Tucked away in the messy streets of New Delhi, this neighbourhood bar caught our eye. The Soda Shopp Bar is a secret speakeasy on the first floor of an up-and-coming area. With absolutely whack cats and dogs in picture frames, miniature soda bottles with adult drinks (hush, don’t tell our parents) and small bites that beat bar standards, the Soda Shopp Bar is perfect for your weekday hangouts and Saturday nights. Or drinking in the day time, we don’t judge. Here’s everything we tried and what we think of the space.
Honest reviews of the drinks everything we tried
Now, onto what we drank. The servers first handed us complementary shots. This miniature soda bottle shot was a striking mix of vodka and orange. You get one per adult and it’s just a starter for everything out there.
Now, we went a little overboard and ordered four drinks between two people – but my, were they good. We started off with The First Crush. A smooth gin-based drink, it had a hint of sweet elderflower, a little lime, and topped off with a healthy amount mixed berry foam. It was sweet, it was satisfying in the heat and it was just enough to get you slightly tipsy.
Next came the staff-recommended tequila beauty. The Rule Breaker. Think butter, cranberry, jalapeno, popcorn and tequila. For those who like their alcohol a little spicy and a little unique, this one’s for you. The caramel popcorn on top of the drink was a chef’s kiss. It wasn’t exactly our cup of tea but a beauty to look at and an interesting taste for sure.
The iconic Kala Khatta soda (or rather, vodka) came after. In nostalgic bottles of Bunta and Coke, this took us back to when kirana stores sold gotti soda and not Lemon Arora. Yes, the editors are still salty about that one. With 60ml of vodka in the drink, the kala khatta was refreshing. A little heavy on the stomach but worth every nostalgic sip we had.
The last drink of the night was The Sweet Ending. It was smooth and tasty, a rum-filled tiramisu come to life. A little rum and a ladyfinger on top made it the perfect drink to exist. But I am a tiramisu lover, so maybe I’m biased this time. The biscuit-like tiramisu ladyfinger that comes with it is topped with thick cream and a little coffee. Trust me, take a sip and then a bite. It has life-changing powers.
What the Soda Shopp Bar looks like and mini bites we had
The entry to Soda Shopp is through these glass-stained doors. You pass by the iconic Soda Shopp signature red lights and up a flight of stairs. The space on top is filled with humanised cat and dog paintings, murals on unpainted ceilings and a live stream DJ playing back-to-back amazing sets on an unfinished wall. It’s chaotic, intimate and makes you feel safe, all at the same time.
Our favourite part about the space was the perfect lighting – it was not too dark, not too bright. Everyone was doing their own thing and you could choose how you wanted to move about the space. The European-style wall carvings and the comfortable chairs could make you linger for much longer than you expect.
As for food, you do need the food. We had the staff-recommended vegetarian option for starters – the Soda Special Dumplings with cream cheese and truffle oil. They were tangy and chewy with a little spice, exactly how we like ours. Pair it with the chilli oil, it adds so much more flavour.
The Rainbow Roll Sushi was next. We ordered 4 pieces, but you can always go with 8 as well. Stuffed with avocado, cream cheese and asparagus, the sushi was a lovely contrast to regular finger foods at bars. A little wasabi and soy sauce dunk later, we did a happy dance.
Last came the Crunchy Rolls with Cheese Melt. Honestly, these were quite okay. They tasted like spring rolls but cheesier, and came with cheese sauce and sweet chilli sauce. To make it better? Take both dips with each bite. It really brings out the flavours.
Key information
- Location: Soda Shopp, First Floor, G-10, Hauz Khas Market, Kharera, Hauz Khas, New Delhi
- Price (for two): INR 1200
For a space that opened in March 2026, the Soda Shopp Bar is fun, energetic and – at the cost of sounding old – hip. It’s the perfect hang out spot and has a really good playlist to back it up. A must-try for the kala khatta sodas, for sure!
