Kolkata: The city's rooftop restaurants and al fresco eateries rang in 2026 with a bang with crowds packing open-air venues across Park Street, New Town, Salt Lake and beyond. After a year that tested many outdoor businesses — several were forced to shut for three months — Wednesday night marked a decisive comeback, powered by a rare ingredient in the city's party calendar: a crisp chill in the air.
The drop in temperature changed the way revellers experienced the night. Instead of retreating indoors, diners and dancers chose terraces, courtyards and sky-high decks where the breeze made long hours of music, food and cocktails feel effortless. The season's pleasant evenings encouraged venues to go bigger on events, with DJ nights and new year menus designed for open-air celebrations.
On Park Street, LMNOQ — one of the venues that remained shut the longest earlier in the year — capitalised on the festive momentum that built through mid-Dec. The restaurant saw more than 300 people turn up on New Year's Eve, mirroring the strong response it received on Christmas Eve. "We had a capacity turnout on Wednesday. While all New Year's Eves are special, the chill in the air made this New Year's Eve extra special," said Nityanand Paul of LMNOQ.
Nearby, Bombastic reported an even larger turnout, with 500-550 people joining the countdown. Across the city, the same pattern played out: open-air spaces that can feel punishing in humid months became the most sought-after seats in town.
For many party-goers, the weather wasn't just comfortable — it was part of the appeal. Jayeeta Ghosh from Lake Town, who spent the night at a New Town hotspot, said the Darjeeling-like chill added zing to the festive mood. "Usually, I sweat after dancing for an hour. But in this weather, it feels great," she said.
At Roots, footfall crossed 1,000 on Wednesday, with the venue calling New Year's Eve the "crowning glory" of a strong Dec. Hashtag reported being completely sold out, with 600 advance bookings while Altair in Sector V saw 700 guests, plus another 150 booked for a private party.