A couple of post-work pints at the local bar is a given for most of us. But sometimes the pub just won’t cut it. Once in a while, a classier night is in order. Luckily, when it comes to dining and drinking in Delhi-NCR, we’re spoilt for choice.
Boasting a contemporary and spacious setting, and a lively cocktail bar basking in the novelty of colourful lights and plush furniture is gorgeous Trippy Tequila, at Gardens Galleria Mall, in Noida. Head here and you’ll be treated to plenty of seasonal drinks and fantastic grubs, alongside DJs headlining late-night events. The outdoor seating, adorned with cute umbrellas and pretty plants, makes it all the better.
What to drink
Breathing life to classic, modern, and inventive cocktails, the bar takes cocktail making very seriously, classifying their crafts in free-spirited, tequila, rum, gin vodka, and other categories.
From their favourites, we went for the Dirty Butterfly – a refreshing concoction of whiskey, cinnamon stick, fresh apple slices, black pepper, and apple juice. On the other hand, The Dusky Sunset cocktail made with vodka, fresh coriander, green chili, guava juice, rock salt, homemade salt rim, and citrus will jab you with a strong spicy punch.
We highly recommend their signature Trippy Tequila Wali Chai – a unique medley of green tea-infused tequila with fresh kaffir lime leaves, passion fruit, and citrus. Teetotalers will love the Beet the Heat mocktail – a beetroot blend with pineapple juice, rock salt, fresh coriander, and elderflowers.
What to eat
Their seasonal food menu keeps things refreshed along with the all-year food menu that consists of sliders, steaks, pizzas, tikkas and a lot more to go with the drinks and opulent setting.
We loved the Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad with Pesto Balsamic. A twist on the classic caprese salad; scoops of watermelon with lettuce and freshly crumbled goat cheese, and drizzled with pesto balsamic, it’s a perfect dish to kick off summer.
The staff suggested us to try out the crowd-pleasers. Honey Chilli Potato, Laal Mirch Chicken Tikka, Korean Fried Chicken with Cheese, and Charcoal Roasted Garlic Chicken Dimsum. The Korean Fried Chicken with Cheese was double fried to crispy perfection on the outside, while the inside was tender and juicy. Sweet, spicy, savoury – it makes an amazing appetiser. If you love dimsum yet health-conscious, you got to try the Charcoal Roasted Garlic Chicken Dimsum. It’s tender, juicy, and has a distinct smoky after-taste.
The mains menu features an expansive array of dishes from Indian curries to Biryani, Risotto to Pizza and so much more. As we were already full, we ordered for a small portion of Spaghetti Aglio E Olio. Fresh garlic, olive oil, red chilli flakes, and Parmesan cheese tossed with freshly cooked spaghetti – it was the showstopper of our meal.
The warm Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream and Blueberry Cheese Cake will take care of those with a sweet tooth.
Parting notes
If you’re looking for a quieter time at Trippy Tequila, then visit during the weekdays for lunch. For a bit of weekend night revelry, join in for their live DJ sets from 7.00 pm until the early hours. It can turn into quite a party. For us, Trippy Tequila is one of the best resto-bars in Noida for a bit of booze and a boogie.
The Tamil Nadu DMK government has issued a notification dated March 18, 2023 amending the Tamil Nadu Liquor (Licence and Permit) Rules of 1981 to allow the serving of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Imported Foreign Liquor to guests, visitors and participants, at international and national summits and events like conferences, celebrations and festivals.
According to the amendment, a special licence would be granted annually by the Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner of the Excise Department to supply liquor in commercial premises like conference halls, convention centres, marriage halls, banquet halls, and sports stadiums. However, on April 24th, 2023 the Tamil Nadu government amended and removed marriage halls and banquet halls from the list of commercial premises where liquor was allowed to be supplied.
As per the amendment, the special license for possession and supply of liquor can be obtained by paying an annual registration fee of Rs. One lakh in corporation limits, Rs. 75,000 in municipality limits and Rs. 50,000 in other places. Subsequently, the fee per day for issue of permit for conducting one event, whenever conducted, is Rs. 11,000 in corporation limits, Rs. 7,500 in municipalities and Rs. 5,000 in other places respectively.
The amendment also said that special license for one time possession and supply of liquor in non-commercial premises during conduct of household celebrations, functions, parties etc is Rs. 11,000, Rs. 7,500 and Rs. 5,000 in corporations, municipalities and other places respectively.
The new rules state that the licensee shall obtain supplies from the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) wholesale depot nearest to the place of events or from such other source as the Deputy Commissioner / Assistant Commissioner (Excise) may appoint or approve, subject to such conditions as he or she may stipulate and as per the quantity of the supplies approved by them. All such applications have to be made online, prior to seven working days from the date of conduct of the event to the Deputy Commissioner / Assistant Commissioner (Excise) in the districts in Form F.A.1.14, along with a copy of the challan of the fee remitted. Then these designated officers will grant a license in Form FL-12 with prior approval of the District Collector.
The issue of liquor under FL-12 special license may be in pegs / bottles for consumption, the Amendment said.
As per the amendment, the licensee has to transport the liquor after obtaining the transport permit in form FTP . 1 from the Deputy Commissioner / Assistant Commissioner (Excise) of the concerned district. The transport from the source of supply to the licensed premises shall be in accordance with the provisions of these rules. However, the amendment does not mention any fee for obtaining transport permit.
Further it said that a no-objection certificate from the Commissioner of Police, for events held within corporation limits and from the Superintendent of Police for events held in districts, should be obtained.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise V Senthil Balaji announced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that the government would be deciding on the closure of 500 liquor shops across the state within this year. He mentioned that 96 shops run by TASMAC had violated norms. There are 5,329 retail liquor shops run by TASMAC.
“We are following the norms that other states are following. The IPL management had sought permission to serve liquor in the stadiums during the matches. Considering such international sports and events, we have decided to grant permission,” the minister said.
Opposition Condemns Move
Opposition parties condemned the move of allowing special liquor permits. The Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President K Annamalai said in a statement that this was an effort to increase the income of distilleries run by DMK leaders. “The DMK came to power by giving assurances that it would close liquor factories and retail shops, but Tasmac is trying to boost the sale of liquor each year by fixing a ceiling limit without bothering about the people. This move will lead to social disorder.”
Around the same time, the Pattali Makkal Katchi filed a public interest litigation at the Madras High Court and the spokesman of the party, Advocate K Balu, termed the move “highly condemnable”. He said the G.O. amending Tamil Nadu Liquor (Licence and Permit) Rules 1981 is illegal, unjust and against the public interest.
“The FL 12 special licence for serving liquor at conference halls, convention centres, marriage halls, banquet halls and sports stadium is contrary to the 2017 guidelines issued by Supreme Court to protect the life of citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution,” he said. Serving liquor in public event venues would cause nuisance to the public and deprive them of their right to peaceful life, the petition said.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tweeted “The same DMK government, which says prohibition is the only goal, has kept liquor shops open for 12 hours. Now, it has allowed liquor in marriage halls and sports stadiums.”
DMK’s allies, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan also urged the government to abandon the move. Other parties, including PMK, TMC(M), AMMK and VK Sasikala have condemned the notification.
For those who love the beach, and want to party, there are many options to enjoy on the beach.
For many sun seekers, visiting the beach is the reason they go on vacation. Sitting by the ocean with your feet in the sand is the hallmark of relaxation for many of us – especially over the past few years.
Beaches are love! The soft sand under your feet, the breeze running through your hair, the waves bringing sea shells on the shore and the open sky playing with shades of orange and blue. Beach bars are even greater! The soft sand under your unsober feet, the breeze running through your drunk hair, the waves bringing the most fascinating sea shells to the shore and the open sky soothing your high soul.
“Although last year was still far from ‘normal,’ these are the beaches travellers visited and loved more than any others,” said Christine Maguire, VP, Global Media Business at Tripadvisor. “Whether you’re looking for a trip where you can continue to social distance outdoors, or are comfortable heading to spring break, beaches are the perfect place to be in 2022.
Sparkling sands, cool sea breeze, beautiful waves, delectable seafood and lots of vitamin D – a beach vacation is all that and more! And considering that India has a long coastline, there are many beautiful beach destinations you can head to for a relaxing as well as adventurous holiday. Laze around, go for strolls, click fabulous pictures, collect shells, or get your adrenaline pumping with fun water sports.
Goa is one of the most popular beach destinations in the country, thanks to the many breathtaking beaches it has. Apart from the golden sands, palm and coconut trees and delectable seafood, the beaches here are famous for hosting thrilling water sports and amazing late-night parties.
Goa’s Bar Tesouro, emerged as India’s Best Bar for 2021. Tesouro (which means treasure or treasury in Portuguese), is flanked by Fire Fly in the otherwise serene Colva beach in South Goa. Over the last two years, it has gone on to become one of the most talked about drinking holes in the country, much loved for its cocktails including the famous Midnight Brekkie (made using gin, vermouth, watermelon, peanut butter, and strawberry compote). The bar was founded by Donovan Vaz, scion of a Goa liquor distribution family, who quit his racing car career to become a restaurateur, along with mixologist Arijit Bose.
Bar Tesouro’s ascension is part of the surging popularity of Goan bars over the last few years. As many as four others including Escobar, Miguel’s, Gunpowder, and For The Record Vinyl Bar made into the Top 30 bars list for 2021. Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore each have six bars each in the list. Kolkata has four, Gurgaon three, and Pune and Hyderabad have one bar each.
Surrounded by Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the finest beach destinations in India. Pristine blue waters, sparkling silky sands and lush green vegetation attract beach lovers in droves. Besides relaxing in beach cottages, huts and shacks, and soaking in natural beauty, adventure enthusiasts can try different water sports here.
Lakshadweep, the smallest union territory in India, has 36 islands and some of the most stunning beaches. Apart from unique natural beauty, the islands have many amazing spots that attract tourists from far and wide.
Located about 140 km from Goa, Gokarna is perfect for those looking for something offbeat. The beaches here are beautiful, calm as well as affordable. The serene surroundings, coupled with many fun activities, make Gokarna one of the best beach destinations in India.
A popular beach destination near Goa, Karwar is a must-visit. The coastal town is located at the confluence of the Arabian Sea and River Kali. Tall palm trees, golden sands and pristine waters accentuate the beauty of the beaches here and make them ideal for nature lovers and peace seekers.
Popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, Kochi or Cochin is one of the best beach destinations in India. This small coastal city is peppered with picturesque beaches that serve as perfect retreat from urban din.
Dotted with beautiful palm-lined beaches, the union territory Daman and Diu is a popular getaway in the western part of India. It is located near Gujarat and frequented by those seeking peace and quiet. The horse-shoe shaped Nagoa Beach in Diu is one of the best beaches for swimming in India.
Located on the shore of Bay of Bengal, Puri is known for some of the best beaches in India. Puri Beach is especially known for its wild waves.
Mahabalipuram majorly famous for its ancient temples and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this historical town in South India is also one of the best beach destinations in India. Mahabalipuram lies on the shore of the Bay of Bengal and is a popular weekend getaway for people in Chennai, thanks to its proximity to the city.
Marina Beach, which is the longest beach in India and the second-longest in the world, is in Chennai. The sight of the evening sun from the beach, slowly disappearing into the ocean, is an awesome experience.
One of the four metropolis siblings of India, Chennai was known for being cautious about adopting the ever-popular trend of catering to the new age party-goers as the rest of India. But as the years went by in the last decade, Chennai became a hub for a multicultural and more importantly a very hardworking workforce of Indian youth. To meet their needs of letting loose after a hard day’s of work, a lot of pubs, clubs and bars – both fancy and commonplace now dot the capital city of Tamil Nadu.
Visakhapatnam, popularly known as Vizag, is one of the best beach destinations in India. The city is located on the east coast and boasts pristine seashores, sparkling blue waters and lush greenery.
Boasting a long coastline with many serene beaches, Mumbai is a delightful destination for travel enthusiasts. Juhu Beach, one of the most famous beaches in India, is in the heart of Mumbai.
The darling city of high-end parties, nights refuse to fizzle out here in this cosmopolitan giant. The city is especially known for the Hindi film industry, Bollywood. Juhu and Bandra are two of the most important spots where the crowd comes to every night, but other than these there are other parts of the city where partying is an option.
Located on the Konkan coastline, Ganpatipule is one of the best beach destinations in India for nature lovers and serenity seekers. The town has a long shoreline with many pristine beaches.
Kolkata is a wonderful destination for different kinds of travellers. And if you love beaches, this populous metro city has some beautiful ones along its 158 km long coastline.
Once known as the party capital of India, the party spirit of Kolkata took a hit after several political uprisings in 2010. However, it is only for so long that you can put a cap on the nightlife of Kolkata. Kolkata now hosts a range of artistic bars, old-school restaurants and gorgeous Instagram-able cafes. The city’s vibrancy of culture, art and history is so unique to Kolkata that can’t be seen anywhere else in India. So let your hair down and paint the town red in this beautiful city of artists and dreamers!
Fondly known as Pondi or Pondy, Pudducherry (formerly Pondicherry) is a little town with a big heart. Formerly a French colony, this beach town is known for its calm vibes, low cost liquor and delectable cuisine. Groups of friends, couples, old timers and small and large families alike, take to the streets and sit by Promenade Beach to watch the waves crash at the shore. The plethora of street food carts stationed across the town cater to the hungry mouths after sundown.
In terms of nightclubs, the city does have many to offer as it still continues to grow in that regard. And almost all of them strictly function only till midnight. But many backpacker friendly hostels and stays allow their patrons to party later than midnight and have a great time.
This small and serene union territory is known for some of the best beaches in India for honeymooners. You can unwind on the popular beaches here and spend quality time with your partner.
