Some of the trendiest Kolkata cafes are housed within buildings and residential bungalows with storied pasts. Several old homes in the cities have been restored and revamped to serve as eateries where you can savour some kombucha and French omelette sitting next to a sun-lit 'khorkhori' window or lounge with a good book on one of those antique, low-spread easy chairs.
Most of these restored properties have retained their original architecture and have played up their heritage and history with the help of themed interiors, chic artworks, retro furniture and old-meets-new fusion menus. Here's a list of some of the most noteworthy Kolkata eateries that are housed within old buildings.
Siuli, The Parcel Cafe
One of the most significant recent additions to the city, Siuli, The Parcel Cafe is housed within the GPO at Dalhousie. It’s India’s first post office coffee and is run by the in-house catering department, that used to run a small staff canteen at a corner of the hall. The white and beige interiors of the hall have some clever pops of light green and red furniture; you’ll also spot vintage hanging lamps and some themed art. The 34-seater cafe offers hot and cold beverages alongside some light savouries and snacks, such as chicken sandwiches, corn patties, chicken burgers etc.
USP Dishes: Coffee, corn patties
Available Cuisines: Indian, snacks
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and snacks
Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM
Address: GPO Building, Fairley Place, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001
Cost for two: Rs. 150
Flurys
The iconic brand opened its 60th outlet and its second-biggest tearoom in a pre-independence building, in 2022. Rajesh Singh, the national head of the brand shared that the team has tried to retain certain signature design elements that will remind guests of the Park Street venue, which was the first Flurys outlet and has a heritage tag.
“We have tried to retain the original Flurys charm in the Purna Das tearoom. The facade is similar to the Park Street outlet. We have the black and white floor, but instead of dark brown wood tones, there's a softer brown touch inside to give the tearoom a blend of classic yet chic feel. Pink is the Flurys colours hence we decided to use that on the khorkhori windows and doors. Interestingly these became the selfie spots for all our guests across generations - boomers, millennials to GenZ. There's Parisian-style terrace seating too. It echoes brand Flurys in every way possible, keeping our heritage roots alive,” says Singh.
Phone: 033 4063 6053
USP Dishes: Coffee, rum ball, choco cube, butterscotch cake
Available Cuisines: Continental, European
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Timings: 8 AM to 11 PM
Address: P-251/B, Purna Das Rd, Golpark, Hindustan Park, Keyatala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029
Cost for two: Rs. 1,000
The Bhawanipur House
Housed in a restored 1907 colonial bungalow, The Bhawanipur House is spread over an area of over 11,000 sq ft and has three levels that traverse featuring a tea lounge, a bakery, an open-air terrace and yard, indoor and outdoor dining set-ups and another enclosed terrace seating. The checkered floors, the medieval-era balcony and the mix of modern and colonial-era continental dishes on the menu capture the theme of the venue quite well.
Restored by architect Shashank Shahabadi, the building has kept most of the original staircases and archways intact which lends to the old-world vibe. On the menu, curated by chef Sneha Singhi, you’ll find classics like Calcutta Fish Fry and Lebanese meat pies and modern options like grilled fish, pizzas and bespoke coffee.
Phone: 090514 13136
USP Dishes: Calcutta fish fry, lahme
Available Cuisines: Continental, European, Indian, Fusion
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Timings: 11 AM to 11 PM
Address: 13/1B, Priyanath Mallick Rd, Bakul Bagan, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026
Cost for two: Rs. 1,000
The Red Bari
The cafe and studio space The Red Bari, founded by Avantika Jalan is housed in a 90-year-old residential home in Kalighat, which is a stone’s throw away from the Kalighat temple. The Red Bari, which refers to the red house is a red sandstone building that has retained its architectural silhouette completely; its construction was started by Pares Nath Banerjee in 1921 soon and was halted for a while with the onset of the Second World War and was completed in 1947.
The ground floor is made of Italian marble and has Belgian glass mirrors and you’ll spot the semi-circular balconies which were a popular feature in Calcutta homes of the ‘20s and ‘30s. You’ll spot French omelettes, grilled chicken, fish fingers on the menu; however, its biggest USP is probably the coffee since it’s sourced by the popular Mumbai-based roasters, Subko Coffee.
USP Dishes: French omelette, cortado
Available Cuisines: Continental, European, Indian, Fusion
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Timings: 1 PM to 9 PM
Address: 18, Sadananda Rd, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026
Cost for two: Rs. 300
The Corner Courtyard
Located in a carefully restored 19th-century colonial bungalow, The Corner Courtyard is a work-friendly space and just opened up a rooftop seating. It also houses a boutique hotel on the same property = and the entire set-up has been intelligently designed to be on-theme, yet approachable. Its menu is diverse and has something for everyone, be it hand-rolled oven pizzas, Thai curries, or grilled seafood.
“I love working at The Corner Courtyard, it’s so different from the other cafes, in terms of the aesthetic. I also really like their menu because it’s quite big and has a good mix of entrees and light bites,” says Tilottama Guha, a city-based professional.
USP Dishes: Potato gnocchi, caesar salad
Phone: 099039 99567
Available Cuisines: Continental, European, Indian, Fusion
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Timings: 8 AM to 12 AM
Address: 92, Sarat Bose Rd, Hazra, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026
Cost for two: Rs. 900
Baithak Khana
Situated within a 200-year-old house near Vidyasagar College in North Kolkata, Baithak Khana has held on to the old-world charm in different ways, be it with the vibrant graffitied walls, the wooden seats or the oversized windows. It makes use of the ground floor of an old residential building and offers some good food and decent rates, be it momos, grilled cheese sandwiches, Maggi, coffee and tea. Explore it if you’re looking for a low-key but cosy space to hang out over food for a few hours.
USP Dishes: Maggi, pan fried momos
Phone: 080171 11847
Available Cuisines: Continental, European, Indian, Fusion
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Timings: 12 PM - 9 PM
Address: 11 E, Guru Prasad Chowdhury Ln, College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006
Cost for two: Rs. 250
The Country House
The Country House, on Allenby Road, is housed inside a 115-year-old residential building that was inspired by Edwardian architecture. You may have seen the chic, white, two-storeyed buildings with blue panel windows on Sarat Bose Road. The eatery has some true-blue European classics and it's best known for their fish and chips, pancakes and French and Italian delicacies.
"I love Country House when it comes to brunches or just hanging out with my friends, the menu has a lot of options and during the day you can even get some natural light," says Trisha Debnath, a college student.
USP Dishes: Fish and chips, egg frittata
Phone: 087770 78708
Available Cuisines: Continental, European, Indian, Fusion
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Timings: 8 AM to 11 pM
Address: 4C, Allenby Rd, Sreepally, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020
Cost for two: Rs. 1,000
Sabeki
Sabeki is nestled within a 120-year-old building in Gariahat. It’s chic, comfortable and Instagam-worthy. The retro balcony, red floors and muted seating make the spot approachable and cosy. The coffee from Brew Alchemist has a number of fruity cold brews, sparklers and manual brews. You’ll also find enough small plate options that are modestly priced; don’t miss out on the prawns in butter garlic sauce, baked fish, hazelnut cappuccino, mango cold brew, cranberry cold brew and watermelon agua fresca.
USP Dishes: Tres leches, hazlenut cappuccino
Available Cuisines: Continental, European, Indian, Fusion
Type: Veg and Non-Veg
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Timings: 11 AM to 11 PM
Address: 139B, Rash Behari Ave, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029
Cost for two: Rs. 1,000