Bengali cuisine is a highlight of any trip to Kolkata, and much of the best of it is found on the street or in century-old sweet shops rather than in restaurants. Come hungry and graze your way across the city.
Don't miss
- Kathi rolls - the original Kolkata street wrap, kebab and egg rolled in a flaky paratha
- Puchka - the Bengali take on pani puri, sharper and spicier than most
- Mishti - Bengali sweets such as rosogolla, sandesh and mishti doi (sweet yoghurt)
- Macher jhol - a classic light fish curry, best with rice
- Kosha mangsho - slow-cooked mutton, rich and dark
Where to eat it
College Street and New Market are good hunting grounds for snacks; the old sweet shops of north Kolkata are institutions. A cup of milky cha in a clay cup is the perfect full stop to any meal.
In Kolkata, the sweet shop is a social institution. Order two of everything - you will want the second.
A note on eating well
Stick to busy stalls with high turnover, eat food that is hot and freshly cooked, and drink bottled or filtered water. For where to walk it all off, see our first-timer's guide to Kolkata, and hold your fare when you are ready.