Stretched mango, kewra water, lemon & fizzy grapefruit soda — Bungalow NYC
Bungalow NYC takes its name and its entire design philosophy from the residential bungalows of Mumbai's colonial-era neighbourhoods — the kind that still exist in Bandra and Colaba behind overgrown walls. Golden City is their reference to the city itself: Bombay's gold is the evening light across Marine Drive, the colour of a sunset behind the Haji Ali mosque, the warm amber of a well-made mango drink. Kewra water — the essence of screwpine flowers, used in Mughal biryanis and sweets — is the single note that elevates this from a mango soda to something more considered.
Kewra water is available at all Indian grocery stores. Use it sparingly — a little goes a long way, and too much turns the drink medicinal rather than floral. The grapefruit soda's bitterness is what makes this drink interesting: it cuts through the mango's sweetness in a way that plain soda water cannot. Pink grapefruit soda (Sanpellegrino Pompelmo) is ideal.
Bungalow in the East Village captures the warmth and chaos of an Indian party at home — the kind where the drinks are strong, the food comes in waves, and no one leaves early. The cocktail menu is adventurous and confident, featuring Indian-inspired creations built on solid bartending technique: clarified punches, house-infused spirits, and drinks that treat Indian ingredients with the same seriousness as any other craft bar.
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