The best things to do in Connaught Place

What is it: In the middle of CP's European chaos, Khadi India boasts something more earthy and ethnic: Indian slow fashion

Why we love it: The city's honking fades into the soft scent of neem and sandalwood when you walk in. The store was established in the 1950s by the government to promote hand-spun cotton, also promoted by Mahatma Gandhi. But don't mistake it for old-school: you'll find a mix of block colour and modern prints. The two-storied shop sells saris, kurtas, shawls and everything in between. 

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 10am-6pm. 

Address: K Block, 3rd Floor, Choudhary Building, Middle Cir, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: A restored heritage haveli turned Punjabi restaurant, home to chef Amninder Sandhu's old family recipes

Why we love it: It bypasses the cliche red chicken gravy and dal makhani. A leafy courtyard houses the main fireplace inside the open kitchen. The space takes simmering seriously, using techniques revived from old Punjabi kitchens – all with the gorgeous seating of indoor dining and a bar. 

Price:₹2,000 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 12pm-3.30pm and 7pm-11.30pm. Sat-Sun: 12pm-11.30pm.

Address: K 11B, Connaught Outer Circle, New Place, Block K, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: A single-storied shop dating to the 1940s, home to some of the best collectibles the city’s hoarded

Why we love it: The place rather introduces a more textured Delhi with its shelves full of handwoven fabrics, miniature paintings, lithographs, oleographs, regional embroideries, and silverware. 

Opening hours: Mon-Sat. 11.30am-7.30pm. Sun closed. 

Address: Shop No. E, 19, Radial Rd Number 7, Block E, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: Somehow always right in the thick of after-hours, this is the epitome of THE neighbourhood dive bar

Why we love it: Tables somehow keep filling up, no matter what day of the week it is. The drinks won’t make your wallet flinch, and the crowd’s here for a good, relaxed time over shared pitchers. The ambience is messy with neon lights and trippy banners, seating is chaotic, and food only complements the diverse drinks menu. (We’d suggest sticking to what’s there on the pitchers menu though, they’re great deals).

Price: ₹1,800 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 11am-1am. 

Address: N 49, 2nd Floor, Radial Road Number 1, near Dominos, Block N, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: Situated on the outer circle, Kake Da Hotel is famous for their butter chicken

Why we love it: Don't go by its timid sitting area: this hotel has a huge waiting queue every moment after it starts its operations in the morning. Their butter chicken is rewarding, the dal makhani is the perfect smoky flavour, and the naan arrives glossed up with butter. While those are its best hits, Kake da Dhaba has a legacy of winning customers over through their non-veg cuisine at large: dahi meat, saag meat and kaleji keema. Right next to it is the sister Bappe da Hotel, equally a no-frills-just-flavours spot for north Indian food. 

Price: ₹1,000 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. Noon-11.30pm. 

Address: Shop No. 67, Municipal Market, Connaught Cir, Connaught Lane, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: Right outside the Odeon Cinema, Gupta Paan Shop is less of a pitstop and more of a ritual for patrons who cherish paan, a betel leaf preparation

Why we love it: This tiny counter pulls in a large crowd for its variety of options: from silver-plated paans to chocolate-coated ones, from rose-sugar syrup-coated cigarettes to flavoured nuts. Absolutely try their fire pan. 

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 10am-6pm. 

Address: D-1, Middle Cir, D Block, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: It's all vibrant colours, dark mahogany furniture and pre-Partition aesthetics, with excellent food to match

Why we love it: You'll spot a framed front page of a newspaper from the day India got independence, an old wooden comb and a vintage sword. You’ll stay for seconds of their robust gravies, smoky tandoor preparations, and kebab servings. The place is perfect for a loud family gathering where no one's counting calories. 

Price: ₹3,000 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. Noon-midnight. 

Address: B.K Dutt Market, J2/17, Block J, Rajouri Garden, Delhi, 110027

What is it: If you’re in CP for baked goods or old-school charm, the Wenger's bakery is impossible to miss

Why we love it: Established in 1926 by a Swiss couple, Wenger's is arguably the oldest surviving bakery in CP. The brand, back then, catered to British troops in Kashmere Gate before shifting to Connaught Place in the early 1930s, where it has stayed ever since. The bakery still holds its tea-room culture with its stylised three-step ordering system, neatly stacked éclairs, rum balls, patties, and cream rolls. 

Price: ₹500 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 11am-7pm. 

Address: G 42, Connaught Cir, Block G, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: These old city veterans come to mind when thinking of an affordable yet quality experience in CP

Why we love it: Indian Coffee House, with its slow, democratic (if I may) charm, is part of a chain that dates back to the 1940s. The place was run by the Indian Coffee Board and was later taken up by worker cooperatives. This outlet has long been a haunt for students, writers, journalists, and political thinkers – the kind of people CP hosts round the clock. Rivoli is a British-era single-screen cinema turned multi-screen film spot at the heart of the capital city. Back then, people would flock to the Rivoli for the latest Hollywood releases. Still a good experience now.

Price: ₹1,000 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 8.30am-9pm.

Address: 2nd Floor, Mohan Singh Place, Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: Established in 1936 by Ram Babu Jain, this is widely regarded as one of the country's oldest private art galleries

Why we love it: This one was born not out of commerce but out of camaraderie. Artists once flocked to the gallery for the latest art gear and stationery supplies, often leaving behind artworks in exchange. Over decades, the space evolved into a cultural hub giant, hosting early exhibitions of now-iconic names like Jamini Roy, F.N. Souza, and J. Swaminathan. 

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 11am-1am.

Address: G 42, Connaught Cir, Block G, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: An Indian handicrafts goldmine, the State Emporia Complex sits right on the edge of Baba Kharak Singh Marg. 

Why we love it: Built post-Independence to promote regional crafts, this cluster of state-run emporia brings together textiles, handicrafts, and artisanal traditions. Hunt for papier-mâché, pashmina shawls and walnut wood carvings from Kashmir; a little bit away is the Gujarat Emporium with bandhani, mirror work, and vibrant embroidery, while Tamil Nadu House Emporium showcases Kanjeevaram silks, bronze idols, and temple-inspired artefacts. 

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 9am-9pm. 

Address: Palika Kendra, Arya School Ln, Raja Bazar Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

What is it: The seat of the oldest tailor shops in the capital city

Why we love it: Tucked off the radial roads of Connaught Place, Shankar Market is one of those enduring spaces of Delhi that residents swear by, but tourists often miss. It is a compact, corridor-style collection of some two hundred shops selling textile and tailoring units – awfully convenient for buying top-notch fabric and giving it to a tailor in the same trip. The tailors, it’s worth noting, are amazingly efficient at the job, and can copy almost any design you show them. 

Opening hours: Mon-Sat. 11am-8pm. Sun closed. 

What is it: Another old-timer holding its ground in Connaught Place's ever-changing food scene

Why we love it: The Embassy Restaurant entered the space in 1948, right after Independence and became an instant hit among Delhi's old guards: politicians, journalists, theatre artists, and families who've been returning here for decades. Step in, and you find wood-panelled interiors, old photographs lining the walls and red stone arches. In comparison to the newer mood-lit cafés of CP, Embassy feels quite grounded. The menu leans heavily into North Indian cuisine like butter chicken, mutton curry, kebabs, and biryani. 

Price: ₹2,000 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 12.30pm-11pm.

What is it: Nestled inside the iconic Regal building, Kwality is a piece of Delhi's culinary history, serving keen diners of the capital since 1940

Why we love it: Kwality is at least a quarter of Delhi's childhood memory: a special family dinner or a treat on winning a trophy. The inside feels like the dawn of the 21st century: plush seating and polished wood, chandeliers, black-and-white frames of wealthy diners from independence times, and even the occasional live piano. They're known for classic North Indian and Mughlai fare, to which the restaurant has remained loyal, even in the face of food trends. 

Price: ₹4,000 for two

Opening hours: Mon-Sun. 12pm-11pm. 

Address: No.7, Regal Building, Sansad Marg, Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001