Copyright gqindia
The final shortlist for the 30BestBarsIndia 2025 ranking, which spotlights the 50 best bars in India, captures an eclectic mix of familiar favourites and exciting newcomers. With 14 fresh entries this year, the list underscores the rapid evolution of the country’s bar culture. For the first time, Delhi has overtaken Mumbai, boasting 11 spots to the Maximum City’s 10, while Bengaluru continues its steady ascent with seven. Goa remains a stronghold with nine, Kolkata holds firm at four, Jaipur stays steady at two, and both Pune and Shillong make their mark with one each. Hyderabad, meanwhile, slips from two to one. Below, we list out the top 10 bars — so add these names to your next cross-country bar crawl. 10 best bars in India in 2025 — Mumbai’s AER, Kolkata’s AMPM & more; How many have you been to? 1. AER, Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai Overlooking the glittering waters of the Arabian Sea, AER at Mumbai’s Four Seasons Hotel offers a glamorous sky-high escape. The bar’s sleek, yacht-inspired interiors — all deck-style seating, maritime art and crisp striped flooring — create an ambience that’s both intimate and indulgent. It’s the kind of place where sundowners turn into late-night conversations under an open sky, the sea breeze laced with the scent of cocktails like the AER Spritz and Arabian Nights, both crafted with precision and flair. The bar bagged the Times Food & Nightlife Award 2024 for ‘Best Ambience in a Bar’ and was listed among Icons of Drinks’ Great Bars of the World. Expect an effortlessly sophisticated crowd, a playlist that drifts from modern chill to house, and bar bites that make it hard to leave before closing time. 2. AMPM, Kolkata AMPM, which opened its doors in 2023, is a Kolkata showstopper. Set across two floors with exposed brick walls, plush velvet sofas and warm amber lighting, the bar exudes old-world glamour with a contemporary edge. By day, it’s a breezy café serving craft coffees and easy bites, but come evening, it transforms into a high-energy cocktail den where the city’s creative crowd converges. The mixologists are known for pushing flavour boundaries — think gin-based signatures like the Calcutta Collins and coffee-spiked After Hours Espresso — paired with indulgent plates of bao sliders, truffle fries and sushi. Add to that a live music roster that swings from retro pop to jazz nights, and AMPM becomes less a bar and more a mood. 3. Americano, Mumbai Tucked deep within the heart of Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda, Americano channels a chic, New York-inspired minimalism — with its sleek wooden accents, marble-topped tables, and soft lighting that flatters every frame. At the heart of it all is Chef Alex Sanchez’s menu, where California-style small plates meet the city’s cosmopolitan palate. But it’s the cocktails that seal the deal: from the Smoky Paloma to the Barrel-Aged Negroni, every sip feels meticulously composed. The soundtrack drifts from old-school funk to indie soul, creating the kind of buzz that feels both effortless and elevated. 4. Bandra Born, Mumbai With its retro posters, distressed wood finishings, and warm neon glow, this bar is an ode to the old (and less gentrified) Mumbai. The food menu is eclectic, ranging from comfort plates like kheema toasties and Goan sausage pao to prawn tacos, which pair perfectly with inventive cocktails like the Bandra Smash or the Salt Water Spritz. Come weekends, the bar morphs into a lively gig space, with indie artists and DJs setting the mood. 5. Bar Cold Drinks, Goa Nestled within the leafy lanes of North Goa’s Assagao, Bar Cold Drinks is where Goa’s tropical spirit meets Tokyo-style precision. The dimly lit, intimate space makes for the perfect hideaway, with its cocktails rooted in local ingredients like kokum, cashew and smoked pineapple. Try the Cold Fashioned, a Goan twist on the classic, or the Sea Salt Martini, made with house-infused gin. The soundtrack leans lo-fi and languid, perfectly matched to the coastal breeze drifting through. 6. Bar Kin-Rü, Hyderabad Located at Hyderabad’s upscale Jubilee Hills neighbourhood, Bar Kin-Rü is minimalist, moody, and unmistakably modern. Its attractive interiors, with their sleek concrete finishes, curved silhouettes and soft lighting elevate the experience of drinking cocktails inspired by Asian botanicals, teas, and local fruits. Highlights include the Umami Highball and Kin-Rü Old Fashioned, both beautifully balanced. The bar food keeps pace — think crispy gyozas, miso butter prawns and slow-cooked pork belly. 7. Bar Outrigger, Goa Housed in the heritage neighbourhood of Dona Paula, Bar Outrigger offers a fitting tribute to the Sunshine State’s rich maritime history, and rum. The 45-seater rum-forward establishment overlooks yachts and fishing boats bobbing in the sea, while fostering a warm interior with soft teal walls, towering planters, a solid wood L-shaped bar, and a communal table at the heart of it all, facilitating easy connection and conversation. Launched by co-founders Arijit Bose and Francis Coelho in Goa in July 2024, the bar is a must-visit for those who’ve often wondered about life at sea. The signature Outrigger cocktail (house rum, triple sec, and lime), the Kingston Negroni (a Caribbean twist on the classic), and the Coffee Painkiller (aged rum, pineapple, orange juice, coconut cream, nutmeg, and coffee), are all a must-try. 8. Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru Despite the stream of trendy bars found at Bengaluru’s Indiranagar, the Bar Spirit Forward stands out for being a haven for purists who care about the craft. The interiors are sleek and moody — think charcoal walls, gold accents and plush leather barstools that invite you to linger. Don’t miss the Reverse Martini or the Smoked Boulevardier, both signature serves that balance boldness with restraint. The playlist flows from ambient electronic to soft jazz, and the crowd mirrors the mood. 9. Boilermaker, Goa Found within the vibrant by lanes of Panjim, Boilermaker has an ambience that’s electric: graffiti-covered walls, industrial lights, and bartenders who double as storytellers. As the name suggests, the menu celebrates the boilermaker tradition — pairing craft beers with ingenious shots and small cocktails. The Chili Mango Drop and Coconut Espresso are crowd favourites, best enjoyed with their crispy fish tacos or smoky pork ribs. By night, the space transforms into a riot of energy, with live sets and spontaneous dance-offs. 10. Bombay Daak, Mumbai Bombay Daak, located in South Mumbai’s storied Fort area, reimagines the city’s postcolonial charm through the lens of a modern bar. Its interiors are evocative — antique maps, vintage postboxes, and sepia-toned lighting that instantly transport you back in time. The cocktails, meanwhile, are named after old Bombay neighbourhoods — the Byculla Breeze, Ballard Estate Sour, and Marine Drive Martini — each telling a story of time and place. The food menu also stays true to the theme, with Anglo-Indian classics like devilled eggs, prawn balchão sliders and cheese toasties emerging as top picks.
