Shaw Brothers — Restaurant in Kolkata

I have a mixed feeling about this place. Found this place on internet and being a bonediphile, decided to give it a try..

Tldr; Nostalgic vibes, bustling ambience, affordable price, no GST.

Orders are prepaid, mostly cash acceted, no menu card, female not allowed, service is slow.

Long version;

Things I liked:

Heritage : The USP of this place is the heritage and hustory it holds. You cant find many bars in kolkata as old as this.

Vibes : It does have that bustling vibes like any other north calcutta bars. Most of the crowd is mostly in their 50s, hard to spot many genZ s over there. Few I found was probably like me, went to get a taste of nostalgia.

Price : Drinks are very affordable compared to any other bars or pubs I've visited in the CITY ! A carlsberg 650 costed 240, where as in most other places i use to pay north of 300. (i m not even comparing the LED pubs of modern age, thise prices are beyond logic)

Location : Located at a very prime spot, just 5 mins walk from metro station. Parking is difficult there, but i m guessing u wont be driving after having drinks, getting a cab or bus is just as easier.

Now coming to the things I didnt like as much

System: The biggest downer was the payment system. Its like u have to prepay for every item you order in cash, then they will bring it for with the balance. If you want to order the next peg or bottle, again keep some cash ready ! For food it might not have been difficult since we dont really repeat, but for alcohols, where reapating is so common, this kinda sustem takes the felxibility away from customers.

Cleanliness: Though the table, chair and overall ambience is clean, but after every customer leaves they will just sweep everything to the floor 😷 And you'll be walking on it, stepping on it, drinking on it .

Service : Very very slow. If you have lots if time, want to spend leisurely time sure go ahead, because after each order u have to wait a good amount of time. If u are in a hurry and want to have a quick sip, avoid this place. Funny thing is there's no menu card, u have to keep asking about every drink and have to memorize all the prices.

Only male allowed: Though its not an issue if you are a male & going with other male friends. but if you have even a single female soul in group, then its not the place, they just simply dont let her enter.

Smoking: Not making a big fuss over it, but as most other AC bars smoking is not allowed inside and you have walk out of the bar and go to the road to smoke. The walk is a lot and going to the road just kills the mood.

Tips: Again this is a common culture in kolkta area bars (dont happen if u go to high standard pubs in salt lake & new towns), but i dont really like the culture where i m forced to tip no matter if i m satisfied or not. And also not only to the waiter but also to the gurds standing at the entrance. Why the heck should I ? and if u ignore, u can clearly hear bad things being talked just behind u !! I guess it is a lot, if you are here thanks for reading this...

This is one of the oldest bars in Kolkata. You'll feel a totally different charm inside it! It is also called "Chhota Bristol". The place is situated near Dharmatala More (behind Chowringee Hotel) and opposite to Tipu Sultan mosque inside a by lane. You've to Google for the exact location, because the by lane where it is situated, may be overlooked! They have a huge seating arrangement, around 100-150 people can sit at a time I assume! This century old bar serves liquor at a very cheap price and their roaming snacks delivery guys are absolutely unique!

They totally have a different kind of system inside. You have to pay for your order first then the liquor will be served! The same goes for the snacks items as well, the roaming guys go table to table and deliver your choice. The food menu is a bit restricted, the menu is only chips and peanuts from the main bar section and paneer fry, fried fish, chicken pakora and mutton liver are being served by the roaming people! You can get a freshly cut salad as well, but that's it.

The place is really unique altogether and if you're interested in cheap bars then this is the place. Not such a fancy place with loud music and all but a totally old school ambience! The only con from my side is that they even charge ₹15 for a bowl of ice.

P.S : No digital payment system inside. Photography is also strictly...

This is one of the oldest bars in Kolkata, and what began as a plan to visit once has turned into a yearly ritual. The place carries a rare old-school charm—simple, warm, and deeply nostalgic.

Their style of service is unique. The waiters arrive with platters of whatever the kitchen has prepared that day; you simply take what you want and settle the bill later. Complimentary chickpeas, ginger slices. Green salad, nuts, cheese cube, potato chips and guava slices with salt are also available. Drinks must be ordered and paid for upfront and not heavy in terms of price, the food is delightfully easy on the pocket and surprisingly good. Options for the food are a little bit less like egg devil, mutton liver curry, chicken pakora, chili chicken, normal fish fry, fish finger, panner finger etc.

The atmosphere is refreshingly old-world—no music, just chatter and laughter, anyone can take any available seat so there are chances you will make some friends and that won't be heavy on your personal life as this is men only bar. At one point, a gentleman’s loud “এই সবাই আস্তে, আওয়াজ কম" (Just shut your mouth up!) brought the entire bar to silence, like a stern teacher quieting a rowdy class.

A small tip: carry cash, as payments here are...