Early Morning Breakfast Joints In Kolkata You Must Visit After Overnight Pandal Hopping 

Walking, walking, and a lot of walking! Pandal hopping in Durga Puja is fun, but given the overcrowded roads and alleys, it’s a task. So, before you put on a new pair of shoes, make sure to do the break-in a week prior. Or else, no one can save you from getting blisters, aching, and pain. Even if you take a car, there are Kolkata Police barricades all across the city. So, you have to park your vehicle in one place and rest on foot. How long do you have to walk? Take it a kilometer at least. And then you have to wait in a long queue to reach inside the pandal and seek Ma Durga’s blessings. While you are on your way to the pandals, there’s a whole new world of street food options, including Phuchka, Jhalmuri, Pakoda, Bhelpuri, Kachori, Singhara, Dim er Chop, Egg Devil, and whatnot! 

So, here’s a small tour guide for you to pick the eateries all across the city after your overnight pandal hopping is done. Kolkata will never let you go home on an empty stomach. Be it in South Kolkata, North Kolkata, or in the central part of the city, there are so many options you can go for.

Where to stop after Overnight North Kolkata Pujo Hopping for Breakfast?

If you are planning to visit North Kolkata pandals on Saptami, your pandal hopping can include Bagbazar Sarbojonin, Nalin Sarkar Street, Shobhabazar Rajbari, Hatibagan Sarbojonin, Kumortuli Park, Kumortuli Sarbojonin, Ahiritola Sarbojonin, Beniatola Sarbojonin, Sreebhumi Sporting Club, Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra Club, and so on. 

North Kolkata Durga Puja pandals belong to the traditional heritage of Kolkata. Bagbazar Sarbojonin is forever known for its traditional idol, daak-er saaj, and the majestic chandelier. Instead of gaudy displays, Nalin Sarkar Street features local culture-based art focusing on rural Bengal, folk crafts, and timeless beauty.

Breakfast in Kolkata speaks over and out about Bengalis' favourite Cha. Remember, here, days start with cha. Not a cup of tea, but bhanr’er cha. In North Kolkata, tea is served in a small clay pot, named bhanr (in bengali). Mostly, people here love dudh-cha (milk tea) along with a plate of Kochuri and tarkari. And yes, you get your tummy-filling breakfast plate ready within 100 INR.

Bholanath Cabin

Located just a few steps away from the former residence of Girish Chandra Ghosh, Bholanath Cabin has been popular for lip-smacking snacks for over 60 years. Bholanath Cabin is famous for so many delicacies, along with milk tea, ghugni, omlette, fish fry and their Chana Masala Chaat is a must-have. Opening at 6 am every morning, Bholanath Cabin has been serving its delectable snacks for several decades. You can also have a variety of savoury and sweet snacks, including jalebis, lassis, and samosas. 

Potlar Kochuri

After having a cup of dudh cha, you can head towards Potlar Kochuri. It is the spot you need to visit for a delicious plate of hot piping Kochuri and tarkari or cholar dal. This 94-year-old place, open from 7:30 am, has a separate fanbase, and the Heeng er Kochuri they offer can make you fall in love with these stuffed delicacies. Just 100 INR can provide you with a tummy-filling breakfast.

Adi Haridas Modak

Now, moving towards Shyambazar 5-point crossing, Adi Haridas Modak awaits as your next stop, opening at 7 am every morning.. Ruling over hearts since 1780, this place has kochuri, torkari, and handmade fresh sweets to offer within 100 INR. With a neat and clean seated arrangement and a number of Old Calcutta pictures on the wall, you can enjoy a plate of three kochuri and daal for only 50 INR. There are two sections in this shop, other than a basic kochurir dokan. Sweets like Chhana bhaja, sandesh, ledikeni, and more.

After covering all North Kolkata pandals, and waiting in the queue of College Square, Santosh Mitra Square, or MD Ali Park, you will be craving some food as soon as the sun rises.

Those visiting Central Kolkata Durga Puja Pandals, you can have some early morning breakfast eateries to fill your stomachs as well. 

Putiram Sweets

Opening at 6:30 am every morning, this 190-year-old establishment has some of the most authentic Bengali breakfasts. Not just Mishti Doi or sandesh, Putiram has become popular among nearby college students and professors after its late 19th-century founding. Customers could smell the shop's Dalpuri and other Bengali sweets off to the side.

Sweet and savoury lovers will love Putiram's menu. Rajbhog, a larger Rosogolla with rose essence and 15 unique ingredients, is a must-try. Popular sweets include Rasgolla, Lyangcha, Komolabhog, and Abar Khabo, a saffron-flavoured pistachio-stuffed sandesh. Kochuri and Dalpuri with chholar dal are famous dishes. Prices at Putiram are affordable, with two people spending approximately ₹150-₹200.

Shankar Tea Stall

Shiv Shankar Jana set up this tea stall outside Writer's Building in 1995. In 2019, it moved to the Calcutta Stock Exchange. I wonder what makes it so well-known. People in the area love the malai toast, chai, and their special thanda dosa, which is dosa served cold with some interesting fillings. You should also try the different kinds of toast they have, like butter toast, cheeni toast, namak toast, and more. The cost for two is also within 150 INR.

Bhim Chandra Nag

Image Courtesy: Bhim Chandra Nag

Bhim Chandra Nag, founded in 1826 by Paran Chandra Nag and named after his son, is almost 200 years old. Once you are done visiting Santosh Mitra Square and planning to return home, Bhim Chandra Nag is the place to visit. You can order the best quality sandesh, including Ashubhog, Chhanar, The Mango, Paritripti, Rasha Madhuri, Paradise, and their signature, Ladikeni. In 1858, Thomas Cooke gave the shop a custom clock, starting its rich history. Bhim Chandra Nag loyalists included many notable figures, including Rabindranath Tagore, Girish Ghosh, Satyajit Ray, Soumitra Chatterjee, Madhabi, Robi Ghosh, and Kali Banerjee.

Early Morning Eateries In South Kolkata

The entire Durga Puja vibe in South Kolkata is a bit different from the Northern side. Whether it's Maddox Square dhunuchi nach on Ashtami or Ballygaunge Cultural Puja, breathtaking interiors, dazzling lights, and one-of-a-kind Durga idols are a must-visit for everyone. After the whole night pandal hopping plan, where can you have the yummiest breakfast so that on returning home, you can just change and sleep? Here’s the gobble guide from Slurrp.

Just near Deshopriyo Park Pujo, reopening this year, there are two places known for their kochuri-tarkari, jilipi and bhanr er cha in Kolkata’s century-old food history, Maharaja and Maharani. The cost for two in these shops is still within 100-150 INR.

Maharaja

Maharaja, opposite to Monalisa Guest House, popular for Vidya Balan's Kahaani, near Deshopriyo Park, has been a foodie hangout for decades. This shack tea spot still serves hing kachoris, jalebis, gulab jamuns, and bharer cha, for ages now. Starting early in the morning, around 7 am throughout the year, the hot hing kachoris with a flavourful alur torkari (potato curry) and green chillies are the menu's highlight. Sweet and crispy jilipi or soft gulab jamuns go well with kochuri. 

Maharani Tea & Tiffin

Just like Maharaja, this age-old eatery serves Aloor tarkari, Kachuri, Sweets like Jilipi, Malpoa, kheer er gauja, amitti, and Tea. The price for two is approximately 100 INR, after having a tummy full of kochuri, sweets, tea, and more. Located at Lake Market at Sarat Bose Road, and opens at 6 am and runs till night. Once you reach just near the shop, you won’t need a map to guide you; the delicious smell of kochuri will.

Balwant Singh Dhaba

Located in Bhawanipore, South Kolkata, Balwant Singh Dhaba is a 24/7 iconic eatery known for serving delicious Punjabi dishes to a loyal crowd. The dhaba is famous for its hot, steaming kesar doodh paired with crisp jalebis, a tall glass of doodh cola, and masala tea with club kachoris to kickstart the day. The unique doodh cola, a milk and cola blend created spontaneously by the dhaba's founders, has become a legendary drink in Kolkata. Balwant Singh's Eating House is also credited with introducing the hot milk tea craze over a century ago. Served in traditional kulhads, the tea remains a favorite. Try the traditional Punjabi breakfasts like aloo paratha, samosa, and sabji kachori, along with iconic beverages like kesari chai and doodh cola.

Ramakrishna Lunch Home

Ramakrishna Lunch Home, located off Lake Road near Deshapriya Park, offers a simple yet authentic South Indian dining experience. With its no-frills, traditional setup, it serves mouth-watering dishes like paper masala dosa, butter masala dosa, masala vada, and idli. The idlis are soft and melt-in-the-mouth, while the chutneys and sambhar complement the dishes perfectly. And they serve it as much as you want. 

The milk upma and plain dosa are also popular choices among patrons. The eatery operates from 6:00 am to 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to 9:30 pm, except on Mondays when it’s closed. It’s an affordable spot, with a meal for two costing around INR 250. The place doesn't accept credit cards, so have some cash in your wallet. Despite its simple appearance, Ramakrishna Lunch Home remains one of the best places for authentic South Indian food in Kolkata.

So, have you got your Durga Pujo plan ready? Even if not, with this guide, you must already be happy and hungry at the same time!