Deepali Dhingra

Editor’s note: This list was compiled in July 2026 (and updated regularly) amidst an upsurge in the listening culture in Delhi – whether that’s across cafès, bars, or non-food-and-bev spaces. The city’s not one to shy away from a trend, and this one’s been steadily inching onto the scene since Genre arrived in Defence Colony. The kind of music played across spaces differs, not only in genre (haha) but also the seriousness with which they expect you to listen. It’s supposed to be a fun night out, after all. Delhi bar hopping usually plays out the same way every weekend: a speakeasy blurs into a nightclub, passwords change, cocktails multiply like bees out of a hive. By midnight, you couldn't tell one moody, low-lit room from another. Enter the listening bar, where the whole point is to shut up for a long while – and hear the music someone spent years digging through crates to find. The blueprint is old. Tokyo's kissa culture goes back to the 1920s, when a jazz kissa charged you the price of a coffee for the privilege of listening to a record in total silence.  NCR's version is looser, naturally. We're still texting under the table and scrolling between tracks. But there's a growing appetite here for music that isn't chasing a trending sound. And there’s some awfully good cocktails, coffee, and food to go with. Here are our picks. One disclaimer: to run with the vinyl crowd, you'll want your slang up to date. 

Delhi’s no stranger to frozen treats, but a proper Italian gelato may have been an object of FOMO up until recently. That’s changed, and just in time for hot girl summer. Maybe the gelaterias aren’t the warm little Italian nooks you’d imagine (many are sleekly minimalist) but you can bet that they taste like the real deal. What’s more – Delhi can’t resist adding an Indian touch. Masala chai gelato may be on the cards. In fact, it is on the cards.

There are speakeasies, and there are… speakeasies. But Together is not quite one. The 'hidden bar' shows up on Google Maps – we checked – and the black and white cat logo in the narrow alley is your cue to head up the elevator to the third floor. Chatter drifts up from The Pint Room below. There's no grand entrance, but the tiny passage – bathed in red light and lined with vinyl records ranging from The Police to Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift – is enticing enough to push through the inner door, where the curved walls stop you in your tracks. The lighting is low, and textured mirrors and cobbled walls add to the moodiness.  The focus is on the music, though, and the cocktails exist to amplify it. Small savoury bites and sharing plates round out the menu, and the drinks lean into notes of sweet, spicy and umami. My friend gets stuck on Track 1 and orders it twice in a row – not for lack of curiosity, but because she can't get enough of the bright, yuzu-forward tequila drink with hints of soy and basil. Track 4 gets my vote: a wasabi-washed white rum with mango and basil, smooth all the way through. Special mention to Track 7 though – whether it's the caramelised pineapple or the pisco cocktail with rosemary and Campari doing the work, it's a win either way. Food might be something of an interlude, but it’s a good one. The assorted vegetables tempura hits the spot, the chicken dumplings are satisfyingly juicy, and the poached chicken in chilli oil may be one of the best I'v

If a Subko-fuelled fever dream and your friend’s cool dad’s (or even grandfather’s) vinyl collection had a baby, SH/FT would be it – the Gurgaon-based cafe scores with caffeine lovers and music lovers alike (and let’s be honest, most of us are both). The former turn up here for the precision coffee and comforting plates, while the latter can’t get enough of their vinyl collection – fuelled by Aftermarket Records – for listening sessions that flow late into the night.  SH/FT’s equally designed for loud groups of friends and freelancers and WFHers ticking off deadlines, with plenty of charging points to match. Staff have scribbled on wall murals to show off their love for music, right beside the wall that holds the vinyl collection. By night, the energy shifts from Bruce Wayne to Batman. Lights are dim by 7, deeper vinyl cuts are spun, and wine and beer menus replace coffee and bakes. Listening sessions take over for the night, with a curated playlist calling the shots – moody jazz and disco grooves taking central stage. And if the music changes, so do the brews and grub. If you are here during the day, soaking up the sunshine, the Brown Butter Toasted Milk Coffee deserves to be your go-to for its sweet and strong notes. In the mood to experiment? The Yuzu Ginger brew with Coke gets my vote for the best plot twist, with its zesty, almost spicy flavour. The juicy and generously portioned Busy Girl Chicken Tenders threaten to kill your appetite for dinner later; don’t let it. The

Does Delhi need yet another café serving us brown butter lattes and sausage croissants? Well, who am I kidding? We’ll never tire of them.  For the Common Time outlet in Khan Market (my favourite one), take the stairs from Bahrisons Luxury Collection – not to be confused with Bahrisons Booksellers in the same market – and find yourself smack in the middle of a sensory overload. The logo outside does say Khan Kissaten, implying a more intimate experience, although I’m not sure if I could come back here with my laptop. It’s peppy and bright, buzzy with conversations and laughter that float in and out of my hearing range.   The main café area is decently big, with a lot of wood panelling and soft lighting, but what really reels me in is a small balcony area with a couple of chairs, looking out directly towards a bunch of trees. It’s great for a quick smoke break. Inside, there’s an eclectic mix of vinyl records and cutesy merch lined up on shelves, and the counter with the bakes display and the wood.  They take their coffee seriously, without a need for drama. There are your usual cappuccinos and seasonal pour overs, but the bet I took was on the orange-foamed mont blanc cold brew, and it’s perfect for sweltering heat. It’s surprisingly easy to adjust to the interruption of candied orange bites in the drink. Still, I needed a hug in a mug, so I followed it up with a mocha that was pure chocolate gooeyness.  The food programme is pretty impressive as well, and one is hard-pressed