The Back Room Opens in Chandigarh as India’s First Pour-Only Cocktail Bar

The Back Room, the latest hospitality venture from Saanya and Akshay Verma of VTC Group, has opened at The Toy Hotel in Sector 34A, Chandigarh, introducing a cocktail format based entirely on pre-batched and bottled drinks. The bar describes itself as India’s first pour-only cocktail bar, with cocktails prepared in advance and served directly from bottles rather than mixed at the bar.

The concept has been developed around consistency in cocktail preparation. Its dedicated laboratory is used to develop and test recipes, with ingredients measured in grams. Once finalised, cocktails are built, batched, rested and sealed in large-format bottles before service. The drinks are then poured at the table, eliminating shaking and stirring during service.

The cocktail menu uses a three-digit coding system instead of conventional drink names. Each number represents the cocktail’s base spirit, preparation method and flavour profile. The format takes reference from Chandigarh’s numbered sectors and grid-based urban layout.

The beverage programme has been created by Beverage Director Tanka Gurung, while the interiors have been designed by French architect Jean-Louis Deniot. The space includes a central racetrack-shaped bar, dark stone and brass finishes, a garden room and an outdoor terrace.

Food has been developed as a core part of the bar's offering rather than as an add-on. The menu, created by Chef Megha Kohli and Noah Barnes of Logic Hospitality, focuses on globally influenced small plates designed to pair with the cocktails. Dishes include pani puri interpreted as Mexican agua chile, jhol momos with sambal or tom kha, chilli coconut corn ribs, plancha prawns, burrata with charred peppers and other shareable plates.

The bar operates from noon, positioning itself beyond a conventional late-night cocktail format and targeting daytime visits, evening drinks and group occasions.

Saanya and Akshay Verma, Founders of The Back Room and Managing Partners, VTC Group, said, “We’ve always believed that truly memorable hospitality experiences become destinations in their own right. The Back Room is our most personal project yet. It isn’t simply about opening another bar; it’s about creating a space that changes the way people think about cocktails, and about making bar culture relevant. We hope people don’t just come here for an evening. We hope they come to experience something they can’t find anywhere else,”

The launch adds another specialised format to Chandigarh's hospitality market, with the business combining a controlled beverage production model, a compact food menu and design-led interiors. For VTC Group, which has more than a decade of experience operating hospitality venues in Chandigarh, The Back Room marks an expansion into a cocktail-focused concept built around standardised preparation and table service.