By Saborni Saha
Updated:Jul 09, 2025
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Olive Café & Bar in Kolkata, blending Mediterranean flavours with local influences, offers a relaxed, luxurious atmosphere. The café’s white-walled design, inspired by Tagore’s vision, complements its exceptional food and crafted cocktails. Signature dishes, such as Bruschetta, Soft Fish Tacos, and Super Bowl Salad, highlight a fusion of Kolkata and Mediterranean culinary traditions, making it a must-visit destination.
Image Credit: Image Courtesy: Olive Café & Bar, Kolkata
Food defines the City of Joy; it’s not a necessity but a way of life here. If you ask someone who was born and raised in Kolkata about cafe culture in the historical city, they will mostly take you to the small cabins and eateries. Whether it’s Feluda’s favourite, Das Cabin, Uttam Kumar’s go-to, Basanta Cabin, or iconic Mitra Cafe, these spots offer a taste of nostalgia with every bite. A piping hot cup of dudh cha (milk tea) or lebu cha (lemon tea) in these cabins, accompanied by cutlets, kabiraji, mutton chops, and fish fries, can uplift your mood at any point of the day.
Image Courtesy: Olive Café & Bar, Kolkata
But, with pop-culturification in the city, the concept of a cafe is now better, broader, and ‘abroader’ rather than just local. Located in close proximity to Kolkata’s beloved ‘Nandan Chattar’, Olive Café & Bar is revolutionising the city’s café culture by bringing together Greek, Italian, and Kolkata vibes. Be it a cup of coffee, a handcrafted cocktail, a full meal or something vegan, Olive in the City of Yellow Taxis will never disappoint you.
Olive Café & Bar in Kolkata: The Iconic Restaurant Brand is Adding to The City’s Dining Scene
Image Courtesy: Saborni Saha
Kolkata has always had a unique dining vibe. And Olive Café & Bar in Kolkata offers a laid-back luxury experience, exceptional food, and expertly crafted cocktails. So, you can say that the ‘adda’ culture in Kolkata has got a global touch here. After three successful restaurants in cities like Gurugram, Mumbai and Delhi, Olive got its fourth restaurant in Kolkata. The finest culinary talents in the country, such as Anahita Dhondy, Manu Chandra, and Sujan Sarkar, had also been a part of Olive. In Olive Kolkata, currently, the gourmet café menu is overseen by Chef Jyotika Malik, and handcrafted cocktails are managed by lead mixologist Harish Chhimwal.
Stepping into Olive Café & Bar, with my camera, notepad, and taste buds, I was immediately struck by its signature dreamy, white-walled design, created by Sabina Singh, AD Singh’s better half. The space exudes Mediterranean elegance, fused with Kolkata’s artistic soul. Elements inspired by Shantiniketan and Rabindranath Tagore’s vision—natural light, soft armchairs, and lush greenery—bring the beauty of the countryside indoors.
The bamboo-roofed courtyard, pebbled floors, and bougainvillaea blooms create an escape from the city’s constant buzz. People from Kolkata and its suburbs can easily commute to the place without much hassle.
Image Courtesy: Olive Café & Bar, Kolkata
AD Singh envisioned a place that serves exceptional food while offering an inviting, homely experience. The open-air courtyard and serene ambience provide the perfect setting for leisurely meals, a hallmark of Olive since its first Mumbai location.
Along with the hospitality magic, another win-win factor of this place is that they have multiple healthy food and vegan options. Gluten-free bread, whole wheat pasta, salads, quinoa, or zero-proof beverages, you’ll never run out of options at Olive.
The white decor at Olive Café & Bar is nothing short of enchanting. The pristine white walls, accented by natural light, instantly calm the mind, creating a serene, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The clean, airy space invites you to pause, savour the moment, and focus on what matters—the incredible food.
Image Courtesy: Olive Café & Bar, Kolkata
When asked what it took so long (they are celebrating 25 years of the brand this year) to come to the Calcutta market, AD Singh explained:
“The Calcutta F & B scene market has exploded in the past few years. Now we feel the eating out market has the depth and size for an Olive, which wasn’t the case earlier.
Also we have developed our more casual version of Olive as an Olive cafe and bar over the past few years, and that’s proving popular across India. It has lesser prices and sections including sandwiches and burgers, and this can work well for Calcutta.”
Signature Dishes: A Marriage of Mediterranean Flavours with Kolkata’s Spirit
Image Courtesy: Saborni Saha
Image Courtesy: Saborni Saha
“How much could I eat?” Well, with this taste, a foodie can bet on anything and everything.
“How much did I eat?” I tried the Got My Goat Cheese Pizza at Olive Café & Bar, and I was utterly hooked.
The wild mushrooms, goat’s cheese, mozzarella, arugula leaves, and black truffle cream came together in a symphony of flavours that had me swooning with every bite.
Honestly, it was like Mediterranean ingredients crossed paths with Kolkata’s love for bold, fresh flavours and decided to fall in love. The creamy goat cheese and earthy mushrooms were a match made in heaven, with the arugula giving a peppery crunch.
Image Courtesy: Olive Café & Bar, Kolkata
Chef Jyotika shared the hard time they had faced before they had the best pizza ‘hot from the oven’. As she mentioned, “For almost 6 months, we have been experimenting with the flavours, the right texture, and the taste. In Kolkata, it’s humid, and for the temperature differentiation, it took some time for us to come up with the best-in-taste!”
With her more than 27 years in the industry, she has rightfully made it possible to call it an ‘unforgettable’ pizza story.
Desserts That Steal the Spotlight
Image Courtesy: Saborni Saha
Drinks: A Local Twist on Mediterranean Cocktails
Image Courtesy: Saborni Saha
For something spicier, the Spice Spice Baby!—a no-alcohol version of the Picante—was a beautifully zesty highball made with pineapple juice, mint, cilantro, and jalapeños, topped with tonic water. It captured the spice that is so integral to Kolkata’s food culture, with the cooling and balanced tones of mint.
The Mediterranean-Kolkata Fusion
Image Courtesy: Saborni Saha
Address: 6th Floor, 40, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata-700017
Timings: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Average cost for two for food: 2000+
Must-Try Dishes: Bruschetta, Got My Goat Cheese Pizza, Chevre & Fig Tart, Pork Belly, Soft Fish Tacos, Burnt Basque Cheesecake
Contact No: 8828099667 & 8828284799