Bob's Bar

A particular comment on a Reddit thread has kind of always stayed with me: that nothing ever goes wrong at Bob’s bar, and if it does, there are usually no complaints because of how good the prices are. 

That’s what Bob’s is. A legacy of good times. A beacon of hope after a bad day at work. A trusty friend with faultless service, lipsmackingly low prices, and some of the greatest bar snacks you’ll ever have. And it’s because the bar has never chased trends, and likely never will. 

Since it opened in 2018, it’s only grown across the city, but the flagship Indiranagar outlet remains by far the best and most iconic. Set inside an old bungalow, it’s pretty easy to figure out why everyone loves Bob’s. Wicker furniture, black-and-white tiled floors, walls lined with graffiti that nods to Bengaluru’s oldest institutions: Koshy’s, MTR, Plaza Theatre, Styx. The ground floor’s spread across a patio, while much of the upstairs space is completely open air. Servers stream in and out with ease – and  though it’s always packed, somehow, they’ll magically find a table for you, with drinks and food arriving in under 10 minutes (usually much sooner). 

There are several reasons why everything works: drinks are priced in a way that you don’t think twice about ordering another round. Beer flows freely, the bar’s stocked with both domestic and foreign spirits, and they’re not yet crazy about cocktails (no biggie, Bengaluru’s crawling with dozens of newly opened cocktail bars). The food is designed to keep pace with the drinks: the paneer ghee roast is rich and indulgent, the donne biryani’s dependable, and snacks like disco vadas, onion samosas and fried chicken disappear as quickly as they arrive. Everything’s familiar, feels local, and tastes deeply satisfying. 

That atmosphere carries through to the newer outlets, especially the Wood Street location, housed in a 1945-built home in the cantonment area, surrounded by landmarks like All Saints Bakery and St. Joseph’s.

The vibe: Easygoing, nostalgic, unpretentious
The drinks: Affordable beers, spirits, straightforward cocktails
The food: Pub classics and Bengaluru-style comfort plates