Inside South India’s bars: How design and architecture are changing the drinking experience

India has three bars in Asia’s 50 Best Bars list in 2026: Boilermaker (Goa), Soka, and Bar Spirit Forward (Bengaluru) for their flair and inventive cocktails. But the drinks are not the only focus. Across the country, bars have upped their design game as well, with a focus on architectural storytelling, acoustic comfort, daytime adaptability and a spotlight on the ergonomic bar counter itself.

We take a look at six bars across South India, over five metrics: materiality, bar design, convenience, acoustic-lighting design and, finally, daytime adaptability.

Studio Kaleidospace, a Chennai-based interior design studio helmed by Daphne D’mello and Nirali Bathia, created a 1,500-sq.ft. resto-bar, No Name, in Nandanam. Generous arches, an electric blue bar, and stained glass windows punctuate a large hall with architectural drama.