Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings
Description
Get set for Kolkata’s finest food tour. Greet your guide and take the subway up to the intellectual heart of the city. Here the Bengal revolutionary fighter Subhas Chandras Bose is more famous than Gandhi and the people are passionate about their rights and independence, not to mention their food. The evening starts at a little street vendor that blends up one of the district's best tropical lasses. Afterwards, you'll hop from spot to spot tasting some fine Bengali fare - prawns covered in fragrant coconut milk curry, onion bahjis from a revolutionary food stand, succulent mutton kosha and a range of Bengali sweets to name just a few. Finish at one of the oldest colonial coffee houses in Kolkata where nearby university students descend for intellectual discussions.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Greet your guide outside Gate 4 of 'Esplanade metro station' and hop on a short train ride up to a district little visited by foreigners yet renowned by locals for its cuisine. When you disembark, you'll dive straight in with an exotic lasse found at a local street vendor before hopping into a tiny joint that's been whipping up some of the best mutton kosha curries in Kolkata for more than a century. Your guide will uncover stories of old Calcutta.
Visit Kolkata's most celebrated local seafood restaurants where you'll try their signature prawns covered in chingri coconut cream sauce and a mouth-watering curried fish mousse steamed in a banana leaf. After leaving you'll clamber aboard one of the old richshaws, the only place where these wooden carts still exist in India and take a short tour of the area en route to the next foodie stop. Gorge on a prawn kabiraji at a legendary kitchen started by a Scot in the 19th Century. Kolkata might seem busy, but your guide will take you on a walk down through a peaceful district pointing out temples and local life along the way. As you meander the backstreets of old Kolkata, you'll try tasty tidbits from the city's most famous onion bhajis to zingy gram salads made from herbs and pulses.
We'll stop by College Street, where university students pass by piles of school book sellers, heading on their way home from lectures. Drop into a local cafe to sample a famed coconut sherbet drink and then taste Bengali treats at a nearby sweet shop. At the faded grandeur of an old colonial coffee shop where students are busy debating, ceiling fans whirl overhead, and waiters serve coffees in traditional garb. This isn't just a foodie tour, it's a tour into the heart of historic Kolkata.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infant meals not included. The tour isn't suitable for prams as you will need to get on and off transport
- You will need to be able enough to get on and off local transport
- The last stop and coffee shop is a little smoky. If children are on the tour, this stop may be exchanged for a different one.
- This is a walking tour, please wear comfortable shoes.
- Bring an umbrella if rain looks likely
- Please get in contact with us if you have any special dietary restrictions
Reviews(366)
My food tour with Avik was much more than a food tour. Avik is incredibly knowledgeable about Kolkata’s food and local food scene, but what made the experience truly memorable was the person behind that knowledge. He has a remarkable ability to connect with people across all strata of society, and that took me to places and conversations that a conventional food tour simply wouldn’t. One of the highlights for me was walking through the lanes of a residential neighbourhood and seeing a quieter, more intimate side of a city that can otherwise feel so busy and overwhelming. It gave me a glimpse of everyday Kolkata that I would never have discovered on my own. His conversations with the residents, shopkeepers and fruit sellers showed him as a son of the soul. I loved the multiple tastings, beverages, chutneys (the imli one!) and most certainly the paan++!. What I also really enjoyed were the conversations with Avik. They ranged well beyond food into philosophy, Kolkota's history, society and life. He has clearly seen and experienced many different sides of life, and that comes through in the way he thinks and talks. There was a wonderful intellectual curiosity to our conversations, but it never felt heavy - it was simply a lot of fun engaging with him. One thought he shared with me has stayed with me: “Poor men and rich men will never say no to what you ask of them.” The more I thought about it, the more I understood what he meant, and somehow that simple observation captured something much larger about people and human nature. The food was excellent, but ultimately it was the experience of seeing Kolkata through Avik’s eyes that made the tour special. I came away having eaten some wonderful food, discovered parts of the city I would never have found myself, and, perhaps most importantly, having had some genuinely memorable conversations with a fascinating person. I would highly recommend doing this tour with Avik if you want to experience Kolkata beyond the usual tourist trail.
I had a wonderful evening with Avik sampling a whole lot of different foods. The big surprise was just how much I learned about Indian life and Kolkata too - we went to neighbourhoods I would have otherwise not visited. If you enjoy learning about a culture through its food, I’d highly recommend joining this tour.
It was a very interesting experience! Our tour guide, Avik, was absolutely amazing! In couple of hours he managed to show us so much of his culture, made us try local food (which was very good btw!) and put a lot of effort into making our experience unforgettable! I feel like a saw the Indian culture from a very authentic perspective and it is something I will always remember. Also, Avik speaks perfect English and is super hospitable. Highly recommend!
Avik was a great guide. In addition to giving me the opportunity to sample a range of delicious local foods (all vegetarian to cater to my diet), he shared many anecdotes and introduced me to interesting people along the way. He's also a nice guy and easy to talk to. I would certainly recommend this tour to other travelers!
We had such a unique experience! Without a local guide you wouldn't even know some of these places exisit, or you might not feel comfortable (as a woman) to go. Avik made us feel completely taken care of from start to finish. Learning the history of the city as well as the little restaurants were highlights for me. (The food was delicious!) We left soo full and satisfied.
Amazing tour! Avick was a great guide with a broad range of knowledge and vendors! Great food and experience overall! Will definitely be recommending him!
Avik knows Kolkata in and out and takes you through all the nooks and corners of the street and history of Calcutta. Food tastings and the history behind it added a lovely touch. If you want to know Cal from a locals perspective then this is your tour. We were an extended family with 3 adults and 4 kids
Avik was very professional and took us to some interesting food joints which we would not have tried otherwise. He planned the tour perfectly. Strongly recommend him..
One of the best food tours you will ever do. Taste everything of what Kolkata has to offer from street drinks to restaurants that have been operating for generations. Best part is the guide Avik. His passion is truly shown by not just through food but his passion and love for his city. The stories and interesting facts of Kolkata through his local perspective, couldn’t beat that. Highly recommend to all and if you don’t end up in a food coma at the end, you’re truly missing out.
I had an amazing experience exploring Kolkata through this food tour. Everything was organized perfectly, and I got the chance to try authentic local dishes that I would have never discovered on my own. A special thank you to my guide, who made the whole experience even better. He was friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about sharing the local culture and food scene. He made me feel comfortable from the beginning and explained the stories behind the dishes and places we visited, which made the tour much more meaningful. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to India. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience the real local food culture and create great memories. Thank you for such a wonderful experience, and I hope our paths cross again someday! 😊🙏🍛✨
