Restaurant India News: Olive Café & Bar Opens in Kolkata, Inspired by Shantiniketan’s Aesthetic and Culture

The Olive Group has expanded its portfolio with the opening of Olive Café & Bar in Kolkata, marking its entry into the city’s evolving dining landscape. Known for its Mediterranean-inspired approach, the brand continues to combine design, food, and culture under one experience that aligns global sensibilities with local influences.

The Kolkata outpost carries the Olive identity through its signature sun-dappled courtyard, elegant verandah, and a lively bar. The new space represents a seamless blend of contemporary design and cultural heritage, reflecting Olive’s focus on food, community, and craftsmanship.

The menu has been curated by Chef Jyotika Malik, a Le Cordon Bleu, London graduate, who previously worked at Marco Pierre White’s Michelin-starred Mirabelle and The Dorchester Hotel, London. Her culinary direction combines comfort and sophistication, balancing Mediterranean influences with local ingredients. The lunch selection takes inspiration from global cafés, focusing on honest and unpretentious comfort food, while the dinner menu is refined, featuring Mediterranean classics made with high-quality produce.

In addition to Olive’s well-known offerings, the Kolkata outlet features dishes that draw from the city’s flavours and traditions. Some examples include poppy seed and Gobindobhog rice with espatadas, roast pork and kasundi sandwich, Kolkata Bekti en Papillotte, and banana flower salad. Signature items on the menu include Sweet Pots, Super Bowl Salad, Gooseberry & Mango Salad, Artichoke & Celeriac, Ginger Salmon, Prawn Pil Pil, Lobster Linguini, New Zealand Lamb Chops, and the Olive Classic Espetadas. Dessert options feature Churros with dulce and chocolate sauce, French Toast, and the Olive signature Tiramisu served in a picnic basket.

The bar program, designed by lead mixologist Harish Chhimwal, focuses on sustainability and zero wastage. The drinks menu is divided into three parts – Olive Signatures, Classic Tipples, and Olive You Kolkata – with the last category introducing local twists inspired by the city’s culture. Beverages such as Yellow Taxi, Mishti Joy, Fire Cracker, Tolly Gunge, and Hoogly Ho! Gimlet pay homage to Kolkata’s unique palate, combining elements of nostalgia and innovation. Chhimwal said, “The beverage program at Olive Café & Bar, Kolkata is designed to support zero wastage and sustainability. We have tried to bring some unique twists and flavours into our cocktails, zero proof cocktails and an extensive range of coffee.”

The café also highlights a curated beverage selection that includes an exclusive coffee blend sourced from Chikmagalur and hand-rolled teas from Himachal Pradesh, emphasizing traceable, high-quality ingredients.

Designed by Sabina Singh, Design Director at Olive Group of Restaurants, along with architect Vivek Popli, the space reflects the aesthetic of Shantiniketan and the city’s artistic spirit. The layout revolves around a bamboo-roofed courtyard that brings natural light and ventilation, reinforcing an eco-conscious approach. Locally sourced bamboo and stone materials were used to enhance sustainability. A white façade with blue accents, greenery, and bougainvillea creates a calm setting that transitions into a candle-lit atmosphere at night. The verandah bridges indoor and outdoor spaces, maintaining continuity between structured interiors and open-air dining areas.

AD Singh, Founder and Managing Director, The Olive Group of Restaurants, said, “Olive is a way of life and an experience where we bring together good food, delicious cocktails, warmth, fun and service as it should be. Now, we are really looking forward to bringing the trademark Olive experience to the cultural city of Kolkata.”

The opening of Olive Café & Bar in Kolkata reinforces Olive Group’s commitment to design-led dining, sustainability, and consistently high standards across its portfolio. The brand continues to evolve within India’s premium hospitality and dining sector, reflecting an intersection of culinary innovation, local influence, and thoughtful design.