Bangalore’s social scene: Where to meet cool people in the city

Discover the best cafes and co-working spaces in Bangalore for networking, casual meetups, and building connections over a cup of coffee.

Bangalore’s social scene: Where to meet cool people in the city
PEOPLE & CULTURE

By Aquib nawab

22 Aug, 2024

4 mins read

Are you a newcomer to Bangalore or do you want to make more friends? This city is popular for its tech hubs, and it is also referred by many as the Silicon Valley of India. Whether cosy coffee shops or lively pubs, art-filled spaces or serene parks, there are plenty of opportunities to meet interesting people in Bangalore.

Just imagine yourself walking along the streets with banyan trees dating back centuries, under which traditional flower markets stand next to modern technology park complexes. The atmosphere is buzzing with a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and easy-goingness that is so typical of Bangalore.

But, where does one start? We will delve into the exciting social life of this city and identify the key places to connect with like-minded individuals.

The best places to meet people in Bangalore

1. Cafes and co-working spaces: A blend of work and play

Bangalore’s cafes are enjoying a boom, but it’s not just about the coffee. Many cafes are doubling up as co-working spaces making them great spots to network and interact with professionals from different walks of life. Some freelancer’s dream or startup owners’ heaven; these are perfect places for meeting other lovers of all things coffee; for example:

  • Third Wave Coffee Roasters (Indiranagar): A trendy place for coffee lovers, it has an atmosphere that is perfect for idle chat.
  • The Flying Squirrel (Koramangala): It's known for its speciality coffee and cosy ambience, it's a great place to meet people over a brew.
  • Dyu Art Cafe (Koramangala): This cafe combines art and coffee, providing an opportunity for creative conversations in a relaxed setting.
  • The Ants Cafe (Indiranagar): A quaint cafe which doubles up as an art shop, providing a unique setup to interact with like-minded individuals.
  • Dialogues Cafe (JP Nagar): It is not only a cafe but also a community house where you pay per hour instead of buying food items hence making it ideal for talking or networking.

Coworking Space | Credits: Canva

2. Pubs and breweries: Socializing over a pint

Bangalore is famous for its microbreweries and for good reason. These places offer an environment that is perfect for winding down after work:

  • Toit (Indiranagar): This city’s most famous microbrewery is a bustling spot where you can enjoy craft beer.
  • Windmills Craftworks (Whitefield): A sophisticated brewery with live jazz performances, ideal for music lovers.
  • Arbor Brewing Company (Brigade Road): This is known for having the largest selection of craft beers in town and an energetic atmosphere.
  • The Bier Library (Koramangala): It is a spacious brewery with a lake view which provides a leisurely space where people can hang out together.
  • Byg Brewski Brewing Company (Hennur): One of the biggest microbreweries in Bangalore. They offer a unique and immersive experience.

Pubs | Credits: Canva

3. Cultural events and art spaces: For the creatively inclined

The culture of Bangalore is as varied as its population. Some of the major hubs in the city with regular events include art galleries, theatres and cultural centres which give a chance to interact with people having similar interests such as yours in arts.

  • Ranga Shankara (JP Nagar): A place where theatre lovers can find performances nearly every day.
  • National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) (Vasanth Nagar): The place to be for art enthusiasts with its frequent exhibitions and workshops.
  • Venkatappa Art Gallery (Kasturba Road): It works by emerging artists with the established ones.
  • Jagriti Theatre (Whitefield): Stages a variety of plays, musical shows and other cultural events.
  • Chitrakala Parishath (Kumarakrupa Road): It is a popular art centre that frequently holds art exhibitions and cultural festivals.

Art Club | Credits: Canva
 

4. Meetup groups and social clubs: Find your tribe

Among the various ways to meet people in Bangalore is through interest-based groups. Below are some popular Meetup groups and social clubs:

  • Bangalore Hiking Meetup: For those who enjoy trekking and outdoor activities.
  • Bangalore Expat Club: This is for foreigners who want to connect with locals or other foreigners.
  • Bangalore Book Club: A place where literature enthusiasts come together to talk about books.
  • Bangalore Photowalkers: It is an online photography community which organises regular photo walks within the city.
  • Whitefield Rising: A community group working towards sustainable practices and the betterment of the locality.

Social Club | Credits: Canva

5. Workshops and classes: Learn and connect

Enrolling in a course or signing up for a workshop are excellent ways to meet people while learning something new. Moreover, Bangalore is not short of learning opportunities like cooking, pottery, photography or dance:

  • Lahe Lahe (Indiranagar): They host a range of different workshops involving pottery and poetry.
  • Atta Galatta (Koramangala): They are known for hosting book readings, theatre workshops and storytelling sessions.
  • Tamarind Tree (JP Nagar): They offer culinary classes which are perfect for food lovers.
  • The Art Village (Kanakapura Road): They offer traditional and cutting-edge art forms through workshops.
  • Nrityagram (Hesaraghatta): A dance village that arranges classes as well as performs classical Indian dance.

Workshops | Credits: Canva

Top 10 places to hang out in Bangalore

The people are amazing in Bangalore, and the weather is awesome. If you can just bear the traffic it’s the best place to stay in India. Let’s go through all the famous places to hang out in Bangalore and understand why they are famous. Let’s go for Bangalore darshan:

  • Koramangala Koramangala is famous for the Forum Mall and the nearby pubs and cafes.
  • MG Road— It’s famous for its nightlife and the market.
  • Whitefield— It’s famous for IT companies, apartments and Phoneix market city mall.
  • JP Nagar— It’s Famous for Sri Tirumalagiri Lakshmi Venkateshwara temple.
  • Electronic City— This part of Bangalore is dedicated to the IT industry.
  • Avenue Road— Avenue Road is a busy shopping and commercial street in Bangalore It is famous for its amazing book market.
  • Lal Bagh— It’s famous for landscaped gardens and the famous glass house.
  • KR Market— KR Market is a busy, vibrant and crowded market in the heart of the city. It’s famous for its beautiful flower market.
  • Majestic— It’s famous for the Kempe Gowda bus stand and railway station.
  • Brigade Road Brigade Road is one of the busiest commercial centres and the most happening place in Bangalore

Conclusion

Bangalore, is a city with a populace as diversified as its social landscape. Through going around various social points, you can meet new people. Bangalore’s social scene ranges from boisterous nightclubs to quiet coffee shops that target different preferences and interests like dancing, having intellectual chats or quietly reading a nice book.

The Hosteller Bangalore Brigade Road is an ideal place to stay in Bangalore since it offers comfort and convenience while travelling around the city. The hostel located on bustling Brigade Road right at the centre of the town will give access to various popular cafes, shopping areas as well as nightlife.

Another option is The Hosteller Bangalore Indiranagar which works better for those who want a more happening neighbourhood. Indiranagar is the best area for going out with trendy cafes, pubs and shopping streets spread throughout it. Koramangala with its co-working spaces, brew-pubs and restaurants has turned out as an innovation hub. If you are attracted by the youthful enthusiasm of tech and startup communities in Bangalore, come over to The Hosteller Bangalore Koramangala. This hostel provides an inviting atmosphere for making new friends both within spacious dorms or common spaces. 

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