Restaurant India News: Bar Sama Opens with a Global Pulse in Bengaluru

Bar Sama opens in Ulsoor, Bengaluru which is a 50-seat neighborhood bar where every detail is rooted in balance and thoughtful craft. Founder Pratheek Reddy, who shifted from construction into hospitality in 2021, sees Bar Sama as a neighborhood staple in the making. 

“I have experienced cocktail culture across the world and Bangalore deserves a space that delivers international quality but still feels like it belongs to the community,” he says. His ambition is not for Bar Sama to be the flashiest new opening but the place you return to week after week because it feels like yours.

Designed by Pronoti Chabbi of Studio Grain, the interiors capture the dual spirit of Bengaluru with a vintage charm outside with charcoal tones and art deco touches, and a contemporary cocoon within, softened by fabric panels and floral art. The food menu was created by Chef Vichita Kumar (Comal, O Pedro, Lupa), offers Thai-inspired small plates that complement the drinks rather than play second fiddle. Standouts include Night Market Moo Ping (coconut-glazed pork skewers), Sum Oh! (pomelo and coconut salad), Panaeng Chicken Skewers, Dirty Fried Rice, and Fire-Grilled Scampi in nam prik pao butter.

Bar Sama’s beverage program is crafted in collaboration with Singapore’s award-winning Cat Bite Club, ensuring cocktails that meet global standards while staying playful and approachable. From the first sip, it’s clear this isn’t just another bar — it’s a cocktail-first destination designed to surprise, spark conversation, and linger in memory.

Signature drinks include The Chilli On, a tequila-mezcal mix with an adjustable chilli tincture; Velvet Eclipse, a hot-and-cold twist on Irish coffee; and Sabba-Tini, a martini reimagined with dill and dramatic presentation. Other highlights like The Palm Reader and Pear Pressure showcase layers of flavour and craftsmanship, making every cocktail both precise and personal.

With Bar Sama, the city finally has a cocktail bar that understands balance not as compromise but as character. It is that rare space where technique, flavor, design and experience meet in harmony, and where a night out can feel both international in standard and unmistakably Bangalorean in spirit.