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Soka

Bengaluru

Deceptively simple serves bursting with Indian flavours

Helmed by chef Sombir Choudhary – whose Goa-based venture Jamming Goat is a local favourite – and bartender Avinash Kapoli, Soka is a space that showcases the city's stories and secrets through craft, technique and unique atmosphere. Spread across 531 sq ft, Soka is styled like a cozy izakaya, with earthy decor, rattan chairs, flickering wall lamps and a striking installation by Goan artist Siddharth Kerkar.

Here, the cocktails are the highlight, with a carefully curated, story-centric menu that elevates drinking into art form. The Mofo Don, a spicy tequila concoction with a pink hue from red cabbage and a cilantro-sprinkled rim, is a playful nod to the bar's cabbage vendor. The Soap & Jack offers an alluringly aromatic mix of mezcal, makrut lime, green smoked guava, curry leaves, chilli vinegar and lemon oil.

Complementing the drinks is a selection of heavy hitting plates, including the Soka Fried Chicken with raw mango chimichurri or the Peshwari Kebab with mutton jus and radish and walnut chutney. Choudhary and Kapoli's playful, imaginative touches turn familiar tastes into surprising, memorable experiences that will make you want to come back for more.

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