Food Lover's Guide to Kolkata

Kolkata has a food scene unlike anywhere else in India. Here, you can find Bengali classics, from fish curries to saccharine sweets, alongside dishes that reflect centuries of migration from across India and beyond. Don't miss these culinary experiences on your next visit to Kolkata.

Must-Try Dishes

While Kolkata is chock-full of things to eat and drink, the Bengali capital is best known for its desserts; so much so, in fact, that people visiting from other parts of India are always expected to return with a box or three of Bengali sweets. Popular sweet items include rasgula, dumplings made of curd and semolina drenched in sugar syrup and the easier-to-transport sandesh, sweet semi-hard cakes. For a savory snack, it's worth trying phuchka, a popular roadside snack that features hollow, bite-sized crisp balls stuffed with mashed potatoes and chickpeas. For something more substantial, opt for a kathi roll (meat or vegetables wraps) or a plate of machher jhol, the region's quintessential fish curry.

Must-Do Experiences

• Pick out an assortment of Bengali desserts at a sweet shop.
• Take a private tour through Uptown Kolkata to try local seafood, sweets, and spiced tea.
• Go on a street food tour through South Kolkata’s Vivekananda Park to sample local snacks.
• Learn to cook your own Bengali fare by taking a cooking class in the home of a local.