How newly opened Woodside Inn from Mumbai is making itself right at home in Bengauluru

When I told my Mumbai friends that Woodside Inn is opening in Bengaluru, their eyes lit up. The bar, that first opened in Colaba in 2007, is a favourite for its laid-back vibe and craft beers on tap. The old school atmosphere, and pub grub has made it a classic. With outlets in Andheri and Bandra, the brew pub has now made its way to Indiranagar.

Woodside Inn in Indiranagar

It is a hot afternoon when we arrive to check out the new Woodside Inn. The cool blast of the AC, the cosy wood paneled interiors and the rock music playing from the speakers makes us feel welcome instantly. Bengaluru may be the cocktail bar and brewery capital of the country, but we used to be known for our moody pubs playing ‘Roadhouse Blues’. This took me back.

Spread over two floors, the brew pub has a warm lights and teal coloured accents. There is a small outdoor area with a couple of seats as well. The bar is stocked with craft beers, with options from city-based breweries such as Toit, Geist, Red Rhino and Mannheim.

We are welcomed by co-founder, Pankil Shah, who shares how his time in the US inspired him to start the brew pub. While they are known for their beers, Pankil recommends me a few cocktails to try, and the bar bites that pair best with them.

Ale battered onion rings

I try a Mahura Sour, and my friend has the Tangerine Lemon Drop. My drink is made with the Indian craft brand Six Brothers Mahura. Mahura is a spirt made with the flowers of the Madhuca longifolia tree, common in Jharkhand and Odisha. The drink is a take on the whiskey sour, so it is mixed with citrus and bitters. It is a slightly sweet and refreshing. The Tangerine Lemon Drop has gin, triple sec, Limoncello and mandarin orange. It is bright and citrussy.

We have the ale battered onion rings with our drinks. The rings are crisp, and spicy thanks to the Jamaican jerk seasoning dusted on them. Another favourite is the BBQ rubbed sweet potato chips. The wafer fried chips are served with a creamy and warm spinach and artichoke dip. The buttermilk fried chicken is also delicious.

We try another round of cocktails, and this time the winner is the Watermelon Kaffir Lime Fizz. It is made with white rum, kaffir lime, sea salt and watermelon — a summery number.

The large plates include burgers, pizzas, pastas and mains like steaks and grilled fish. We keep it simple and get a pesto pasta. The freshly made pesto with toasted pine nuts is outstanding. We skipped dessert, but we hear they do a mean chocolate cake.

With karaoke nights and DJ events with local artists in the mix, Woodside Inn is already popular with Bengaluru diners. The food and the atmosphere are an added bonus.

₹1,500 for two. At 80 feet road, Indiranagar. For more details, call 9148729675