Indian Coffee House

The Indian Coffee House...

               first ever coffee house of India...

The most famous Coffee House branch in Kolkata is the one at the College Street, also known as the "Coffee House at College Street". It is situated opposite the Presidency College, Kolkata and has been for a long time a regular hang out for students (and ex-students) of the Presidency College, University of Calcutta, and other institutions in College Street.

The history of the Coffee House at College Street can be traced to Albert Hall, which was founded in April 1876.Later, the Coffee Board decided to start a coffee joint from the Albert Hall in 1942. Notable citizens, including Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose, were frequent visitors to the place.In 1947, the Central Government changed the name of the place to "Coffee House".The place became a meeting place for the poets, artistes, literati and people from the world of art and culture. In 1958, the management decided to shut down the Coffee House, but it was re-opened the same year, after professors of Presidency College and Calcutta University rushed off a special petition to the government, to save the heritage place.

The prestige of the Coffee House increased with regular visitors such as Satyajit Ray, Manna Dey, Amartya Sen, Mrinal Sen and Aparna Sen. The Coffee House is of historical significance for being the rendezvous of innumerable versatile people, from its inception to date. Scholars, editors, artists and writers like Ritwik Ghatak, Narayan Gangopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Sanjeev Chattopadhyay, Samaresh Majumdar, Subhas Mukhopadhyay and Shakti Chattopadhyay) have been just a few among the patrons of the restaurant. In early sixties of 20th century the coffee house became the intellectual battleground of the famous Hungry generation literary and cultural movement; the iconic poets Malay Roy Choudhury, Samir Roychoudhury brother duo who pioneered the movement were arrested and prosecuted. Several literary magazines owe their origin to the inspiration from the adda sessions at this coffee house.
Though popularly known as College Street Coffee house, this branch is actually on Bankim Chatterjee Street. The coffee house is famous for its adda sessions, and as the breeding place of several political and cultural personalities and movements. Many people come here just for the sake of adda and just being a part of the long talking sessions. Several talented and illustrious persons from different streams have been thronging this renowned adda for a long time.

                              

Top view from first floor

In Indian coffee house you will get good quality food at very cheap cost.

                                            

In this beside picture you can see galleries on each side. In each gallery you will see one table with 2 to 3 chairs. Ground floor is little crowded place compared to first floor. On the first floor gallery you will find beautiful paintings on each wall.

                                                                                                                First Floor Gallery

In beside picture you can see beautiful paintings on wall and also Vishal – the PJ king of YES!+ Kolkata Team.









                                                                                                          
                                                                                                         

There is Original photo of Rabindranath Tagor in Indian Coffee house.

One day I got an opportunity to visit this place for lunch. I spent good time over there. There are only few waiters and they are doing wonderful job. They have good memory, there are many tables and they take order from each table and they don’t write the order they remember each order and they serve what we have ordered. The funny thing which happen was our actual bill was 99 rs but waiter told its 105 then we (me and my friend vishal) got confused and started thinking how come its crossed 100rs. But then we realized that 99rs actual bill + 6 rs tip =105 rs. Waiter asked tip with actual bill without our willingness to give tip or not.

There is also a song on Indian Coffee House…

Song for coffee house - Coffee house er addata monepore sei dodosi duranto ringta… – to drink a coffee together with friends or unknown friends and enjoying classical songs. (will update soon with proper song and meaning)