Themed restaurants in Kolkata garnered steady engagement this year as people sought out new experiences after months of isolation. A number of destination-themed joints came up in the last few months, while some brands explored familiar retro concepts. A themed set-up is also a big draw in the after-dark space where it’s easier to expand upon ambient or visual elements. The Rajbari-inspired Sabka Club or the back-to-school-themed Canteen Pub & Grub are good examples.
There are some quirky themed brands in the casual dining sector as well, such as the superhero-themed Cafe HQ or the newly opened SodaBottleOpenerWala, which is modelled on the Irani cafés of Mumbai. There’s a lot to choose from and listed below are the finest themed dining experiences in the city.
Greek-themed dining: Ølterra
Ever dined amidst Greek gods? If not, you have to visit Ølterra, a Greek-themed gastropub spread over 13,000 square feet. Their alfresco style dining area has chic mosaic flooring fit for kings and the sleek island bar has a giant Grecian statue hovering from its ceiling.
“The building is over 100 years old so the interior designer, Sumessh Menon wanted to retain the rich heritage of the place. All the arches and the scooped pillars are inspired by Gothic architecture, it creates a blend of old and new. The interiors are dotted with Greco-Roman inspired sculptural art forms, earthy concrete, terrazzo and wooden accents blended with intricate wrought iron work and etched glass work,” says Rudresh Agarwal, the owner.
Location: 18, Park Street Park
Aircraft-themed dining: Fly Kouzina
Airline food doesn’t always have to be disappointing, at least not at Fly Kouzina, Kolkata’s first aircraft-themed diner. Designed and styled like an actual plane, this restaurant whips up great vegetarian world cuisine consisting of Asian, Indian and continental picks. Every table has its very own view of the skyline just like an airplane and the seats are also styled to resemble airline seating (only comfier).
Location: AD 73, 1st Ave Rd, AD Block, Sector 1, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700064
Port-themed dining: Port 15
One of the prime movers in the themed restaurant circuit, Port 15, offers a unique method of serving where the food from the kitchen arrives at your table via an elaborate system of toy trains.
“The format has been a big hit not only in Kolkata but also in other cities like Chennai, Siliguri And Hyderabad,” says Akshit Agarwal, owner of the port-themed diner.
With an intricate railway track set up, this vegetarian restaurant serves North Indian delicacies and some signature Marwari picks such as Tomato Sev Ki Sabji in quirky crockery that resembles miniature cargo boxes.
Location: CB-15, Sector 1, Salt Lake, Kolkata
Jungle-themed dining: Junglee Cafe
It really is a jungle out there at Junglee Cafe — the AJC Bose Road hotspot will make you feel like you’re sitting right in the middle of a forest. This multi-cuisine cafe has an intelligent interior splattered with green and brown decor, and it transforms into a really groovy after-dark space with an adventurous feel. Junglee Cafe offers some fiery finger food along with Chinese favourites and continental dishes, and also serves shisha in a variety of bases and flavours.
Location: Sukh Sadan Apartment, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Park Circus
Safari-themed dining: Jungle Safari
Forest-themed experiences seem to be a hit with Kolkata’s diners. Jungle Safari is a Speciality Restaurants brand that might remind some diners of Mani Square’s Machaan, another jungle-themed marvel by Speciality. The same space has been rebranded as Jungle Safari and has been styled with thick foliaged walls, lush green overhead canopies, quirky animal props and some clever ambient animal sounds that will transport you to the wild. Highlights from the menu include North Indian delicacies like Bhoot Jalokia Chicken Tangdi and Tunday Kebabs.
Prison-themed dining: Kaidi Kitchen
Situated right at the heart of Camac Street, Kaidi Kitchen’s theme is rather arresting. “We didn’t want the place to feel like a cage, we wanted to design a casual dining space that offers an unique experience. We wanted a place that’s appropriate for family — the grandparents, parents and the kids. So we went for dramatic interiors which makes sure the experience is memorable for all,” said Rohit Ojha, who co-owns Kaidi Kitchen with Ankit Madhogaria.
The prison-themed diner has steely bars separating the dining rooms and captures the eeriness of jail without the sense of morbidity. Though you’ll find a multi-cuisine fare, the vegetarian eatery is famed for its North Indian kitchen that serves up the best flavours.
Location: 4/1, 1st Floor, Abhindra Nath Thakur Sarani, Camac Street Area
2D-themed dining: Wok’ies
2D or two-dimensional dining experiences are gaining popularity across the globe because they are designed like beautiful optical illusions. The monochrome interiors of Wok’ies are styled like a white colouring book with black-outlined shapes. The clever checkerboard floor enhances the illusion and the gorgeous Asian line-up is equally Instagrammable.
“I was inspired by a few 2D cafes I had visited during my time overseas and I wanted to offer Kolkata something similar. Walking into Wok’ies feels like walking inside a drawing book from our childhood that needed us to fill them with colour” reveals Somoshree Sengupta, the owner.
Location: 6, Ward 87, Sarat Chatterjee Avenue, Borough, Kalighat (Next to Menoka Cinema hall)
R D Burman music-themed dining: Pancham er Adday
Retro cafes will never go out of style and this Hindustan Park hotspot styled like a tribute to RD Burman has a lot going for it. Of course, it plays Pancham hits round the clock, but it also features a few hand-painted murals of the icon along with the likes of Zeenat Aman (in her Dum Maro Dum get-up) and also serves smart continental plates and refreshing coolers. If you’re scouting a cafe for a first date this musical joint could be a great option.
Location: 62/1, Golpark, Hindustan Park
