Kolkata’s Durga Puja brings a busy spell for the city’s food and beverage industry, but according to the industry leaders, the gains this year were not uniform. While many restaurants and cafes reported double-digit growth, others recorded footfall similar to last year or slightly lower. Dine-out remained the preferred choice for the people of Kolkata, with afternoon and late-night rushes, themed menus and changing customer preferences shaping the season.
Dine-out leads, but footfall varies
For most businesses My Kolkata spoke to, dining out was a bigger draw than online ordering. But this did not necessarily mean higher footfall across the industry.
Piyush Kankaria, chapter head of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Kolkata chapter, estimated that the restaurant industry recorded around 20 per cent growth in business compared with last year.
“In Kolkata, Durga Puja is as much about food as it is about the city’s cultural identity. We are also seeing a growing preference for experiential dining, with people looking at eating out as more than just a meal,” Kankaria said.
South City Mall too reported double-digit growth in footfall and sales. Dip Biswas, centre director, said, “We saw double-digit growth in both footfall and sales compared with the same Pujo period last year.” He added that the mall’s first-ever Durga Puja pandal gave people another reason to visit, combining a pandal visit with shopping and dining.
Flurys reported strong double-digit business growth. Rajesh Singh, national head, said, “Durga Pujo has been a very positive period for Flurys, with strong double-digit business growth, driven by higher footfall across our outlets.”
Prateek Didwania, founder of Snacking and PICO, and co-founder of Yours Truly Coffee Roasters, said dine-outs across his four outlets was around 30 per cent higher than last year. “Online sales contributed to less than 10 per cent of total sales,” he said.
However, the trend was not universal. At The Daily, owner Urvika Kanoi said footfall was broadly similar to last year, with a small increase. “We don't see a decrease. We see a slight increase in that,” she said.
Kanoi also noticed a shift in the crowd this year, with more youngsters and fewer families. “I think that something in the Puja was missing. We didn't feel the same. Like, there was something which didn't make us feel ‘Puja Puja’,” she said.
Hanglaatherium co-founder Sunando Banerjee described footfall as more or less usual for them, perhaps slightly lower than last year. “Interestingly, Ashtami was a little less crowded than we had expected. Maybe having two Saptamis this year had something to do with it!” he said.
Experience matters, but the mood shifts
Restaurateurs observed a preference for authenticity and originality, with cafes focusing on decor, quick service and maintaining food quality
The preference for dining out also brought greater emphasis on ambience, distinctive menus and the overall experience. Kankaria said: “The overall experience, ambience, menu and time spent with friends and family are becoming increasingly important in how consumers choose to dine.”
Kanoi observed a preference for authenticity and originality, with cafes focusing on decor, quick service and maintaining food quality. She said: “What stood out this Puja was mainly sticking to authenticity and originality.”
At Five Mad Men, co-owner Veronica Saha Roy said its “Pujor Paglami” theme extended to food and cocktails inspired by Kolkata’s lanes and famous pandals. She said, “The trend was dining more, of course, because people like to eat out.”
Hyatt Centric Ballygunge Kolkata paired its themed dining offering, Shakti Mahabhoj, with a fashion collection launch and a tribute to women achievers.
General manager Manu Nair said, “Guests were keen to discover something new alongside their festive local favourites, making culinary exploration a more visible part of the occasion.”
Scrapyard Brewing Co partner Nilesh Bagree said lunch, evening and late-night dining all performed well. “With Sashti falling on a weekend and an extended festive period, we witnessed excellent footfall and a strong dine-in preference as people stepped out to celebrate with friends and family,” he said.
Familiar favourites hold their ground
Chilli chicken was a top-seller as usual
For Kankaria, one dish remained a constant. “Chilli chicken! Puja pandals may change, but the chilli chicken order never does in Kolkata!” he said.
Businesses also reported different responses across locations. Founder director of 6 Ballygunge Place and Ramanee, S Ramani said newer outlets in Sodepur and Kamalgazi performed exceptionally well, as did the highway outlet near Kolaghat. He also noted an increase in visitors from outside Bengal, particularly Gujarat.
“This year saw a number of visitors from outside Bengal increase, particularly from Gujarat, who travelled to Kolkata to experience Durga Puja. We welcomed several groups at 6 Ballygunge Place, keen to explore authentic Bengali cuisine, while Ramanee attracted diners looking to experience Tanjore cuisine,” Ramani said.
For Didwania, the response across his four outlets was encouraging, particularly at PICO Salt Lake, which celebrated its first Puja. “The fact that its total revenue exceeded Southern Avenue's during the festive period was a particularly encouraging milestone,” he said.
Data from Swiggy’s food marketplace showed Sandesh as Kolkata’s most-ordered traditional Bengali sweet during Durga Puja, followed by Rasgulla, Mishti Doi and Kheer Kadam.
Compared with the corresponding period in 2025, orders for Mishti Doi rose 12.3 per cent, Rasgulla 11.7 per cent and Sandesh 4.6 per cent. Baked Rasgulla was the most popular variant, while Gur Bhora Talsash Sandesh, Gulab Patti Sandesh and Gurer Sankha Sandesh led among Sandesh varieties. The highest-value order during the period was placed on October 18, when a customer spent Rs 21,564 on an order that included 45 portions of chicken biryani.