During Christmas and New Year's, every restaurant and club, whether well-known or not, attracts sizable groups of enthusiastic revellers in Kolkata. Ham, roasted turkey, cakes, cookies, gingerbread, pies, and tarts are some of the traditional dishes prepared for this festival. Besides these delights, the Christmas feast at your nearest neighbourhood also features some special home recipes that the people of the city enjoy digging into. Here’s an ultimate guide to celebrating Christmas in Kolkata, from what to buy, what to eat and where to go.
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New Market
Visit the Christmas market that is held in and around New Market. Everything is available here, including gorgeous silver jewellery, a range of meats, spices, regional cheese, apparel, textiles, toys, and even wigs. People swarm to pop-up booths throughout the holiday season to purchase a variety of decorations, including cakes, Santa Claus dolls, Christmas trees, stars, and buntings. If you’re hungry during your Christmas shopping, there are a few spots that you should definitely check out. In 1932, Raza Hassan Saheb established the famous Mughlai restaurant Nizam in Kolkata, which brought rolls to the city and its residents. The Kathi roll was created when the same roasted, juicy kebabs were wrapped in flaky, fried flatbreads known as parathas one day. The smoky kebabs at Nizam's were a favourite among both Indians and British in colonial Calcutta. Other than Nizam's, you can find kathi rolls at every street food corner and shop. If you really want to taste the best after Nizam's, try Kusum Rolls, Badshah, Zeeshan, Bedwin in Golpark, Hot Kathi Rolls, or Jhantu Roll Shop for the greatest vegetable rolls with a hint of spice!
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Nahoum & Sons
And while you’re picking your Christmas decorations from New Market, don’t forget to stand in line for the best festive cakes from Nahoum & Sons. The bakery was established in 1902 by a Jew from Baghdad, named Nahoum Israel Mordecai. Thanks to his fascinating baking skills, he brought the culture of door-to-door delivery of cakes to Kolkata for the first time. Year-end festivities cannot be complete without having a bite of Nahoum’s archetypal rich fruit cake. For its aroma and soft and succulent texture that melts in the mouth, this cake remains a hot favourite among every bon vivant. Among its other signature items are Easter eggs and plum cakes. Meanwhile, the city’s Jewish community also throng the outlet to get a taste of its authentic baklava cakes and cashew rings. Those who frequent Nahoum on a daily basis vouch for its high-quality bread and cookies. Unadulterated and original in taste, the macaroons, the popular Madeira cake and mouth-watering marzipan candies, along with their newer pals, cheese samosas and garlic bread, make customers visit the place again and again. The inside of this bakery will take you to the big Belgian teakwood façade with glass shelves inside the shop displaying the baking repository. The marble table inside still stacks the inventory of the store. Many from the young generation cannot help being mesmerised by its décor. But those in love with tradition and history are sure to fall in love with its antique charm.
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Park Street
One of the most bustling hubs of Kolkata happens to be Park Street. Park Street, also known as Mother Teresa Sarani, sees its roots in the British Raj, and to date continues to hold a much urban-centric chic culture. High-rise colonial structure buildings, old school pubs, add to the charm of this place. Amongst all the Bengali chaos, this place has a charm that can’t be missed. The street gets its name after the private deer park that was built by Sir Elijah Impey, India’s first Chief Justice. Apart from all the buildings like Queen’s Mansion, Loreto College, the street also sees many landmark restaurants like Flury’s Bakery, Oly Pub, Trincas and more. With their ideal mixture of classic and modern places to eat, these acclaimed restaurants in Park Street perfectly convey the street's colourful past and dynamic soul with each mouthful. Furthermore, food stalls will be set up by members of various communities existing in the city. Chinese, Parsi, and Anglo-Indian families in the area sell mouthwatering homemade savoury items. Stalls along the pavement are also set up by neighbourhood bakeries, such as Flurys teashop. To relish the holiday atmosphere, stroll about and pick up reindeer headgear, Santa caps, and devil horns. Be ready for congested areas and traffic jams.
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Trincas
Trincas is a place where buoyant vibes and vintage charm mingle! It is ideal for a get-together with friends, a date night, or a family meal during the Christmas season. It skilfully reflects the hues of the season with its classic red, gold, and green decor, which includes luxurious velvet, elaborate grills, and luscious murals. Trincas sparkles even more during the holidays when you add the festive touch of poinsettia plants, ornaments, and candy-cane ribbons! The music never stops in Trincas. They have lively jazz lunches on weekends, live music every night from 6 PM to midnight, and even karaoke on Thursdays for a fun sing-along in the form of a carol. The traditional continental menu and historical specialities at Trincas are superb for the occasion. Consider Cheese, Creamy Béchamel, Caramel Custard, Mash and Peas, and Mushroom-Peppercorn Sauce for your festive dinner. The Smoky Bandel Cheese is wrapped in a crispy chicken fillet for this year's Christmas special, which is paired with garlicky greens and slow-cooked gravy. There is also a fantastic vegetarian alternative for this. Looking back at a Christmas commercial from Trincas' 1962 version, you would see holiday sweets, mince pies, and an evening symphony led by Chris Perry, accompanied by Molly's lovely voice. The location has been transformed into a lively setting where history and modernity coexist under the leadership of Anand Puri, the third-generation restaurateur and the face of Trincas, making it a must-see for all generations. In addition to increasing its visibility, Anand has embarked on a passion project that tells the stories of Park Street, Trincas, and the genuine essence of "Calcutta."
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Bow Barracks
Bow Barracks, an Anglo-Indian neighbourhood in central Kolkata, is busy making last-minute arrangements a week before Christmas, including baking cakes, churning wine, and decorating their homes. The scenario is completely different, and people get a very homely vibe. There are no waiting lines or anybody to tell them to wait outside. Everyone here is welcome to participate in their Christmas celebrations and be treated with respect and equality. As people enter the narrow lane just behind the Bowbazaar Police Station off Central Avenue in Calcutta, they can see an area steeped in colonial legacy. These alleys keep tales and incidents from the city's lengthy colonial history. Christmas remains a time for Anglo-Indian families in Kolkata to indulge in homemade cakes, wine, and customary dinners. Every festival in Kolkata revolves around food, and Christmas is no exception. Christmas in Kolkata is one big feast for the palate, with delectable treats ranging from fruit cake to rose cookies and kull-kulls, homemade wine, and classic lunches and dinners. Most Anglo-Indian families choose to prepare their own cakes, though many depend on the neighbourhood roti-wala (breadman) and his pre-made cakes. They blend the ingredients at home and then take the mix to the neighbourhood bakery for baking. They deliver them to a huge oven in Colootola to bake, receiving the final product by evening. Fruitcake, salted beef, homemade wine, kull-kulls, and rose cookies are essential Christmas treats in the houses of Bow Barracks.
J. N. Barua Bakery
This 70-year-old store is tucked away down a lane near the neighbourhood of Bow Barracks, so it is easy to miss it. Their wine cakes, made in the winter, are highly renowned. They stay open late on Christmas Eve to accommodate the needs of those who queue to get their hands on the delicious cakes personally made by J. N. Barua. They even rent out their oven and bakers for people who want to celebrate Christmas with a homemade cake from their own recipe. The bakery's bestselling cake is the fruit cake, which has a rich flavour that lingers in the mouth. The deep flavour of fruits transports people back to a bygone era when everything had an authentic flavour. Between December 22 and 25, there are three Christmas celebrations during which about 500 pounds of fruit cakes are sold daily. These cakes taste nothing at all like chemicals. The plum cake is just as delicious. Chhanar Cake is a unique wintertime dessert created by this bakery. The store's Wine Cake, which is produced with homemade wines fermented from apples, grapes, ginger, and other ingredients, is another highlight. There are other cakes made with rum, fruit, and walnuts. The bakery also sells a variety of patties with contents like vegetables, chicken, mutton, paneer, and even coconut, which are a customer favourite.
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Take advantage of the several festive dishes that are part of Calcutta’s Boro Din celebration to make the most of Christmas week.