Quirky Things to Do
- Play Chess with the local grandmasters under the Gariahat flyover in the evenings.
- Laugh out loud (lol) with senior citizens every morning at Rabindra Sarovar.
- Chant with trainee priests at Hatibagan Toll, a school for Hindu priests.
- Learn to correctly throw the fishing net with the fishermen at East Calcutta Wetlands.
- Cross the river on public ferries and have some wonderful spiced puffed rice while watching the sun set.
- Play football, cricket, rugby or kabaddi every morning with the youngsters at the Maidan.
- Go bicycle riding every Sunday morning starting at 6 from Victoria Memorial with local clubs.
- Take a rickshaw ride through the lanes and by-lanes of the city, or reverse roles for some unusual fun exercise.
- Take a tram ride through the maidan for breathing free and through Chitpur to enjoy the chaos.
- Watch a Mohan Bagan - East Bengal football match at Salt Lake Stadium to experience true fan mayhem.
What to Buy
- Indian fabric, scarves & more at Weavers’ Studio, Ballygunge Place.
- New Market a shopping destination from pins to pachyderms, is where you can buy Junk and Silver jewellery at Chambalama.
- Old (and sometimes rare) books on College Street and Free School Street.
- Designer clothes at, old Bengali house turned boutique, 85 Lansdowne.
- Indian handicraft & handloom at Dakshinapan State Emporiums.
- Used, antique and old style furniture on Judges Court Road or at the various auction houses along Russel St and Park St.
- Classy & elegant bric-a-brac at Sasha, Free School Street.
- Local Bengali handicraft and handloom from Bengal Home Industries Association, Camac Street.
- Fabindia, By Loom, Sienna and Tia Pakhi, around Hindustan Park, are contemporary lifestyle stores.
What to Eat
Regular Eats
- Double egg double chicken roll at Nizam's behind New Market.
- Chelo kabab from Peter Cat next to Flurys.
- Bangladeshi fare from Kasturi , or Radhuni on Free School Street and
- Bengali food from Kewpie’s on Elgin Lane.
- Goat tongue & brain fry with Rezala at Sabir’s, Chandni Chowk.
- Mutton biryani and mutton chaap from Royal Indian Hotel on Chitpur Rd.
- Chinese food in tanneries-turned-restaurants of Tangra.
- Chicken croissant & rumballs from Flury's with Darjeeling tea.
- Momos, thukpa and other Sikkimese delicacies at Blue Poppy in Sikkim House.
- Chef Joymalya’s Bengali fusion delicacies at Bohemian, in Ballygunge.
- Baked goodies from Jewish bakery Nahoum’s in New Market.
Street Food
- Chicken Bharta from Russel Punjabi Dhaba, Russel St.
- Bhelpuri, Phuchkas and Jhaal Muri from streetside vendors.
- Chicken Pyaare Kabab from Haji Lane.
- Steaming hot chai laced with milk and sugar from next to the Sant Kutiya Gurudwara on Elgin Road.
- Soota kababs on Phears Lane (a.k.a. Chuna Gali).
- Duck Egg Mughlai Parathas from Anadi Cabin.
- Pav Bhaji from Mayaram’s on Lord Sinha Road.
The Sweet Bengali Tooth
- Rossogollas from KC Das, Esplanade.
- Madhupak from Chittaranjan, Bagbazar.
- Nolen Gurer Sandesh from Nakur’s, Hedua.
- Baked Rossogolla from Balaram’s, Bhowanipur.
- Mishti Doi from Bhim Ch. Nag, Park Street.
- A variety of sweets at Mishti Hub, Eco Park, New Town.
Pubs
- Olypub on Park St for beefsteaks and cheap beer.
- Broadway, on Ganesh Chandra Avenue for its old world charm.
- The Grid at Topsia, Hard Rock Cafe on Park Street and Raise the Bar in Salt Lake for the beer on tap experience.
- Someplace Else in Park Hotel, the mecca of live music.