamom, cinnamon and ginger, sweetened with jaggery and with a dash of lemon. If you’re feeling nostalgic for Christmases of your childhood, try their Horlicks Shake.
Pop picks: Sulaimani Tea and Horlicks Shake
Pocket pinch: Rs 90
Address: Lords Bakery, 51/5B , Prince Golam Mohammad Shah Road more, near South City
Date: December 24 to January 10,2024
Time: 12pm - 11pm
Cinnamon Snowman Latte at La Macario Cafe
Is a cup of coffee your go-to over anything else? La Macario Cafe on Wood Street has made your favourite cuppa a festive treat with its cute latte art. On your creamy and frothy latte comes a smiling snowman. Perfect for the ‘gram and your holiday mood!
Pop picks: Cinnamon Snowman Latte and Orange Cinnamon Nitro Cold Brew
Pocket pinch: Rs 150 plus for Cinnamon Snowman Latte and Rs 225 plus for Orange Cinnamon Nitro Cold Brew
Address: 1st Floor, 10, Wood Street
Date: Until March
Time: 10.30am to 10.30pm
Ho Ho Hot Apple Toddy from Bakstage Gourmet
Our autumns might not be as chilly, but a hot apple-flavoured toddy is perfect even in the chilly weeks of December. The tanginess and freshness of orange juice with a punch of apple juice infused with Indian spices top up a warm and earthy brandy in the Hot Apple Toddy served at Bakstage Gourmet. This cocktail is sure to instantly charge you up making you feel warm and energetic!
Pop picks: Ho Ho Hot Apple Toddy
Pocket pinch: Rs 555
Address: EN 1, EN Block, Sector 5
Date: Till the end of December
Time: 2pm to 11pm
