Delhi’s bar scene is making room for fresh ideas, with new spaces reimagining what a night out in the capital can look like. From intimate cocktail dens and underground dining experiences to arcade bars where retro games meet inventive drinks, these new addresses go beyond the usual drinks-and-dinner formula. Whether you’re in the mood for a well-crafted cocktail, indulgent comfort food, music or a little friendly competition over arcade games, there’s something to suit every kind of evening. Here are the new bars in Delhi to add to your list for your next night out.
Elephant Bar, Meherchand Market
At a time when shapeshifting spaces have taken over Delhi’s food scene, Dumbo Deli, one of the city’s best spots for gourmet sandwiches, is all set to embody a new identity as The Elephant Bar, an intimate, 20-seater after-dark destination bringing together cocktails, music, and creative expression. Located in Meherchand Market, the bar is built around an easygoing, unpretentious ethos, encouraging guests to let loose, discover new music and enjoy an evening without the usual fuss.
The cocktail menu features twelve drinks, alongside spirits. Highlights include the Dumbo Espresso Martini, made with Belvedere Vodka, Bacha espresso and vermouth, and the Dumbo Negroni, which combines Tanqueray Gin, Campari and sweet vermouth with a touch of hickory smoke. Playful creations such as the Dumbo Chianti Affair and Dumbo Popsicle Prosecco add a more experimental edge to the drinks programme.
The food menu carries forward Dumbo’s familiar selection of sandwiches and sides, offering informal, indulgent bites to accompany the drinks. Music is central to the experience, with Y2K tracks, familiar favourites, and emerging artists shaping the atmosphere. The space also aims to provide a platform for up-and-coming talent, making it as much a creative gathering spot as a neighbourhood bar.
With an intimate capacity of just 20 guests, The Elephant Bar offers a more personal alternative to Delhi’s larger nightlife venues. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, it is designed for evenings that unfold spontaneously, whether over a well-made cocktail, a rediscovered favourite song or a conversation that stretches late into the night.
Address: 90, Meharchand Market, Lodi Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110003
Timings: 7 pm onwards
Price for two: INR 2,800
Fire Exit, Safdurjung Enclave
Fire Exit by Zura brings together the easy-going spirit of a dive bar and the playful energy of an arcade. Located in Safdarjung Enclave, this casual watering hole pairs signature cocktails with pub grub, retro games, and rooftop seating. Dress as you like and give your own definition to “fun” are preconditions to your visit to Fire Exit.
The drinks menu features inventive mixes such as Kaccha Scene that features vodka, raw mango, mint and a black salt rim. Other highlights include Red Flag with tequila, tamarind, passionfruit, and chilli and Fire Drill which is another tequila-based cocktail featuring coriander, bell pepper and peanut butter.
With arcade games and a boxing setup adding to the fun, Fire Exit is an inviting pick for an evening of drinks, games, and good company.
Address: Humayunpur, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi
The Dark Side
Tucked away behind the kitchen of Refuge in Greater Kailash II’s M Block Market, The Dark Side offers an unconventional take on Delhi’s dining scene. Founded by chef Aditya Mohan, this intimate underground restaurant builds its experience around the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth. Guests begin by marking the sins they identify with on a card, which determines the menu they receive, making dinner a playful exercise in indulgence and self-expression.
The food draws inspiration from the late-night meals Chef Mohan and his fellow chefs enjoyed after their shifts in London, with a menu of comforting, indulgent classics. Highlights include the Anthony Bourdain Sandwich, featuring pan-seared mortadella, cheese and house-made mustard, a caramelised onion grilled cheese sandwich, and mac and cheese with chorizo. The cocktail programme follows the same theme, with drinks named after poisons, including Cyanide, made with tobacco-infused vodka, espresso and Indian coffee liqueur, and Hemlock, a mix of tequila, tomato salsa, jalapeño brine and pandan liqueur. Complete with dim lighting, expressive artwork and a relaxed, intimate setting, The Dark Side invites diners to leave formalities at the door and embrace their indulgent side.
Address: Plot Number 38, Ground Floor, M Block, Greater Kailash 2 (GK 2), New Delhi.
Price for two: INR 3,000
Therefore, Meherchand Market
Therefore is an all-day café and dining destination in Meherchand Market, Lodhi Colony, that transitions seamlessly from a daytime coffee stop to an evening cocktail bar. With a contemporary setting and a menu spanning food, specialty coffee and inventive cocktails, it caters to those looking to linger over a meal or extend a casual catch-up into the evening.
The drinks menu is particularly worth exploring, with coffee-led cocktails adding an interesting twist to the bar programme. On the food front, dishes such as smoked yoghurt croquettes, forest mushroom baklava and dynamite prawns bring a contemporary touch to the menu. Whether you're stopping by for your morning caffeine fix or settling in for drinks after dark, Therefore offers a versatile addition to South Delhi's evolving dining scene.
Address: Shop no. 107, Mehrchand Market, 108 & 109, Lodhi Rd, Lodhi Road Quarters, Lodi Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110003
Price for two: INR 2,500
