At the helm of this transformation is The Red Bari Kolkata, a restored ninety-year old legacy house. At 18 Sadananda Road, Kolkata, just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Kalighat temple, this iconic red mansion, with its colonial charm and grandeur, beckons visitors into a world where heritage meets contemporary vibrancy.
As for the coffee at Red Bari, it’s in the very capable hands of Subko coffee roasters.”When we realised that there’s a restored 100-year old heritage building in Kolkata that has been turned into a coffee shop that connects the past to the present, we reminisced on our own journey with Mary Lodge. The Red Bari is an embodiment of the old soul of Calcutta. From the first red sandstone brick laid in 1921 to completion in 1947, only for it to be restored again in the capable hands of @avantikaj and John who believed in the preservation of heritage. Believed in keeping old stories and memories alive. For the first time ever in the City of Joy, ask for a cup of Subko coffee. A special blend to place you in the midst of a Calcutta market that keeps the charm alive. Medium roast, blend of specialty beans from Nagaland and Karnataka for a complex, sweet aftertaste. A space where experiences and the sense of community over a cup of coffee take precedence,” said an announcement post by Subko and Red Bari.
In a candid conversation, Avantika lends us in on the inception of the Red Bari, Kolkata’s best coffee shops and thriving cultural spaces in the city.
The Red Bari coffee shop is the newest addition to the city, what are some things to try from your menu?I would recommend our sandwiches from the food menu: The Tomato for the veg, The BLT or the Grilled Chicken for the non-veg. Our menu is small, but everything is very fresh and high quality. Our rose city black is a great cup of black tea. We do our own blends and teas come from my family tea estate Chota Tingrai Tea Estate. And, of course, the coffees are all from SUBKO, you can try our cortado or our pour overs. They are excellent!
You’ve also created a community space, was it an instinctive or a conscious choice?