Guwahati has a buzzing, up-and-coming night culture. Even though it is not as evolved as that of a metropolis, its many bars and pubs have slowly transformed the nightlife of the city into a booming and youthful party zone. There are plenty of fascinating spots to have a blast and feisty new party establishments are popping all over the city rather rapidly. Take your pick. It’s one big party! Here are our picks of the top nightclubs in Guwahati:
Best nightclubs in Guwahati
Smartly designed, visually captivating, with the right alchemy of food, fun, drinks and party vibes, these are places for hard-core clubbers.
1. Terra Mayaa Restaurant and Lounge
One of the oldest and most well-known lounges in the city, Tera Mayaa has it all. Live music, multiple cuisine offerings (continental, Italian, Chinese) and tons of alcohol choices. The resto-bar is designed in blue disco tube lights, covering almost the lounge in an eerie blue. There is a little stage for live performances and a roof-top section for dining, a darling of the crowds. Tera Mayaa screens live sports, hosts popular DJs from around the country, holds unplugged performances, Bollywood nights and even invites stand-up acts. Weekends at the pub are always pulsating with party-goers. If you’re looking for things to do at night in Guwahati, look no further.
Where: GS Road, Guwahati
When: 12:30 pm to 11 pm
Why: Rooftop dining, peppy ambience and sleek décor
2. Topaz 2.0
A thriving gastropub, Topaz 2.0 scores with its ambience. It has a futuristic design clad in dark red and purple backlit décor, edgy silver pillars for tables with sleek chairs and funky ottomans. The pub hosts Retro Nights, Tequila Nights, Bollywood Nights, a platter of other gigs that keep the crowd flowing in. The pub offers a good variety of buy-one-get-one deals and special discounts on drinks. A great place to unleash your wild side.
Where: Ulubari, Guwahati
When: 12 PM to 12 AM
Why: Psychedelic ambience
3. Underdoggs Sports Bar & Grill
Get your adrenaline pumping with a night full of adventure at this top-rated sports bar. Spacious and packed with young blood, the bar is equipped with 30 HD screens for viewing games, pool tables, dart boards and other interactive games for a night full of lively antics. It hosts NH 7 pre-parties, Sufi and hip-hop nights, almost every kind of gig one finds in a metro city like Mumbai or Delhi, with Continental and Indian culinary offerings to match.
Where: GS Mall, Christian Basti, Guwahati
When: 12 pm to 12 am
Why: Sports, music acts, good crowd
4. Café Copa
A relatively new entrant in the Guwahati night circuit, Café Copa is designed to amaze. Its visually appealing bar centrepiece is a bicycle hung on a brick wall, paired with bar stools made of cycle tires. Tables are made of thick tires against the wall décor that reminds one of American style biker bars combined with a sports bar theme with HD screens. It also hosts DJ nights and is a reasonably priced bar to hang out at.
Where: GS Road, Guwahati
When: 1 pm to 11 pm
Why: Interesting atmospherics, reasonably priced alcohol
Best drinking places in Guwahati
For more laid-back fun and frolic, look no further than these places. Soaked in cultural themes, they’re the perfect place to find Guwahati’s in-crowd.
5. Brooklyn Blues
Hipsters rejoice! A dose of Brooklyn inspired urbanity within booths surrounded by old-school elevator doors against bright, big wall paintings of Marley, Lennon and other icons. A good spot for casual dining and drinking, Brooklyn Blues is teeming on weekends with DJ nights. The food menu is designed in vintage pop art style with plenty of continental and Indian recipes to choose from. The bar urges visitors to grab their own piece of Brooklyn (a borough of New York city which is now famously gentrified by hipsters).
Where: GS Road, Guwahati
When: 12 pm to 12 am
Why: Artistic, pleasant, cultural
6. Café Hendrix
A local favourite, and a ‘cool’ place to visit on your trip to Guwahati. Café Hendrix, named after Jimi Hendrix, this live blues cafe has gained cult status in Guwahati. A dark retro ambience with framed photographs of musicians, Hendrix ideal for a relaxing night out with good company and beer. The café serves alcohol that won’t burn a hole in your pocket along with Indian, Chinese and continental dishes. The main appeal, however, is the live music played by local and international bands. The café’s purpose is to provide a stage for the musical talent of Northeast India. Its tribute nights are also quite legendary.
Where: Opp Pantaloons, Six Mile, Guwahati
When: 1 PM to 12 AM
Why: Local legend, live blues music, good vibes
7. Shanghai Salsa
A curiously themed resto-bar that (as the name suggests) has a menu that is a cross between oriental and Mexican cuisines. The décor is a loud, colourful mish-mash of Chinese portraits, wall hangings, table tops and old school Mexican kitsch. The bar also hosts live performances, karaoke nights and sports screenings. Crowded and bustling during the evenings, it promises to be an interesting place to have a casual but fun night out.
Where: Zoo Tiniali, Guwahati
When: 12 pm to 10:30 pm
Why: Interesting menu choices, vibrant ambience
8. XS – The Place To Be
Cosy and warm wood-panelled interiors coupled with the vibrancy of a classic British pub. XS offers a diverse menu of continental, Chinese, Thai, Italian and North Indian cuisine, served with a generous dose of good music. If you are craving drinks, dinner and dance with uplifting surroundings and elegant décor, XS is indeed the place to be.
Where: GS Road, Christian Basti, Guwahati
When: 11 am to 12 pm
Why: For the experience of a British pub
9. Reign Bar & Lounge
Loud music and crowded pubs aren’t everyone’s thing. Reign Bar & Lounge offers the option to relax in an opulence setting. An elegant royal pink interspersed with ivory white runs through the sleek décor of the bar, with a menu that serves a wide range of cocktails and wines, international beers and delectable food.
Where: Maligaon, Guwahati
When: 2 pm to 12 am
Why: A five-star experience, exquisite ambience
10. Urban Mantra Restro Lounge
Understated and comfy, the lounge offers affordable dining and drinks in a casual atmosphere. The wooden seating is adorned with minimal retro art and a small area for live musical performances. The lounge serves a variety of lamb, pork, and fish recipes. A perfect place if you’re not in the mood for hardcore partying, but are up for a few drinks and dinner.
Where: Khanapara, Guwahati
When: 1 pm to 10 pm
Why: Soothing ambience, reasonably priced drinks
11. The Socialite
Unlike the name suggests, this bar is open for all kinds of patrons. However, the décor is rich, golden-brown and classy with dimly lit spaces. The bar has screens to watch live sports and the menu consists of north Indian and continental dishes. Overall, a fairly decent place to spend a night out in a posh and lively setting.
Where: GS Road, Christian Basti, Guwahati
When: 11 am to 11 pm
Why: Classy, charming
For romantic evenings in GuwahatiIf the party scene doesn’t appeal to you, there are a couple of ways you could spend a romantic evening in Guwahati.
12. Cruising on the Brahmaputra river
Several private operators offer cruises aboard ships across the picturesque Brahmaputra with a mix of live local entertainment, beautiful sight-seeing from aboard the ship decks and a relaxing atmosphere to have a quiet dinner with drinks. A sunset cruise offers the same bonhomie against the stunning backdrop of the river. The opportunities to take gorgeous pictures of the river are numerous. For those who prefer to go clubbing in metros and wish to indulge in the more locally immersive experience of the city’s authentic vibe, a water cruise is the best way to enjoy a special night out.
Where: Alfresco Grand, MV Mahaprabhu
When: 4 pm onwards
Why: For the sheer beauty of the riverside, the unique experience of a river cruise, ideal for couples
13. Sunset gazing
Highly recommended for the soulful couple, Guwahati ghats (Ujanbazar Ghat and Sukreswar Ghat, for example) are great places to take evening strolls and photograph the sunset on the Brahmaputra and take pictures of the local fishermen. Evening ferry rides are also a good way to explore the riverside. The Saraighat Bridge offers a good vantage point to take amazing pictures of the sunset over the river.
Where: Sukreswar Ghat, Ferry Ghat
When: Evenings
Why: Peaceful, leisurely walks, local life
For a small city, Guwahati has too many places to keep you occupied at night. You could easily try out a new place each day of your holiday. Do let us know your favourites in the comments section.
