Nightlife · Delhi · India
Delhi nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Delhi, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nvvchar ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Delhi's nightlife revolves around bars and restaurants that turn into party venues later in the evening, concentrated in Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Place, Aerocity and Gurugram's Cyber Hub. Weekends are busiest. The main areas are Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Place, Aerocity and Cyber Hub, Gurugram.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Connaught Place
- Local drink
- Masala chai
Where to go out
Hauz Khas Village
Dense lanes of bars and clubs with a young crowd, busiest from Thursday to Saturday.
Connaught Place
Bars, microbreweries and rooftop venues in the colonnaded blocks, convenient for the metro.
Aerocity
Hotel bars and late-opening restaurants around the airport hospitality district.
Cyber Hub, Gurugram
A pedestrian complex of bars, pubs and restaurants in neighbouring Gurugram, popular with office workers.
Nightlife tips
- The metro stops running around midnight; use ride-hailing apps to get back.
- Several 'dry days' each year, often on national holidays and festivals, ban alcohol sales.
- Carry photo ID, as many bars check age at the door.
Evening sights
Landmark · Lutyens' Delhi
India Gate and Kartavya Path
Come after sunset when the arch is lit and the lawns fill with families; the area is free and open.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- History
Religious site · Connaught Place
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Cover your head (scarves are provided), remove shoes and socks, and sit on the floor to share the langar meal.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Architecture
- After dark
Religious site · Nizamuddin
Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
Arrive around sunset on Thursday for qawwali, cover your head, dress modestly and leave shoes at the stalls in the lane.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- History
Religious site · East Delhi
Swaminarayan Akshardham
Phones, cameras and bags are not allowed inside, so leave them at your hotel or use the cloakroom, and allow time for security checks.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
- After dark
- Free
What to drink
- Masala chai — Black tea boiled with milk, sugar, ginger and cardamom, sold in small glasses or clay cups at stalls on almost every corner.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. May has the warmest evenings, with lows around 25°C (77°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:46 | 8°C (46°F) | 2 |
| April | About 18:47 | 21°C (70°F) | 2 |
| July | About 19:21 | 27°C (81°F) | 12 |
| October | About 17:51 | 20°C (68°F) | 1 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Buy QR tickets in the official DMRC app or at machines to skip token queues, and keep bags for the security scanners.
- Ride-hailing — Uber, Ola and Rapido offer cars and auto-rickshaws at fixed app prices, avoiding fare negotiation, and are widely used day and night.
- Tuk-tuk — Ignore drivers who claim your hotel or a sight is closed and offer to take you elsewhere.
- Bus — DTC buses, including many electric ones, are cheap but routes can be confusing for visitors; the metro is usually easier.
Late-night bites
- Chaat — Chaat stalls in Chandni Chowk, Bengali Market and neighbourhood markets; choose busy stalls.
- Momos — Street carts across the city and the Tibetan colony of Majnu-ka-Tilla.
Staying safe at night
Touts and scams are common around New Delhi Railway Station and Connaught Place, including fake tourist offices and claims that hotels are closed. Pickpockets work crowded markets and metro trains. Air pollution can be severe from November to January, and summer heat is dangerous, so check forecasts and stay hydrated.
- Emergency number
- 112 (national emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and nightlife
Connaught Place
Built in the 1930s, Connaught Place's white colonnaded circles surround a central park above Rajiv Chowk, the busiest metro interchange. Restaurants, bars, Janpath's street market and many mid-range hotels are close by, and the Airport Express terminus at New Delhi station is a short ride away.
- Good
- Central with excellent metro links; Plenty of restaurants and bars; Walk to several sights
- Watch out
- Touts approach visitors in the outer circle; Traffic and crowds
- Nearby
- Janpath, Agrasen ki Baoli, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Rajiv Chowk metro
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Delhi?
Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Place and Aerocity. Dense lanes of bars and clubs with a young crowd, busiest from Thursday to Saturday.
+Which area of Delhi is best for nightlife?
Connaught Place: Colonnaded Georgian circle at the centre of New Delhi with restaurants, bars and the main metro hub.