Hauz Khas: Nightclubs and bars to have a great nightlife

For some reason, Delhi doesn’t have a great nightlife. Most market places close by 8 to 9 PM in the evening. Yes, some pockets in the National Capita region (NCR)- Noida and Gurugram have relatively okay nightlife. But not many places in Delhi proper, except for Hauz Khas Village. With scores of cafes, bars and night-clubs, Hauz Khas Village offers quite a good nightlife vibe in Delhi. If you are a regular visitor, you would know how to choose a good place to have some fun. But not-so-regular visitors wouldn’t know. So, here’s a guide on the best nightclubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village to have a great nightlife.

{However, if you are looking for cafes and resto-bars, check out: Best cafes in Hauz Khas}

Hauz Khas Village is not all about nightlife. Though it’s popular among youngsters as a party destination, it’s much more than that. Lots of people also come here to visit the Hauz Khas Monument, the lakeside, shopping, and myriad other interesting things. Living here for a decade now, and being a traveller myself, I love every little aspect of the village. If you are interested in exploring the place better, do check out: Hauz Khas Village.

{For more destinations in Delhi, read: How to explore Delhi}

Hauz Khas as a Party Destination

For over a decade now, Hauz Khas Village has been one of Delhi’s most happening places. From spending a leisurely day with the family to shopping and exploring heritage monuments, Hauz Khas Village has become the most sought-after destination. When the sun goes down over the Hauz Khas lake, the village comes alive under the lights. A completely new set of crowd starts trickling into Hauz Khas Village in search of its popular nightclubs and bars. The buzz remains in the village till the other side of midnight.

Having said that, I must also give you a heads-up that bars and nightclubs are not that great in Hauz Khas Village. If partying is the only reason, there are better clubs in Delhi, for example in Khan Market, Greater Kailash, and Connaught Place. However, Hauz Khas Village has a charm of its own. I mean, the overall package of the village as a whole is great. Since there are tens of cafes and bars stand next to each other in a small place, visitors walking around and the general buzz is interesting. But the quality of nightclubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village are just okay, not among the best.

Anyway, if you are visiting Hauz Khas Village, you might be wondering where to party or which cafes to visit. So, for your convenience, in this article, I’m giving a thorough review of all the nightclubs, pubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village so that you can make up your mind.

Background note on the assessment

Not being a party-person myself, it’s not that easy to assess the nightclubs and bars. However, since I have been living in the village for nearly a decade now, I know the right people to talk to, to gauge various aspects of these clubs. And of course, I have visited them all in person to check them out. Talking to their managers, visitors and key people around has helped me make an honest assessment.

In order to assess these nightclubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village, I use the three most important parameters: (1) Drinks & Food quality, (2) Experience & Ambiance, (3) Service & Value. And of course, I’ll rate each of them from all these parameters and will also give an overall rating. So, have a close look at them to make up your mind. Please note: this article includes only places which have dance floors/ DJ. So, resto-bars without dance floors are excluded.

General heads-up on what to expect:

Now, before doing the assessment, let me put across some common pointers about the nightclubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village for one’s convenience.

These are mostly small nightclubs/ bars with limited capacity except for Hauz Khas Social.
Most of them are located in narrow alleys and the stairs that lead to them can often be scary if you visit alone. However, no need to be afraid; I don’t hear any major safety issues.
As one would expect, only weekends see good footfall.
Some of the bars extend attractive offers like free drinks for girls. But one should generally avoid them as they are generally heavily diluted.
Most of the bars have live music (not that good though!) during the weekend evenings.

Best Nightclubs in Hauz Khas Village

1. Hauz Khas Social

For lots of visitors, Hauz Khas Social is a favorite place to hang out. Social creates an exquisite atmosphere with its distinctive furniture made from 100% recycled and repurposed materials. If you visit Social in the evening, head to the rooftop for an amazing sunset over the lake. The rooftop has also some interesting seating arrangements. Undoubtedly, it sits at the top among the best nightclubs/ bars in Hauz Khas Village.

The ambiance is further enhanced by well-curated music and lighting. A great crowd, high-quality cuisine and beverages, along with vibrant lighting and music, make Social an ideal package. If you really want to boost your mood by dancing, you’ll need to wait for the weekends. Generally, Social opens the dance floor on weekends or when there’s a lively crowd.

Food types: Indian, continental, and fusion; Most popular food/ drinks: DIY Kheema Bruschetta, Social Mezz Platter, Kheema Paratha, Tikka Tacos & Chinese Bhel, Oreo Mud Pot Shake, Chocolate Chutzpah.
Money quotient: ₹ ₹ ₹
Rating: Drinks & Food: 4.2/5; Experience & Ambiance: 4.5/5; Service & Value: 4.2/5; (Overall Rating: 4.3/ 5).

2. Record Room

The restaurant is another much-liked bar and restaurant in the village. With excellent music and a lakeside seating arrangement, it offers a lovely, laid-back yet lively vibe for partygoers. Live music and DJ evenings create a vibrant, party-friendly atmosphere, especially on weekends. Despite being popular, it often feels crowded due to its small size. Although it lacks a dedicated dance floor, partygoers can still dance in the restaurant’s modest common area.

Food types: North Indian, Chinese, Italian, Middle Eastern, Thai and Continental; Most popular food & Drinks: Chicken skewers, White sauce pasta, Greek/Caesar Salad, Apple & Sumac Chicken Salad, Sangria, Classic Mojito
Money quotient: ₹ ₹ ₹
Rating: Drinks & Food: 4/5; Experience & Ambiance: 4.2/5; Service & Value: 3.8/5; (Overall Rating: 4.0/ 5).

3. Matchbox Pub & Grub

Started in 2014, it is among the few older bars. The place is a hybrid of a restaurant, a bar, and a pub. It has a formal dining area, a pub section, and a separate rooftop lounge. The ambiance caters to a wide range of moods and preferences. For example, the open area creates a romantic atmosphere with daily live music and decorative lighting. It also offers a lounge space that gives a club-like vibe, where people can socialise casually and enjoy a drink.

On weekends, after 9 p.m., the pub section usually comes alive. It primarily attracts people from the Northeast and remains a popular party spot throughout the year. With great energy and music, the cafe knows how to keep the crowd entertained with full-on masti. Hence, it counts among the best nightclubs in Hauz Khas Village.

Food types: American, Indian, Asian; Most popular food: Tandoori platter veg/nonveg, Chakhna platter, Momo – Aloo momo.
Money quotient: ₹ ₹ ₹
Rating: Drinks & Food: 4/5; Experience & Ambiance: 4/5; Service & Value: 4/5; (Overall Rating: 4.0/ 5).

4. Epic Resto-bar

The restaurant has impressively placed itself in Hauz Khas Village’s main lane. It is also a restaurant-bar hybrid, with rooftop fine dining and a bar area. Interestingly, it’s widely popular among people from various foreign countries. The resto-bar provides an ideal balance of a lively party atmosphere and a stylish environment. Besides, it’s also a great spot to get a flavorful cocktail and a variety of multi-cuisine menu options. Epic offers daily live music and DJ nights. Though the dance floor seems small to me, it creates an environment for all kinds of moods—dance, romantic, and more.

Food types: North Indian, Chinese, Italian, and Fast Food cuisines; Most popular food: EPIC spl Veg platter, EPIC spl Non-veg platter, Cumint Ice cocktail, Sealed with a kiss by downtown.
Money quotient: ₹ ₹ ₹
Rating: Drinks & Food: 3.9/5; Experience & Ambiance: 4/5; Service & Value: 3.8/5; (Overall Rating: 3.9/ 5).

5. Barsoom Frat House

Being one of the older nightclubs in Hauz Khas Village, it is a popular choice among youngsters. The indoor setup is suitable for dining, either individually or on a sharing basis, and also provides enough space for dancing. The décor is funky, stylish, and well-suited for late-night parties. Besides, it also offers good options of delicious multi-cuisine bites to accompany the beverages and, of course, hookah, further enhancing the energetic vibe.

Food types: Indian, continental, and fusion; Most popular food/ drinks: DIY Kheema Bruschetta, Social Mezz Platter, Kheema Paratha, Tikka Tacos & Chinese Bhel, Oreo Mud Pot Shake, Chocolate Chutzpah
Money quotient: ₹ ₹ ₹
Rating: Drinks & Food: 3.9/5; Experience & Ambiance: 4/5; Service & Value: 3.8/5; (Overall Rating: 3.9/ 5).

6. Downtown

Though it’s a comparatively new resto-bar, it has become quite popular among youngsters. It offers two distinct setups—one dedicated to dining and the other designed purely for partying with DJ music. With decent food options to accompany both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, the place focuses on creating energetic vibes and a lively dance atmosphere. It has the potential to count among the top three nightclubs in Hauz Khas Village.

Food types: Indian, continental, and fusion; Most popular food/ drinks: DIY Kheema Bruschetta, Social Mezz Platter, Kheema Paratha, Tikka Tacos & Chinese Bhel, Oreo Mud Pot Shake, Chocolate Chutzpah
Money quotient: ₹ ₹ ₹
Rating: Drinks & Food: 4/5; Experience & Ambiance: 4/5; Service & Value: 3.7/5; (Overall Rating: 3.9/ 5).

Summer House Cafe

If you find Hauz Khas Village too crowded or not to your choice, there’s an alternative, not far from the village. Less than a kilometer before entering the village, at the Aurobindo Place Market, Summer House is a great option. It’s popular for its classy and rustic environment. With wooden furniture, and options for rooftop/ balcony seating, the ambiance is perfect for both lazy afternoons and lively evenings.

(Since it’s outside the core Hauz Khas Village, I’m keeping it at the end. But it easily ranks among the top nightclubs near Hauz Khas Village)

Food types: Italian; American and Continental; Most popular food/ drinks: Rocket Pizza, Pineapple Chaat, Chicken Lasagna, Lamb Chops, and Mediterranean Platter.
Money quotient: ₹ ₹ ₹
Rating: Drinks & Food: 4.3/5; Experience & Ambiance: 4.3/5; Service & Value: 4/5; (Overall Rating: 4.2/ 5).

Second Best Nightclubs in Hauz Khas Village

Hauz Khas Official:

A comparatively new restaurant in the village. With good DJ music and lighting, it creates a pleasant ambiance and overall experience. With a moderately sized dance floor, it is a well-balanced spot offering good music, drinks, and service.

Fork You:

Fork You is one of the older restaurants/ nightclubs started around 2014. It identifies itself as a classic American diner during the daytime and a lively cocktail club at night. The vibrant vibe of the club has made it popular among youngsters since its inception. It is also loved for its variety of burgers. Along with burgers, it offers decent food and drink options. But most of the time, it opens quite late, i.e. after 7 pm.

Mafioso Café:

This is one of the older nightclubs/ bars in Hauz Khas Village, set up in 2015. It has good space with quirky and creative wall elements. The lighting, music and dance floor create energetic vibes and making it a perfect night-club. It has a large dance floor at the center, surrounded by spacious dining arrangements on both floors.

Moonshine Café & Bar:

One of the oldest nightclubs/ bars, originally opened around 2013–14, it remained closed after the COVID period and reopened only last year. It is well known for its energetic atmosphere, with a fair selection of drinks and food. Considering its earlier good impression, it is worth trying.

Village Bar Exchange:

This is a comparatively new resto-bar in the village. It has multiple dining and seating spaces with varied styles. It regularly hosts different kinds of events to engage the crowd. With good ambiance and a decent food and drink experience, it is reasonably good to try.

Other notable nightclubs/ bars in Hauz Khas Village:

The Heaven Box: Club Lights & City Nights – A vibrant venue with good sound quality and song selection, featuring a very good sized dance floor.
Red Frog: Offers a fairly spacious and visually appealing setup for dining, drinks, and dancing.
Lumora Kitchen & Lounge: A recently opened restaurant with a relatively spacious dance floor.
Xoyo: Newly opened; offers premium cocktail and gourmet food.
Nyt Life: New in the village; looks promising.

General issues and complaints about the nightclubs of Hauz Khas Village

Safety and crowd issues:

Overcrowding & nuisance: Since it’s a small place with tens of nightclubs and bars, Hauz Khas Village often feels over-crowded, especially during the festive season.
Security concerns: Narrow lanes leading to the bars guarded by poorly trained bouncers often looks shady and feels unsafe, especially to the first-time visitors.

Operational and regulatory issues:

Closures & compliance issues: From time to time, many bars have faced sealing or shutdowns by authorities. This happens mainly because of violations like pollution norms or lack of necessary kitchen/ environment/ fire- safety certifications.
Noise and late-night complaints: Some nightclubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village have been penalized for playing DJ music beyond permitted timings or violating noise regulations.

Concluding Remarks

Over the years, the popularity of nightclubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village have gone down. Both restaurateurs and patrons feel the HKV nightlife and restaurant scene has lost its buzz compared with earlier years. Moreover, with other destinations like Connaught Place, airport-area, Noida and Gurgaon getting more popular, visitors are heading there. Because, they offer more space, modern facilities and better vibes.

In fact, I have seen this happening in front of my eyes over the last decade. When I first came here in 2016, the nightlife scene was much better with the buzz continuing till wee hours of the morning. But now, it generally closes by 12 AM.

However, I would still say, Hauz Khas Village has a very interesting nightlife unmatched by any other destination. As I said earlier, it’s not only about the nightclubs and bars in Hauz Khas Village. It’s more about the unique vibe of the place. It’s old, it has heritage value and a great shopping destination. Moreover, one should come here a little before the evening, enjoy a sunset over the lake and then head to party.

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