KOLKATA: Party hoppers in Kolkata are chasing a new high. Several al fresco, open-air roof top lounges, pubs, bars and diners, have opened in the city in the past one year to cater to the rising demand from guests for a beautiful view and fresh breeze along with their food and drinks.
Post pandemic, several patrons have been opting for outdoor seating over the air-conditioned environment driving up demand for al fresco hangouts in the city.
According to industry insiders, more than 20 al fresco outlets have opened in the city in the past two years.
Located on top of Magma House on the 12th floor on Park Street, LMNOQ is the latest entrant in the al fresco space which is spread across 8,000sq ft with indoor and outdoor seating. Word of mouth publicity for the panoramic view of the skyline made this skybar a must visit for many. It opened in October 2021.
"Most guests request for outdoor seating to enjoy the view of some of the city's most iconic landmarks like the Victoria Memorial, Second Hooghly Bridge and Eden Gardens," said Kaushik Sen, manager at LMNOQ. "Ours is a cozy place with soothing music and pretty art and lighting along with an elaborate food and bar menu."
For several year Blue and Beyond atop Hotel Lindsay was one of the very few al fresco hangouts in the city. But in the last two years numbers have gone up with the popularity.
Outlets in most party clusters, including Park Street, Ballygunge, Salt Lake and New Town have decided to go al fresco.
Zucca Lounge on Southern Avenue is a favourite with the young crowd and couples. "We can accommodate around 140 people. We do have an indoor area on the third floor but most guests prefer to sit in the open area," said Gufran Azam, manager of Zucca Lounge.
Several other places like Level 7, Aura, The Salt House, Hammer and others provide roof top al fresco settings.
"This is definitely the latest trend in Kolkata. In summer the demand for outdoor seating would go up post sunset," said a representative of The Salt House.
After the pandemic, demand for roof-top al fresco dining and drinking has seen a sudden surge. People are skipping the closed air-conditioned environment and opting for open area seating. "After the pandemic a large section of people want to avoid closed spaces and prefer outdoor seating," said Sen of LMNOQ.
