Why the return of Monkey Bar to Bengaluru is significant

The newly renovated, refurbished building at the junction of Museum Road and Church Street in central Bengaluru that houses Monkey Bar version 2.0 — back in the city in a new avatar after version 1 shut down in 2019 — used to be a small hotel called The Museum Inn. In the days before pubs and microbreweries sprouted on every street corner of every neighbourhood in Bengaluru, it was the go-to place for those looking for a smart-yet-cosy place to meet friends over a drink, have a conversation, and sink into the comfort of being at one’s ‘local’ — a pub around the corner that feels like home. It attracted many women — especially impecunious young journalists who worked at one of the several newspaper offices in the area — and it helped that it had a standing ‘ladies night’ on Wednesdays, when women would get 3 free drinks. With a brand-new menu that nonetheless feels familiar because of a satisfyingly similar flavour profile as the older one, the bar bites section features dishes like the fiery Fire Pork, a Coorg-style crispy fried pork dish; 'Paddus with a Twist', onion, coriander and chilli Paniyarams ; Prawns Kheema Pao; the Juicy Lucy Slider and mains like Puliogare Rice & Bhindi Raita; Pandi Curry with Akki roti.