5 places not to miss on Park Street, Kolkata

A visit to Park Street cannot be considered completed without a visit of the following five places, if not some more, that I will call out later in another blog.

No. 1 - Flury's - a coffee shop and bakers since 1927. An excellent confectionary and cafe. It has multiple outlets across the city, including the airport, but this is where it all started. I understand that their menu still inherits a lot of items from their British heritage. Worth visiting for the ambience and at least a coffee and cake.

No. 2 - Oxford Bookstore - and its famous Cha Bar. it is a book store that is worth a visit even if you do not buy anything. You'll be tired enough to spend some time at the Cha Bar for tea and snacks. Here is an excerpt of what they are:

Established in 1919, Oxford Bookstore is the best equipped ‘base-camp’ for journeys of the mind offering its customers the widest range of outstanding titles and consistently courteous and informed service for more than a century. Today, with stores in major metros, India’s first of its kind tea boutique, Cha Bar, India’s only bookstore to curate multiple literary festivals like Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob and Hindi Sahitya Utsav, Oxford Bookstore offers booklovers access to the very best in publishing enhanced by a variety of events which salute books, visual & performing arts and celebrate the word.

No. 3 - Kusum Roll - famous for their rolls. As mentioned earlier they are famous for their rolls which are typically Kolkata variant of the Frankie of Mumbai and elsewhere in India. No visit to Park Street would be considered complete a roll from Kusum.

No. 4 - Trincas - Started as a tea room and bakery during British India.

Here is what they have to say about their origin.

1927 Origins of an Icon

Trincas debuted in British Calcutta as a tea-room and bakery in 1927. In 1959 it changed ownership and has evolved over the years, adding cuisines, live entertainment, and secret spaces. This is probably the most unique restaurant in the city. It has history and a cultural legacy. Every true-blue Calcutta family has a story about Trincas.

1960S & 1970S

In July 1959 Om Prakash Puri and Ellis Joshua acquired Trincas from a Swiss gentleman - Cinzio Trinca - and converted the tea-room to a restaurant. To this, they added live ”floor shows” and over the next few years made it the most popular restaurant on Park Street.

They continue to have live music every day of the week and the food is amazing. It is worth a visit to savor not only the food but the overall ambience.

No. 5 - Bar-B-Q is a 64 year old institution on Park Street, Kolkata. Established in 1960s, by a gentleman named Shailendra Kothari, father of the current owner Rajiv Kothari. It morphed from its initial cuisine to what Kolkatan's popular demand - Indo-Chinese cuisine. They serve other North Indian dishes as well. But I would attribute their demand and popularity to the Indo-Chinese food. It's popularity can be gauged by the long waiting times and queues especially during dinner times. I would highly recommend a visit if you keen to understand what is Indo-Chinese food.

I can continue to keep adding to this list, but it will be too long for anyone to address in one visit. So a longer list in another blog.