Whether you want to spend the night in a fancy bar or enjoying Indian classical music, the bustling city of Delhi will never disappoint. The varied nightlife offerings in the capital are certainly something worth experiencing during your time here. Here’s an essential guide to enjoying your evening out in Delhi.
Go on a street food trail
No matter how many fine dining options open for business, Delhi will never end its love affair with street food. There are some legendary spots all over the city which are open until midnight or sometimes even later like Moolchand Paranthe Walla near Lajpat Nagar and Al Jawahar near Jama Masjid. You can also try the famed 24/7 Food Court at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus where scholarly talks and political discussions go on till late at night. Apart from satisfying your palate, a street food trail is the perfect excuse to go for a leisurely drive around Delhi, which is impossible to do during the day due to congested traffic.
Moolchand Paranthe Walla, Moolchand Metro Station, Lajpat Nagar 4, New Delhi, India, +91 98717 34042
Al Jawahar, 8 Jama Masjid-Matia Mahal Road, Opposite Gate 1, Jama Masjid, New Delhi, India, +91 11 232 759 87
Watch a play
Theatre aficionados in the city never run out of options with excellent line up of plays to choose from at all times. From dramas to comedies and historical plays, there’s something to please every taste. Shri Ram Centre, Akshara Theatre, Kamani Auditorium and the theatre at Alliance Française are some of the places that you can look up when visiting the city. The reviews for the shows here are consistently good.
Shri Ram Centre, 4 Safdar Hashmi Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi, India, +91 11 2371 4307
Akshara Theatre, 11-B. Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, India, +91 11 2336 1075
Kamani Auditorium, 1 Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, India, + 91-11 4350 3351
Alliance Française, K.K. Birla Lane, 72, Lodi Estate, New Delhi, India, +91 11 4350 0200
Watch some stand-up comedy
The stand-up comedy scene in Delhi has witnessed quite a surge in the past few years. There are comedians who’re not averse to taking a jab at political bigwigs or tackling topics which were considered unthinkable in the past. The present group of stand-up comedians in Delhi are definitely worth spending an entire evening with. You can check out the current and upcoming shows and book your tickets at BookMyShow.
Enjoy an Indian classical music concert
For classical music lovers, Delhi can offer some unforgettable nights. From Qawwali to Carnatic and Sufi music, places like Siri Fort Auditorium, Shri Ram Centre, Kamani Auditorium and The Stein Auditorium hold regular concerts. For venues and timings, you can look up the daily city supplements of various national newspapers which provide a detailed listings of musical events in Delhi.
Siri Fort Auditorium, A-25 Balbir Saxena Marg, Siri Fort Institutional Area, New Delhi, India, +91 95555 09841
Catch a movie
There are a lot of places where you can catch a late night movie in Delhi. PVR and DT are the two main cinemas in the city and you’ll find them at multiple locations around Delhi like Connaught Place, Select Citywalk Mall, Chanakyapuri and more. PVR Director’s Cut at Ambience Mall is a much more luxurious spot and needless to say the tickets prices are on the higher side. Apart from the regular cinemas, you can check out venues like the Indian Habitat Centre and Alliance Française who have regular screenings of independent and foreign films.
PVR Select Citywalk, First Floor, Select City Walk Mall, District Center, Saket, New Delhi, India, +91 11 4060 1700
PVR Chanakya ECX, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India, +91 88009 00009
PVR Director’s Cut, Nelson Mandela Marg, Ambience Island, Sector D, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India, +91 88009 00009
Go bar hopping at Hauz Khas Village
The entire stretch of Hauz Khas Village has a string of trendy bars and restaurants. Instead of spending the entire night in one place, why not hop from one hip spot to another? Start your night with a fulfilling dinner at Yeti – The Himalayan Kitchen which serves authentic Tibetan and Nepalese cuisine. Then go to Elma’s Bakery for dessert. After this, it’s all dance and drinks at Hauz Khas Social, Matchbox, Lord of the Drinks Meadow and Summer House Cafe. If you fancy a quieter time then Coast Cafe is the ideal place for some great cocktails.
Elma’s Bakery, 31, 2nd Floor, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi, India, +91 11 4608 0533
Hauz Khas Social, 9-A & 12, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi, India, +91 78386 52814
Summer House Cafe, 1st Floor, DDA Shopping Complex, Aurobindo Place, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India, +91 11 3310 6147
Coast Cafe, H-2, 2nd and 3rd Floor, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi, India, +91 11 4160 1717
Go to a night club
Most places at Hauz Khas Village call it a day by 1 am. But that doesn’t mean the party has to come to an end too. The night clubs around the capital remain open for much longer and that’s where most Delhites head to afterwards. Some of the popular night clubs in the capital are Kitty Su, Privee, Playboy and Lithyium.
Privee, Shangri-La Eros Hotel Complex, Above Kanishka Shopping Mall Arcade, 19, Ashoka Road, Janpath, New Delhi, India, +91 85952 02020
Lithyium, The Ashok, 50-B, Kautilya Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India, +91 93102 72000
Drink at the posh bars in Aerocity
The fanciest new neighbourhood in Delhi, Aerocity is located near the Indira Gandhi International Airport and is made up of a number of luxury hotels. If money isn’t a concern, then there are some nice bars in the locale that you could try like Juniper at Andaz, Oval at JW Marriott and Chidyaghar at Roseate House.
Juniper Bar, Andaz Delhi, Asset 1, Aerocity, New Delhi, India, +91 72900 71277
Oval Bar, JW Marriott, Asset Area 4, Hospitality District, Aerocity, New Delhi, India, +91 11 4521 2121
Chidyaghar Bar, Roseate House, Asset 10, Hospitality District, Aerocity, New Delhi, India, +91 11 33107549
Watch a cricket match
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