Kolkata, though in my opinion is an example of failed state under the rule of ruling party, is an overall lovable city to live in. Being the first capital of India under British rule, Calcutta is a city of heritages which are poorly maintained. This is my version of Kolkata's dance bars which are surviving in an co-operation between law, politics and cashes earned in a wrong way.
Back in 2010-11 I had my first visit to a bar in Chandi Chawk, name right now I can't recall. (Well it's Cherry Pick) That was the beta version of today's dance bars of Kolkata. In that bar a lady was singing with live music and another lady was humming with some little moves of her body. Both were well dressed. It's not dance bar, but live music bar or simply Music Bar or more popularly Singing Bar. I would tell you most of the singers over these places are not worthy. But few are really good, often a part of an orchestra.
However today's singing bars have left that tradition and probably they serves better than Mumbai's dance bar culture in terms of show business and lust; though they are not at par with American or European stripper pubs. In Kolkata dance bars, you have to earn the girl before you can have a date with her. Often the money does not matter, if you're young guy. But older guys need to spend a good money to the girl and then only the girl can make a out with you. Remember only a handful of girls are into body game, so approach to them must be done carefully.
My true dance bar experience was happened during my hostel life in 2012-13. One of my senior took to Night Queen, near Bangur on Jessore Road (don't mistake it with Chandni/Esplanade's Night Queen's).
When I joined in a company in Kolkata as intern, oneday I was looking for drinks after 11pm and discovered the nest with help of a kala-pila taxi driver. In the VIP road (or Kazi Naruzul Sarani) starting from Baguihati and ending upto Kaikhali (near Airport) you will find several dance bars. If you are going towards Airport from Laketown you will meet the first - The Sunset Bar in a big building which also houses a Ford & Maruti Suzuki showroom.
Sunset is was probably biggest one in Kolkata, it has 10 floors - 8 in 2nd floor and 2 in 1st floor. All floors have different names, named after different solar planets et al - Sun, Moon, Galaxy, Jupiter etc. As I did not see, I can't confirm but there was a floor which offered rain shower dance.
There was another small bar on the way before Sunset, named Hangover. Going through the VIP Road, you will meet the next Downtown bar at Baguihati, just beside Uma Medical Related Institute. It has 2 floors AFAIK, however place is quite small.
The DownTown Bar is often taken as the first dance bar in Kolkata, the ownership stays the same name of group company. The family business of this group also runs Beer Republic and Shimmers night club at Sector 5. Shimmers is another notorious place to hook up a girl. Long story of Kolkata's dance bars during 2015 lies here.
The next is Spice Garden on the VIP, opp. to Haldiram's. It houses 3 bars and a disco named Devil's. If you walk towards Kaikhali from Spice Garden, you would find another one - Mahek e Punjab down the main road. It's probably dance bar arm of the said bar, which is located on the main road at Baguihati.
In the middle of these two there was another bar, beside Sastwik building, before the Chinar Park to VIP connecting flyover. Named as Baywatch, it was probably the best in the town. At Chinar Park there were another 3 such joints - Ullas are Nasha that's I can remind.
There are numerous such joints across the city. In Esplanade/Chandni Chawk : Ar-Han-Thai, Night Queen's. (near Paradise Cinema on Bentick st). Ar-Han has 6 floors, more colorful and vibrant and cosy; while NQ is a shaby place to join in. Sagar Bar & Restaurant, Rocks, Cherry Pick (yes, it's my first as told earlier), Duke's are also nearby, around Bentinck st and near Paradise Cinema Hall. All these are very near or walking distance from Chandni Metro station. Inside the Decre's Lane there are also a few dance bars but hard to find out even at night. If I am not wrong, there is a bar called Pink Room.
Now coming to the southern part of city, on EM Bypass you will get some dance bars - Pride of Punjab, Mehfil (Near 55 Gram Bus stop) Devdas, Spice Garden, Guru's, Jalsaghar - all them are located in between Science city to Ruby's crossing beside the EM Bypass.
Northern part of City has many joints, across the Kalyani Expressway there are several dance bars - from Sodepur Muragacha crossing to Kalyani. These bars are notorious for ranchy stuffs, most girls are local and you can book a room over the bars. Near the Bidhan nagar Raily way station, there is A STEP UP.
Even at Dankuni you can found some more, for eg Ambition bar near Phoneix Hospital.
However in 2015 there was news of prostitution from the dance bars across and around VIP Road, and the dance bars got busted.
Read 1 : tiny.cc/kil05y ,
2 : tiny.cc/tjl05y
There were many irregularities of the bars and many were being opened after 12 am. In 2016 post demonetization there was less audience to spend tons of money on the girls. Then came the high court order to shut down bars, liquor shops near the highway. After all these the dance bar business in Kolkata got a yellow signal to run.
In April 2019, the VIP Road Dance bars are all closed, nearby crowd visits A Step Up near Bidhannagar Station. There are bars running across the Kalyani Expressway but here the music goes on and girls stand with the music. No dance means less spending by the customers. Chandni Chawk and Bentinck St bars are getting a good business as dancing is still available there. I would suggest you to visit Paris Bar at Esplanade, it's huge. In Dankuni dance is available, in south Guru's became the hot listed dance bar compared to others.
Now for some reason people spend less in dance bars, only one or two tables become the source of collection to girls. Often these people are a part of dance bar, they just creates the environment that you compelled to spend money.
List of Dance Bars:
Near Nagerbazar:
1. Harmony House - 3 seperate bars inside includes Magnet and Velvet. closed now
2. Night Queen - 2 floors only simple bar now
VIP road (Baguihati to Kaikhali): all closed now
1. Sunset - 10 floors Jupitar, Mars, Star, Venus, Galaxy, Moon, Sun etc , 2. Hangover - 2 floors , 3. Downtown - 2 floors , 4. Baywatch - 2/3 floors , 5. Spice Garden - 2 floors , 6. Mahek e punjab - 2 floors
Chinar park: all closed now
1. Spice garden/Velvet , 2. Nasha , 3. Ullas
Belgaria Expressway:
1. Moonlight, 2. Silver door
Salt lake CC1 : Anu's - closed now
Kalyani Expressway: most are now simple bar with live bands, no dance (2019)
Muragacha - Soham, Blue Heaven, Uchhash, Snowfox, Tanisha,
Wireless Crossing - Badsha, Black Diamond, K2
Update 2022: all are now in business.
upto Kalyani there are more than 15 dance bars with shaddy activities.
Dankuni
1. Ambition
South Kolkata - across EM Bypass
Guru's, Devdas, Jalshaghar, Spice Garden
Central Kolkata - near Bentinck St./ Esplanade/Decres Lane
Ar Han Thai, Night Queen, Paris, Pink Room, Rocks, Cherry Pick
Bidhan Nagar - A Step Up, Glo Bar (?)
