Drink Like a Local: Bengaluru with Rajib Mukherjee

Explore Bengaluru with Rajib, uncovering a city where innovation thrives beside nature, where bar culture evolves every year, and where food traditions run deep. Wander through tree-lined neighborhoods, taste the city’s legendary comfort dishes, and experience a nightlife shaped by creativity, craft, and community.

Set on the elevated Deccan Plateau, Bengaluru, India’s Garden City, is a harmonious blend of lush greenery, cool breezes, and a tech-driven pulse that fuels its modern rhythm. Its identity is shaped by centuries of cultural exchange and a new wave of global influence, seen in everything from its colonial-era architecture to its thriving food, craft beer, and cocktail scenes. Guiding us through this dynamic metropolis is Rajib Mukherjee, an experienced mixologist who has watched Bengaluru blossom into one of India’s most exciting drinking destinations.

Rajib Mukherjee is the Head Mixologist and Bar Manager at ZLB23 in Bangalore, India. Originally from West Bengal, Rajib has spent nine years shaping beverage programs across hotels and independent bars, with a particular passion for pre-opening projects and building bar culture from the ground up.

Since joining ZLB23 in 2023, he has played a central role in developing its cocktail direction and raising the bar for Bangalore’s hospitality scene. Rajib’s deep appreciation for the city, its climate, its calm pockets of nature, and its creative energy, fuels his approach behind the bar. For him, Bengaluru is a place of self-awareness and inspiration, a city that continues to evolve yet stays grounded in warmth and community.

Big Picture

A harmonious blend of innovation and serenity, where the rhythm of technology meets the calm of lush greenery under ever-perfect skies.

Bangalore proudly holds the title of India’s Pub Capital. Its drinking culture has deep roots in British and Irish-style pubs , relaxed, social, and welcoming. With more than 70 microbreweries, the city has become the heart of India’s craft beer movement, producing everything from crisp lagers to bold stouts and vibrant IPAs.

But a new era is emerging. Cocktail bars are stepping into the spotlight, with 7–8 standout venues reshaping the city’s nightlife through inventive menus, refined technique, and high-level hospitality. This evolution blends the city’s easygoing pub heritage with a growing appetite for sophisticated, story-driven drinks.

Bengaluru’s social culture is equally dynamic. The corporate crowd, globally minded and culturally curious, fills bars almost every evening, while weekends remain a beloved ritual for residents to explore new restaurants, cafés, and cocktail bars. It’s a city that buzzes every night of the week, each neighborhood offering a slightly different rhythm.

The Food

Food is at the heart of Bangalore’s identity, comforting, diverse, and deeply rooted in tradition. From bustling South Indian breakfast institutions to new-wave culinary concepts, the city celebrates flavor in all forms.

Street food is essential to the experience. V.V. Puram is known for its lively stretch of snacks and sweets, while Frazer Town transforms during Ramadan, offering some of the best kebabs and tandoor delicacies in the country.

Food also plays a major role in the city’s drinking culture. Cocktail bars often craft small plates tailored to their menus, while pubs and breweries offer hearty meals spanning global and regional cuisines. Eating and drinking are inseparable rituals here.

Before leaving Bengaluru, make sure you try:

• Dosa / Dose at Vidyarthi Bhavan: crisp, iconic, and quintessentially Bangalore.
• Ghee Podi Idli at Rameswaram Cafe: soft idlis coated in fragrant podi and melted ghee.
• A full Kannadiga meal at Bengaluru Oota Company, a rich, soulful expression of local culinary heritage.

The Drinks

Beer reigns supreme in Bangalore. With dozens of microbreweries crafting lagers, stouts, porters, and IPAs, beer culture is woven into the city’s fabric. Visitors will find each neighborhood offering its own take, from experimental brews to classic, crowd-pleasing pints.

While traditional local drinks aren’t a major part of city life, the modern drinking culture has evolved quickly. Cocktail bars are pushing boundaries with native ingredients, regional stories, and meticulous craftsmanship, positioning Bengaluru as one of India’s leading mixology destinations.

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For visiting bartenders, the city also offers inspiring spots beyond the bar counter:

• Nandi Hills for misty sunrises and stunning viewpoints
• Bengaluru Palace and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace for a glimpse into royal heritage
• Lalbagh Botanical Garden for its iconic glasshouse and lush greenery
• Weekend escapes to Mysore, Udupi, Gokarna, or Pondicherry for culture, coastlines, and culinary exploration

And for something truly unforgettable, visit KR Market’s flower market at 4 AM, Asia’s largest, where mountains of marigolds and jasmine are auctioned in a vibrant explosion of color and scent.

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The Big List

CAFES

• Aaraku
• Cafe Noir
• Conçu
• HumbleBean Coffee & Patisserie

COCKTAIL BARS

• Soka
• Bar Spirit Forward
• Bar Sama
• Muro
• W.I.L.D
• One Floor Down
• ZLB23

PUBS

• Bob’s Bar
• Dolphins Bar & Kitchen
• Pecos
• Just BLR
• Tommy’s

BREWERIES

• Byg Brewski
• Ironhill
• Windmill Craftworks
• Toit
• Bira 91 Taproom

RESTAURANTS

• Kalpaney (vegetarian)
• Klaa
• Navu
• Farmlore
• Comal
• Bengaluru Oota Company
• Jamavar

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Tips & Phrases

Tipping:
No strict tipping culture, though guests may tip for exceptional service.

Getting around:
Application-based taxi services are the easiest and most convenient way to commute.

Drinking age:
The legal drinking age in Karnataka is 21 years old.

Where to stay:
Indiranagar is ideal for those who want to be near restaurants, bars, and nightlife. For a more serene stay, Bangalore’s northern neighborhoods offer greenery, quieter streets, and a calmer pace of life.

Useful phrases:
Thank you: Dhanyabad (Hindi), Dhanyavadagalu (Kannada)
Hi/Hello: Namaskar (Hindi), Namaskara (Kannada)
Nice to meet you: Aapse Milke Accha Laaga (Hindi), Nim’mannu Bhetiyagalu Santosavadide (Kannada)
Goodbye: Alvida (Hindi), Vidaya (Kannada)