In Delhi’s latest speakeasy, you’re one cupboard away from the 1920s

The Prohibition era in America, which lasted between 1920 and 1933, only drove the party underground. Across New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Detroit, and LA, hidden bars thrived behind unmarked doors, accessed by whispered passwords and coded slips. These speakeasies became havens of rebellion, rhythm, and raw glamour—the jazz was loud, the liquor was strong, and the rules, they didn’t apply. While Delhi hasn’t prohibited alcohol, the sight of everyone being everywhere all the time seems to be driving the really cool parties underground via membership-only restaurants, bars, and now, speakeasies.

Noctis channels that same illicit energy in the bylanes of Panchsheel Park. This isn’t just another cocktail bar but a time capsule wrapped in wood and shadow. By day, the storefront passes as a charming little coffee shop. But after 7 pm, the place slips into something moodier. And no, you won’t find them on Google Maps, though you will find their number on Instagram.

A call and reservation later, a ‘tailor’s appointment slip’ appears on your phone with the address. Once you arrive, a man named Jagdish (who is a real tailor) shows up—silent, knowing, and holding a key. But it’s not for a fitting room; it’s for a cupboard. Push through and the scene flips from Narnia to The Great Gatsby. Suddenly, you’re inside a vibey 30-cover bar, where nothing is quite what it seems.

The lower floor of Noctis is dimly lit and deliciously still, with pools of warm light spilling from tiny table lamps you can control with a touch. The rest of the bar reveals itself in dark wood and a soft gleam. Overhead, chandeliers glimmer just enough to catch the eye, while stained glass windows throw flickering patterns across the walls. It’s all very cloak and dagger.

Artworks by industrial artist Nimrat Kaur Narang nod to the Prohibition era—one painting shows an older woman drinking boldly among barrels, while another captures a grand mansion with chequered flooring and a sweeping staircase that appears again, almost identically, upstairs at Noctis.

That upper level opens into a quiet world of nostalgia. Glass cupboards line the walls, filled with brass clocks frozen mid-tick, yellowing Reader’s Digest editions, dog-eared volumes of Shakespeare, and curios that seem smuggled in from another century. The past lingers in these corners, but never fully steps into the light.

Even the menu plays along: it’s made of dark wood, shaped like the very door you walked through, complete with a lion-head knocker. The cocktail programme is led by Ajay Rawat, whose bar trail winds through Hyatt Regency Delhi, Comorin Gurugram, Roobaru Dubai, and seafaring stints across South America and Europe. 

Playfulness runs like a thread through every pour. The Bathtub, for instance, is a gin-based drink with rehydrated apricots, peri peri chilli, and a foamy salted soya topping to resemble soap. It pays a cheeky homage to the Americans who fermented alcohol with fruits in their bathtubs during Prohibition. Silk Road 2.0 is a deeper, darker pour with bourbon and molasses balanced with orange zest, wine vinegar, and a dill finish.

Among the limited-edition and seasonal offerings, the B&B Amaro—made with Camikara 3YO, banana, butter, brown sugar, Amaro, and pineapple—is rich, layered, and indulgent. The gin-based Green Passage, with fermented kiwi, pineapple, raw mango, and sage, is tart and herbaceous. And while stone fruits are in season, the sweet-sour Plumora—a blend of tequila, plum and rosemary shrub, and tonic—is a crisp, juicy celebration of summer. For Picante chasers, Noctis doesn’t stop at one. There are bold experiments: some fermented Korean-style for a week, others stirred with brined Japanese baby ginger (gari), jalapeño pickles, blueberries, or even fresh oregano.

But the real flex? Homemade vermouth. Drawing on his Himalayan roots, Rawat sources wormwood from altitudes above 5,000 ft to craft both red and white vermouths in-house. It’s served neat (as it is abroad) or used to finish drinks like Manhattans and margaritas. There’s also a pandan-leaf version and a saffron-and-mace liqueur that tastes like something royalty might have sipped before plotting something scandalous.

The food menu, led by chef Manan Vasudeva, keeps it short but makes every dish count. The hummus, for one, gets a glow-up, with roasted pumpkin, chimichurri, toasted almonds, and pumpkin seeds. Creamy, crunchy, and clearly dressed for the evening. The prawn roulade, stuffed with quattro formaggi and topped with caviar, comes with a sidekick that steals the show: a passionfruit rice crisp that’s unexpectedly brilliant. If you’re still grazing, the pulled lamb quesadilla brings the heat—it’s gooey, meaty, and quite fiery. Much like the drinks, the bar bites are part of the seduction—another thread in a night that unspools slowly and deliberately. Because that’s what Noctis is: hidden, theatrical, and soaked in detail.

Meal for two: ₹5,000 (with alcohol)

Timings: 7 pm to 1 am (Mondays closed)

Reservations: +91 92205 28822