Slurrp Reviews: Little Bit Sober Brings Calcutta In A Glass
Image Credit: Little Bit Sober Kolkata

It is quite healing to eat or drink extravagantly while you’re listening to a playlist in the background that almost brings you back to long lost eras from a lofty building. For this reason, Kolkata today has a large number of  bars that are amping up the entire cocktail bar scene. Kolkata mixologists are creating drinks that not only suit the palette of anyone who comes in but also gives way for those who like having fun without a buzz. Nowadays, people look for the calm, elevated setting that offers a welcome respite from the bustle of the city with décor featuring cosy seats and subdued lighting that adds to the whole ambiance. 

When you step into Little Bit Sober on a random, unplanned evening, it pulls you in, calls you and tells you to make yourself at home. A new chapter is being written in a structure that dates back to 1890, one cocktail and one evening at a time. Little Bit Sober’s ‘Chapter 3: Friends of The Bar’ is the newest addition that honours the F&B game that has put Kolkata on a global map ever since. Dive into the laid-back paradise where relaxation reigns supreme and conversations are an art form. 

The drinks are inspired by Kolkata classics, such as Amar Khamar, Fat Little Penguin, Craft Coffee, Paramount, Nahoum's, Fabelle, and Flurys, who are all unified by their commitment to expert craftsmanship and authentic flavour. The bar channels their way of thinking rather than replicating what they serve. Each drink seeks to sustain the city's culinary icons while subtly pushing them by merging emotion and innovation. Every season, new menus that highlight local ingredients and innovative concepts are introduced, giving visitors a reason to return back and experience the bar's skills once more. “We believe the world outside is Tipsy. Breakneck speed of our daily life, juggling of schedules and grab-and-go culture may sometimes deserve a different space that stays sober, a Little Bit Sober,” divulges Rudradipta Mukherjee and Moumita Mukherjee, founders, Little Bit Sober.

Image Credit: Little Bit Sober, Kolkata

With each drink and bite, you deftly traverse the languid rhythms while becoming the conduits of sombre melodies and dark interiors that mimic the mysteries within. The petite red door opens to reveal an enigmatic bar counter and a fine brass inlay work at the foot of the bar, on the black mosaic floor. The focal point of the restaurant's design is a long, boat-shaped bar counter that runs the length of the space. The bar was designed to stand out with its flamboyant electric-blue hand-painted surface, while the rest of the room was kept mostly muted in colour. The blue bar at Little Bit Sober stands out with the Circus Barstools, a distinctive hand-painted swivel barstool. There is enough natural light coming in because of the way the soft furnishings and furniture frame contrast with monotones. A Friday calm settles in, bursting in shades of deep reds here and there, setting the colour scheme for the space. 

Drink Like  A Bengali

Start with The Cacao that has been infused with JW Black Label Whiskey, Paolo Santo, Cacao Cognac Fragellico and Bitters. Little Bit Sober has won multiple accolades like ranking #35 under Top 50 Best Bars in 2024. They’ve also received awards for best mixologist, best nightlife, best venue too. Coming back to the drink, here’s where you know why this cocktail bar is the best at what they do. The Cacao features Fabelle chocolates with a subtle woodiness to it while also having an aftertaste that’s sweet on the tongue. The inspiration? Letting the world taste how chocolates from this region deserves all the hype.

In conversations with Rudradipta and Moumita, the founders, another drink arrives on the table- Sherbet. It lights up the table with its blue glow-in the dark magic in Bombay Sapphire Gin, Infused Spirulina and Honeydew Melon Soda. For the hottest summers in Cal, this sherbet cocktail brings you back to Paramount, the iconic shop known for its sherbets since 1918. Legends like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters used to gather at this sherbet house to exchange ideas, thus this cocktail is a refreshing drink if you want to remember the past and let those heated conversations stretch.

More conversations with the duo, more drinks on the table, more notes of Bengal in a glass, Kanji stood out. What’s special about this one is that the process and art behind it honours the staple food of the state of Bengal–rice. Amar Khamar’s work in the way rice has spearheaded the heirloom rice varieties using premium products from farming communities in several West Bengal districts, comes together in this cocktail by LBS. When you take a sniff off the rim of your glass, your senses come alive from the savoury, earthy and umami aromas. When you sip it, it’s a whole other story. Many of us don’t enjoy cocktails that are more syrup rather than alcohol, it ruins the vibe you’re looking for. For those who usually sip it neat or on the rocks, Kanji can change the way you view cocktails.

Image Credit: Little Bit Sober

The cocktail menu also features many other drinks, which of course if we drank in one sitting, we won't live to tell the tale. But you surely can try them when you book a table at LBS. There is Sorbet, Caffeine, Patisserie, Breakfast, and lastly Surprise Me. While the rest of the drinks take cues from Fat Little Penguin, Craft Coffee, Flurys and Nahoums, Surprise Me is just as bizarre and suspiciously fantastic. All you have to do is, let the staff at LBS know what you are allergic to and what you are not allergic to when it comes to veg and non-veg items. Then, you wait for a cocktail that can be made with veggies you eat on a daily basis or non-veg dishes. Interesting right? You should definitely try this if you are never sure what to order for a drink.

Image Credit: Little Bit Sober

As always, the cocktail menu is incomplete with classics and sober ones, which comes easy to the team at Little Bit Sober. Making a comeback to this third menu are the Classic Negroni, Negroni Sbagliato with prosecco on it (just like viral audio), Ghee Rice old fashioned, Gondhoraj grapefruit, My Little Secret and Friday, 7 PM? You don’t mess with these. These cocktails are the ones that will have you coming back to the bar in no time. They have mastered the art of using native elements of Bengal into these drinks and the taste is just like how you’d imagine it–simple and like a hug you need after a long day. 

The sober cocktails, though, will take your breath away. For being zero-proof, each of them cheers on that one individual who’s not a fan of strong drinks or happens to be the designated driver or does not feel like drinking on that day. Here, creativity takes shape in the form of Cream Melon, Matcha and Coconut, Coconut and Basil, Mr Pink. Try one of these if you are getting bored of your usual H20 or want to explore the drink offerings of this bar. We've tried and tested everything, so we know you'll like frequently sipping them.

Image Credit: Little Bit Sober

Of course, bar bites and food also come into the picture. It’s not the focal point though. Food here is a side character that follows the story and craft of all the cocktails offered by Little Bit Sober. You can pair your cocktails with the in-house chips, dim sums, Gambas Pil Pil, Boti Roti, Pan Seared Bhetki With Herb Gobhindobhog and desserts like Coco Date Pudding or Raspberry and Chocolate Entremet. 

Address: 2nd floor, 60, Chowringee Rd, Sreepally, Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020

Timings: 4 PM - 12 AM

Price: INR 2,500 for two