7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry (2024): ✔Location, Timings, Cost

…Party the European Way at these Electric Pubs in Pondicherry

‘I miss the banter with friends and family, which more often than not takes place within the confines of a decent public house. So I miss the pubs’ – Chris Vance

If these words don’t reflect the culture of the millennials, then nothing will. A monotonous routine that starts right from a Monday morning continues till the clock strikes out the happy hour chime. That is when you rush out to the nearest pub seeking to gulp down your office sorrows and, of course, to make the most of the weekend. And, if you are on a vacation in a city like Pondicherry that epitomizes nightlife, that is where you head to. Either way, it helps to be armed with a list that gives you all the info you want about pubs offering the best of music and the wildest of cocktails.

The erstwhile French colony offers you several options to party the European way at some of the electric pubs that are abuzz with excitement. The city is brother in arms to Goa, which harbors a similar pub and beach culture, with Pondicherry being just one notch higher in terms of sophistication. Pondicherry or Puducherry, as it is commonly known as, is synonymous with a potpourri of European and Indian cultures, with traces of the Dutch, French and British still visible here. So, here are the best nightclubs and pubs in Pondicherry:

Pubs in Pondicherry:

1. Pub Zipper, Pondicherry

Pub Zipper | #1 of 7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry

Pub Zipper Puducherry is where all the action is. You can sit in the Lounge Zone, Quiet Zone or the Smoking Zone, depending on your mood and the company that you have with you in the pub. The Lounge zone plays loud music, which is just the kind you would want, to party through the night, making it among the best disco clubs in Pondicherry. The Quiet zone will let you spend your time in a serene environment and you can enjoy your drinks just relaxing with friends. This place is a favorite among the young crowd and tops the charts as the perfect hangout stop, with the place being almost packed to capacity every day. Pub Zipper also has an open air bar which is the crowd puller and lets you have an amazing experience. read also – Cycling trip in Pondicherry

• Location: Maraimangal Adigal Salai
• Open Hours: 11:00 am – 11:30 pm
• Meal for Two: ₹ 1200 with alcohol

2. Toxic, Pondicherry

Toxic | #2 of 7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry

Toxic is one of the best places in the French Town to indulge in the vibrant nightlife of Pondicherry. The rooftop bar at this pub lets you enjoy the cool evening breeze while sipping your favorite beer or cocktail. Giving you a view of the city from the top, the place also serves some lip-smacking seafood to match your drinks. You can enjoy a smoky barbeque on the rooftop which adds to the exotic ambiance. Their barbeque package, featuring of melt-in-mouth kebabs, is a must try. Pop music, which is in sync with their interiors, makes for a great night when out with friends. Youngsters frequenting the pub swear by the cocktails served here along with their finger food menu. The place is swanky and offers you a memorable experience at reasonable prices, unlike rooftop restaurants and pubs which generally add a premium to their prices just for the ambiance offered.

• Location: Hotel Atithi, SV Patel Salai
• Opening Hours: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Meal for Two: ₹ 1000 with alcohol

3. L’Aqua, Pondicherry

L’Aqua | #3 of 7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry

Located on the rooftop of the sea-facing Ajanta Hotel, L’Aqua is one of the trendiest lounge bars in Pondicherry. It gives you a splendid view of the city on one side and waves splashing on the rocky beach on the other. The place caters to people with varied tastes by offering everything from local beers to the choicest wines. A rooftop pool makes it the perfect party hangout with great music and superb drinks. Grownups as well as youngsters equally favor the place for the amazing combination of awesome cocktails, dishes and vistas. Do ask the servers for a Hawaiian Burger, which is not a part of the regular menu but still a favorite among the regulars.

• Location: Ajanta Sea View, White Town
• Opening hours: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Meal for Two: ₹ 1200 with alcohol

4. Tantra, Pondicherry

Tantra | #4 of 7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry

You can take a North Indian away from North India but you cannot take out North India from within him, which makes him long for food from that part of the country. And this quest reaches its end at Tantra, where the experience of parting at a pub is made better by the scrumptious North Indian food on offer. Most pubs in the city started out on a complete European theme but have tweaked their menu to accommodate the taste of those, asking for Indian delights. Accompanying the North Indian cuisine is some succulent seafood and charcoal grill options. The music is great, with the in-house DJ belting out some foot-tapping numbers. A wide selection of drinks has some quite innovative ones as well. Crab soup offered by the place is a must try when here.

• Location: Hotel Anandha Inn, SV Patel Salai
• Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Meal for Two: ₹ 1500 with alcohol

5. Bay of Buddha, Pondicherry

Bay of Buddha | #5 of 7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry

The first emotion you feel when going to this pub is falling in love with its interiors. Overlooking the sea, the rooftop bar has small canopy-type enclosures covered in white that give the place a romantic look. Small candle-shaped lights placed on wooden tables make it the perfect place for a dinner with your partner. Offering a mesmerizing view of the Bay of Bengal along with treating your ears to the noise of the waves, the place is more of a fine-dining experience, but you can have a blast with your friends here nonetheless. Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, Asian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Korean; you name it and they have the cuisine. Sushi, Papaya Salad, and Chicken Satay here are a must try.

• Location: The Promenade, White Town
• Opening Hours: 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
• Meal for two: INR 1500

6. Ozone Bar, Pondicherry

Ozone Bar | #6 of 7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry

Happy Hours will make you happy for sure at Ozone Bar, which is always packed to capacity owing to classy interiors, and an amazing food and drink menu. You might miss the general pub vibe here as the place is a little laid back. With a sumptuous grilled chicken that is supposed to be the best in town, this watering hole is strongly recommended by regulars, who swear by the reasonable prices charged and the divine taste of the dishes served.

• Opening hours: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Location: Anna Salai Rooftop, Heritage Town
• Meal for Two: ₹ 300 with alcohol

7. Dragon Lounge, Pondicherry

Dragon Lounge | #7 of 7 Best Pubs in Pondicherry

Pondicherry pubs and discos differ from the ones in other big cities in the sense that you would not find blaring Indi-pop numbers, but a mix of Electronic and Trance music that gel with the culture of the city. Another rooftop bar, the place is tucked away in a small street but is well known in the city. The atmosphere is congenial and the excellent drinks offered, will let you sit back and enjoy them with every sip taken. Pondicherry Beach can be clearly seen from the rooftop and the ambiance complements the great food. Must-try dishes include chili beef and grilled chicken breast served with a red wine reduction. 

• Location: Laila’s County, Heritage Town
• Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Meal for Two: ₹ 1200 with alcohol

As you would have noticed by now, all these places are quite affordable despite offering great food, amazing ambiance and superb drinks. And, several hotels in Pondicherry are close to these party places, allowing you to access these without much ado. So, whenever you feel like having fun, head to any of these pubs and party!

Pubs in Pondicherry Video: