bars · New Delhi
The best nights in New Delhi start at these addresses — award-winning cocktail rooms, beloved locals' haunts and views worth ordering a second round for. All rated 4.5 stars or higher.
Greater Kailash II · $$
Regularly ranked among the World's 50 Best Bars, this neighbourhood joint serves precise classics and Indian-ingredient originals over a vinyl soundtrack. Co-founder Yangdup Lama is widely regarded as the godfather of Indian bartending.
Insider tip: Walk-ins only for small groups — arrive before 8pm on weekends or you'll queue on the pavement.
The Imperial, Janpath · $$
Named for the year Delhi became the capital, the Imperial's bar pours colonial-era cocktails beneath portraits of maharajas and original lithographs. The gin-led list and live piano make it Delhi's most atmospheric heritage drink.
Insider tip: Take your drink out to the adjoining verandah on winter evenings; smart casual minimum.
Vasant Vihar · $$
Delhi's original speakeasy hides behind a phone-booth door with a rotating dial code, mixing some of the city's best Negronis and barrel-aged cocktails since 2012. It kick-started the capital's modern cocktail movement.
Insider tip: Get the day's entry code by calling ahead or via their Instagram; Thursdays are quieter than weekends.
The Oberoi, Zakir Hussain Marg · $$
The Oberoi's glasshouse rooftop lounge looks across the Delhi Golf Club's tree canopy toward Humayun's Tomb, with cigar-friendly terraces at each end. Cocktails lean classic with Indian botanicals, matched by dim sum and kebab plates.
Insider tip: Come 30 minutes before sunset in winter for the terrace tables with the tomb view.
Connaught Place (F-Block) · $$
A plant-filled rooftop above Connaught Place's colonnades serving Mediterranean-Indian plates and an easy cocktail list under fairy lights. It's the most reliable of CP's terrace bars for a relaxed evening rather than a club night.
Insider tip: Reserve a cabana-side table after 7pm; winter evenings need a light jacket as heaters run out.
Connaught Place · $$
A cavernous, theatrically designed Connaught Place flagship with one of the longest bars in the capital and a vast global menu. It is consistently among Delhi's most-reviewed nightlife spots, drawing big weekend crowds for DJ nights.
Insider tip: Weekday evenings offer generous happy-hour deals; weekends after 9pm are a full-on club scene.
October–March
Indian Rupee (INR)
Hindi, English
How this list is made: we only feature places rated 4.5 stars or higher with 1,000+ reviews from real travelers. Ratings and review counts are approximate and move over time — always check current numbers before booking. Photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses (credits in each gallery).
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Good to know
Three days covers the headline monuments, Old Delhi's food lanes and a museum or two at a comfortable pace. Add a fourth day if you want a day trip to Agra for the Taj Mahal.