Kolkata's iconic dining hubs, led by the famous Park Street, are gearing up for an extraordinary surge in visitors this Christmas and New Year season. Restaurants across central and south Kolkata are expecting footfall to reach unprecedented levels, prompting many to extend their operating hours well past midnight and implement special crowd management strategies.
Extended Hours and Festive Preparations
The festive spirit has already taken over the city, with hotspots like Park Street and major shopping malls witnessing heavy crowds since last weekend after their grand illumination. However, the real explosion is anticipated from December 24 to 26, with most restaurants and bars planning to remain open until 2 am to accommodate revellers.
Leading the charge, Specialty Restaurants has announced extended timings for its popular outlets. Mainland China on Gurusaday Dutta Road and at South City Mall will operate until 1 am on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1. Cafe Mezzuna at South City will welcome guests till 1 am on December 24 and 25, and until 2 am on December 31. Meanwhile, Hoppipola at Acropolis Mall will serve until 2 am on December 24 and 31, and till 1 am on January 1.
"We are expecting exceptionally high footfall this festive season," said Anjan Chatterjee, founder and chairman of Specialty Restaurants. "Christmas in Kolkata has a unique charm; people step out in groups to celebrate, eat out and enjoy extra special late nights. At Specialty, we extend our hours across all our restaurants."
Crowd Management and Strategic Changes
The anticipated rush has led several establishments to rethink their usual operations. The legendary Trincas on Park Street will stay open till 2 am on December 24, 25, and 31, and until 1 am from December 26 to 28. To better manage the influx, they have introduced live music sessions in the afternoon and during lunch hours to spread out the crowd.
Anand Puri of Trincas noted, "We expect footfall to spiral further around New Year. Live music is scheduled earlier in the day to manage the crowd better and begin from 6 pm."
Other famous eateries like Mocambo, Peter Cat, and Peter Hu near Park Street have adopted a cautious approach for New Year's Eve. They have decided not to serve liquor beyond 11 pm on December 31, though they will remain open to serve food until 2 am or later if crowds persist. On Christmas Eve, however, they will serve liquor till 12:20 am.
Siddharth Kothari, representing these restaurants, explained, "The waiting crowds have been large so far... It could be troublesome to wait on pavements, already teeming with people. We don't want people to get hassled... we don't want to spoil the experience by making people stand in the crowd on New Year's Eve."
City-Wide Festive Momentum
The festive momentum is not confined to Park Street alone. Oh! Calcutta at Forum Mall will extend service till 1 am on December 25 and 31. Amber on Waterloo Street plans to stay open until 2 am on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1.
Sanjay Khullar, owner of Amber, observed, "We saw a major crowd swell after the wedding season got over around Dec 15-16... Still, it's expected to be very crowded, and we are ready to handle a bigger than usual attendance."
Adding to the list, Chili's Grill & Bar at South City and Quest Mall will serve food and liquor until 1 am on December 24 and 31. Owner Rishi Bajoria reflected the city's upbeat mood, stating, "The crowds have been getting bigger by the day, and this year seems to be an exceptionally good one."
As Kolkata dons its festive best, the city's vibrant food and beverage scene is all set to host what promises to be a record-breaking season of celebration, fine dining, and late-night revelry.
