By early evening the traffic along MG Road and Brigade Road has thinned to a slow crawl, offices empty out, and the pubs and cafes of the central business district begin to fill with a mix of young professionals, students and expatriates. Further out, in Koramangala, the same shift happens along 80 ft. Road, where restaurants and bars draw a crowd that lingers over dinner before deciding where the night goes next.
Bengaluru's nightlife is concentrated, upscale and fairly early by the standards of large cities. The pub scene sits in the commercial heart of the city, and most bars and pubs are somewhat upscale, though many inexpensive restaurants also serve beer and good food. It suits visitors who want a comfortable evening of eating and drinking rather than an all-night one, and it suits the city's large population of young working people, students, interns and expatriates, who make up much of the crowd. Note that regulatory action has curtailed the city's former reputation as the Pub City of India: all bars and nightclubs must now close no later than midnight.
Where to go out in Bengaluru
1. MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, St. Marks Road and Church Street
This cluster of central streets is where the pub scene is concentrated, in the commercial business district in the heart of the city. Numerous pubs sit along these roads, and they are the most straightforward option if you are staying centrally or want to move between several places in one evening.
It suits a conventional night out built around drinks and conversation. Happy hours is typically between 6 and 8PM, and at most pubs the time for the last order is around 10:30PM, so plan to start early.
2. Koramangala
Koramangala has a dense strip of eating and drinking places, including the area around 80 ft. Road, where Legends of Rock sits near the Pizza Hut and Jimi's Beer Cafe is nearby with a relaxed ambience. The wider neighbourhood also holds a PVR cinema at Nexus Mall.
It suits a night that mixes dinner, drinks and possibly a film, and it draws a young, professional crowd. Because venues here are spread along a main road rather than packed into one lane, decide on your first stop before you arrive.
3. The area around Jyoti Nivas college
This area is a popular hangout for the college-going crowd, with a lot of eateries and cafes, and it has a fashionable feel.
It suits an early, casual evening of coffee and food rather than a late night of drinking. Expect a younger, student-heavy atmosphere and budget-friendly options.
4. The cafe belt near Maharaja Hotel
Costa Coffee, Barista and CCD all have a presence near Maharaja Hotel, and young working people spend a lot of time here. Several restaurants in the vicinity serve Spanish, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Indian and Mexican food, which gives the area a multinational, multicultural character and makes it popular with expatriates.
It suits a low-key evening, a long conversation or a meal with a group that cannot agree on a cuisine. It is also a reasonable choice if you want somewhere to sit for a while rather than move between venues.
5. Cafes across the city
Cafe chains are found all over Bengaluru, including Barista outlets near IT corporate offices and Costa Coffee branches in Koramangala 4th Block, Indiranagar, opposite the Goethe-Institut, on Sarjapur Road, in Sigma Mall on Brookesfield, on Cunningham Road, on JNC Road and in Jayanagar. Costa places heavy emphasis on food alongside coffee, with sandwiches, paninis, pastas, desserts and cakes.
This suits an early or alcohol-free evening, or a place to start before the pubs open for happy hour. If you are based near an IT campus or a mall, you are unlikely to be far from one.
6. Social and expat clubs
If you want a social experience rather than simply a bar, consider becoming a member of one of the city's social expat clubs. The IVES Club, for example, offers a meeting for its members every Saturday at one or another popular nightclub in the city, and its members are interns, expats, volunteers and exchange students residing in the city.
This suits longer stays and visitors travelling alone who want a ready-made group. Membership is the mechanism, so look into it before your trip rather than on the night.
7. Cinema
Multiplexes are spread across the city, including Cinemax at Bengaluru Central and Bellandur; Cinepolis at Royal Meenakshi Mall on Bannerghatta Road, ETA Mall in Binny Pete and Forum Shantiniketan in Whitefield; Gopalan Cinemas on Mysore Road, near Jayadeva Hospital on Bannerghatta Road and on Old Madras Road near Baiyappanhalli Metro Station; Inox at Bengaluru Central, JP Nagar, Fame Cinemas on MG Road, Forum Value Mall in Whitefield, Garuda Mall on Magrath Road, Lido Mall in Ulsoor, Mantri Square in Malleshwaram, Garuda Swagath Mall in Jayanagar; and PVR at Nexus Mall in Koramangala, Orion Mall in Malleshwaram, Phoenix Market City in Whitefield and Vega Mall at the JD Mara signal.
A film is a practical way to fill the hours before a late dinner, or to spend an evening when you would rather not drink. The Bangalore Film Society shows foreign film series and cultural events, and a club membership, typically around ₹500 per year, is usually required for entrance.
8. Cricket at M Chinnaswamy Stadium
The stadium hosts international matches and is home to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League and Women's Premier League. The crowd is known for its energy, particularly when the team wins.
An evening match is a different kind of night out from a bar crawl, and it suits visitors who want a large, loud local experience. Book tickets early, especially for IPL matches, because tickets sell out within seconds when Royal Challengers Bengaluru is playing; if you arrive in January or February, the Women's Premier League takes place in those months and is often less crowded. Carry a water bottle.
How a night out unfolds
Happy hours runs from about 6 to 8PM at most pubs, and last orders are typically taken around 10:30PM. All bars and nightclubs must close no later than midnight. In practice this means an early start: eat before or during happy hour, settle on your venue by mid-evening, and treat the period after midnight as the end of the night rather than the beginning. If you want a longer evening, a film, a meal or a cafe is a better way to extend it than moving between bars.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Gandhi Jayanti — 2 October
- Sharad Navratri — begins 11 October
- Durga Puja festivities — begin 17 October, with Maha Saptami on 18 October and Maha Ashtami on 19 October
- Dussehra — 20 October
- Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti — 26 October
- Karaka Chaturthi — 29 October
- Naraka Chaturdasi and Diwali/Deepavali — 8 November
- Govardhan Puja — 9 November
- Bhai Duj — 11 November
Frequently asked questions
How late can I stay out in Bengaluru?
All bars and nightclubs must close no later than midnight, and at most pubs the last order is taken around 10:30PM. Plan your evening accordingly rather than expecting to move on to another venue after midnight.
When is happy hour?
Happy hours is typically between 6 and 8PM at most pubs. Arriving in that window is the cheapest and least rushed way to start the evening.
Where is the pub scene concentrated?
It is concentrated around the commercial business district in the heart of the city, along MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, St. Marks Road and Church Street, where you will find numerous pubs within walking distance of one another.
Is there anything to do at night besides drinking?
Yes. Multiplex cinemas operate across the city, the Bangalore Film Society shows foreign film series and cultural events for members, and the cafe belt near Maharaja Hotel and the area around Jyoti Nivas college draw crowds for coffee and food. Cricket at M Chinnaswamy Stadium is another option when a match is on.
Decide on your first stop and your timing before you set out, and you can build an evening that fits the city's early rhythm rather than fighting it.