If Bangla is the sweetest language you've ever come across, there's a secret. And yes, it is because Kolkata and its people have sugar, gur and sandesh running through their veins. Mishti, or dessert, is a pride in Kolkata and across the state of Bengal. But Kolkata also has its fair share of global cuisines and its desserts. One of them is cheesecake. With iconic and legendary bakeries like Nahoum’s and Flurys, the city never fails to impress with its confectioneries.
The current youth mostly love trying out desserts at new places, new and quirky dessert menus and visiting dessert bars that have an array of cheesecakes in various types and colours and layers. Whether you visit Kolkata for a day, come to the city for a few hours, or have been living here all your life, having cheesecake should now come into the list of things you want to do in Kolkata. Before we dig in, do you know anything about cheesecakes? Let us tell you.
Using basic components like cheese, wheat, and honey, the earliest known evidence of a cheesecake-type treat comes from ancient Greece. In the fifth century AD, the Greek physician Aegimus allegedly penned a book on the craft of cheesecake baking. Following their takeover of Greece, the Romans tweaked the recipe by adding eggs and smashed cheese to come up with a dish similar to the modern cheesecake. As the Roman Empire mushroomed, this recipe gradually spread over Europe. As a result of geographical variations in dairy products and methods of cooking, cheesecake variants emerged throughout Europe. Over time, a greater variety of flavours and varieties have emerged in places like France, Italy, Japan and now India as well.
The rich, creamy dessert with a crumbly crust that most people are familiar with today originated in the United States. While trying to replicate the French cheese Neufchâtel in the late 1800s, New York dairyman William Lawrence unintentionally created cream cheese. New York-style cheesecake originated from this rich, creamy cheese. It is served on a crust of crushed graham crackers and, in contrast to its European equivalents, has cream cheese as its filling. Cheesecake's history reflects the evolution of civilisations and cross-cultural interactions. Now, this is where Kolkata, with its few artisanal bakeries, stands tall and proud. The cheesecakes at these spots in Kolkata are so melt-in-your-mouth that your eyes close involuntarily. The following 5 cafes and restaurants mentioned below serve a foodgasmic piece of cheesecake, you’ll keep coming back to:
ÉLOÏSE
Newly opened cafe and bistro, ÉLOÏSE is a sight for sore eyes. This 2,000 square foot restaurant with 45 chairs offers a trendy atmosphere, cool appeal, and freshly baked goodies, making it a snug retreat for snacks, breads, and a hint of classic old English charm. They have a pistachio cheesecake that looks as good as it tastes. A smooth coating of crushed nuts adds a subtle crunch to this rich and creamy cheesecake, which is flavoured with nutty pistachios. The desserts, in particular, are an incredible standout, rich, perfectly balanced, and artistically presented. Everything has been meticulously selected to add to the experience, from the ambient lighting to the plates and cutlery.
Address: 21, Lake Terrace, Lake Market, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029
Timings: 12 PM - 11 PM
Price: INR 325 per piece
Image Credit: ÉLOÏSE
The Rouge
The Rouge is reaching new grounds and opening new stores; here's another one of them, and we can't seem to keep it calm. Close to Wise Owl on Purna Das Road in Hindustan Park. The space is small, all done up in pastels and smells like heaven! Even though Rouge is known for ‘Rouge’ - its famous red velvet and cream cheese cupcake, they also do mean éclairs, cupcakes and macarons and classic cheesecakes as well. A decent assortment of red velvet, blueberry, and raspberry mini cheesecakes. They are airy and taste delicious!
Address: Elegant Tower, Annapurna Apartment, 68A, Ballygunge Circular Rd, Beck Bagan, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017
Timings: 9 AM - 11 PM
Price: INR 185 per piece
Image Credit: The Rogue
Boma Asian Bakery
Sonam Dolkar Seth (a makeup artist by profession) and Manisha Sangma started baking as a hobby during lockdown but their love and passion for it led to the launch of Boma Asian Bakery last year. Named after Manisha's daughter, the bakery specialises in Asian desserts. Find a wide selection of baked goodies like eclairs, choux pastries, tea cakes, cookies, brownies, doughnuts, Swiss rolls, moon cakes, cupcakes, and cheesecakes, as well as savoury buns. The Japanese Cheesecake stole the show. These chocolate and jaggery flavoured, soft, jiggly and light pieces of happiness are a must-have whenever you order from the bakery. The bakery operates out of The Blue Poppy - Thakali, so you can try all of these if you plan to go for a meal at the restaurant or else order in.
Address: Commerce House, 4, 1, Middleton Street, Kankaria Estates, Sikkim, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071
Timings: 11 AM - 9:30 PM
Price: INR 650 onwards
Image Credit: Boma Asian Bakery
Burma Burma
Known for its unique tastes and flavours from Burma, the menu is greatly inspired by its neighbouring countries, native tribes and ancient traditions. Tea is an essential part of the Burmese culture, and more than 30 hand-picked flavours from around the world are finely curated to ensure each blend complements specific dishes on the menu. Brie cheese, honey samuza, mango sorbet, pistachio cream, and baked saffron and Samuza cheesecake are divine and are on the menu. It’s insane how the interplay of textures perfectly balances the flavours out.
Address: 18 M, Ground Floor, Stephen Court, Park St, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071
Timings: 12:30 PM - 4 PM and 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Price: INR 550 per piece
Image Credit: Burma Burma India
Little Pleasures
If we were to make a list of patisseries in the city we always rush to for a sweet escape, Little Pleasures would top the list. If you've ordered desserts from LP before, we don't need to tell you what their menu looks like. All our all-time favourites, be it Lemon Meringue Pie or Chocolate Belgian Mousse or the seasonal Mango Tart and Mango Gateau, are on it. But the cheesecake is the attention grabber here. You'll find classic varieties like Biscoff or classic New York cheesecake, as well as cheesecakes with lemon flavours prepared with cream cheese, biscuit crush, and raspberry or blueberry puree.
Address: 1st floor, Regency Building, 6, Picasso Bithi, Elgin, Kolkata, West Bengal 700017
Timings: 10 AM - 12 AM
Price: INR 170 onwards
Image Credit: Little Pleasures