Is There a Pub Crawl in Delhi?

Yes, Delhi has organised pub crawls and, better yet, neighbourhoods where you can easily do your own. Hauz Khas Village packs 15+ bars into a single walkable lane, and Connaught Place's outer circle has enough lounges and pubs to keep you moving all night.

Organised crawls come and go. The DIY approach is more reliable and lets you skip any place that doesn't feel right. Here's how both work.

Organised Pub Crawls

A handful of operators and social groups run group pub crawls, mostly on Friday and Saturday nights. The format is standard: meet at a central point, hit 3-4 bars together over 4 hours, one included drink at each stop, and a guide who handles the logistics.

Where to find them:

• District (formerly Insider.in, now Zomato's events app), search for "pub crawl Delhi" to find upcoming ticketed events
• Meetup.com, Delhi social groups (Internations Delhi, Delhi Expats) organise crawls semi-regularly
• Instagram, search "Delhi pub crawl" and check hostel and expat event pages; crawl nights are usually announced a week or two ahead

Cost: ₹1,500-2,500 ($18-30) per person, usually including one drink per venue and sometimes a snack plate at one stop.

Common routes: Most organised crawls hit Connaught Place (N Block and M Block on the outer circle) or the Hauz Khas Village strip. CP crawls tend to be more upmarket, cocktail bars and lounges. Hauz Khas crawls are louder and younger.

The main advantage of an organised crawl is meeting other travellers. If you're solo, it beats drinking alone. The main drawback is being locked into a schedule and venues you might not have chosen.

DIY Pub Crawl: Hauz Khas Village

This is the move. Hauz Khas Village is a narrow, pedestrianised lane lined with bars, restaurants, and cafes stacked three storeys high. You can hit 4-5 places in an evening without walking more than 200 metres.

Suggested Route

Start: 8:00pm at the top of the village near the main road.

Stop 1, Social, Hauz Khas, A large, multi-level space with good cocktails (₹450-600) and a rooftop with views over Hauz Khas lake and the medieval ruins. Good vibe early in the evening before the DJ kicks in.

Stop 2, Imperfecto, Bohemian decor, strong sangria (₹500 a pitcher to share), and a menu that covers everything from hummus to butter chicken. Grab a table on the terrace.

Stop 3 - take the lane as it comes. Hauz Khas turns over fast. Fork You, the burger and steak place older guides put here, has shut, and Raasta, the reggae bar before it, left the village years ago. Walk the lane and pick whichever bar has a crowd and a free table.

Stop 4 - beer. Out of the Box, which held this slot for years, is permanently closed. Finish on bottled or draught beer at one of the rooftops still trading on the lane, and save a proper craft beer session for Connaught Place or Gurgaon, where the taprooms are.

End: 12:30am, Last call hits around this time. Most places in Hauz Khas shut by 1:00am sharp. Book an Uber back, auto-rickshaws are scarce this late.

Hauz Khas Tips

• No cover charge at most bars, but some enforce a ₹1,000-1,500 minimum spend per person on weekends.
• Stag entry (men without women) is restricted or charged extra at a few venues on weekends. Groups or couples won't have issues.
• Dress code is smart casual. No flip-flops or shorts at the posher spots.
• The lane gets genuinely crowded after 10pm on Saturdays. If you want a table, arrive by 8:30pm or book ahead.

DIY Pub Crawl: Connaught Place

CP's bars are spread across the inner, middle and outer circles rather than one strip, and the walk between them is short enough to string together.

Unplugged Courtyard, Live music venue with cover bands playing Bollywood and classic rock. ₹500-800 cocktails. Energetic.

Lord of the Drinks, Massive multi-floor bar. Decent bar food.

The Beer Cafe, 50+ beers on tap, including Indian craft options. Casual, no-pressure spot to start or end.

1911 at The Imperial, The heritage hotel's bar on Janpath, a short walk from the circle. Cocktails ₹900+. More of a sit-down vibe than a pub crawl stop, but worth one drink for the setting.

The Beer Cafe sits at D-2 on the inner circle, Unplugged Courtyard at L-23 on the middle circle and Lord of the Drinks at G-72 on the outer circle, a few minutes apart on foot. The Imperial is another 10 to 15 minutes down Janpath. Rajiv Chowk metro (Blue/Yellow Line) drops you right in the centre.

What You Need To Know

Closing time: 1:00am across Delhi. A few Gurgaon clubs push to 2-3am. For more on the scene, see our full Delhi nightlife guide.

Drink prices: Beer ₹250-500, cocktails ₹400-800, wine ₹500-900. Delhi isn't cheap for drinking, alcohol taxes are steep.

ID: Carry your passport or a photocopy. Some venues check ID at the door, especially if you look young.

Getting home: Uber and Ola work well until 2am. Book before last call, surge pricing kicks in around midnight on weekends. Don't take street autos late at night.

Drinking age: 25 in Delhi. Yes, 25, one of the highest in the world. In practice, enforcement at bars is inconsistent, but it's the legal line.

FAQ

Are there organised pub crawls in Delhi?

Yes. A few operators and social groups run organised pub crawls in Connaught Place and Hauz Khas, usually on Friday or Saturday nights. These typically cover 3-4 bars over 4 hours and cost ₹1,500-2,500 ($18-30) including one drink at each stop. Check Meetup.com, District (formerly Insider.in), or Delhi-based Facebook groups for upcoming events.

What is the best area for a DIY pub crawl in Delhi?

Hauz Khas Village is the best area for a DIY pub crawl. The narrow lanes pack 15+ bars, pubs, and lounges within a 5-minute walk of each other. Start at the top of the village near the main road and work your way down towards the lake. Most places don't charge cover and drinks average ₹400-700 for cocktails, ₹250-400 for beer.

What time do bars close in Delhi?

Most bars and pubs in Delhi close by 1:00am. A few clubs with special licences stay open until 2:00-3:00am, particularly in Aerocity and some Gurgaon venues. Last call for drinks is typically 12:30am. Plan to start your evening by 8:00-9:00pm to make the most of it.