Good things take time. 117 days, to be exact.
That’s how long it takes a team to iron out the creases, polish the systems, find their rhythm and announce to the world that they are ready to shift the landscape of a city.
A few weeks back I had the absolute pleasure of witnessing it all come to life thanks to Conversation Room, and a small, perfectly mismatched gang of industry veterans who know how to travel well: Pankaj Balachandran, Anirudh Singhal, Karina Aggarwal, Kimberly Pereira and Akshit Sharma. Fearlessly led into the night by the impeccable hospitality of Abhimanyu Maheshwari.
If there was ever a group to experience something new with, this was it! Some of the industry’s finest minds (and yours truly), came together for a night that was all about what makes hospitality magical: warmth, thoughtfulness, and just the right amount of mischief.
First Stop: A Lunch That Felt Like a Film Set
We began with a long, lazy lunch in a home that felt like it belonged on screen. Hosted by the effervescent Surajit Bomti Iyengar, who opens his home to share with domestic and International tourists alike. Art crowding every wall, sunlight pouring in like it was personally invited. And on the table? A feast that reads like a love letter to Bengal. Four courses of delight, each one becoming the new favourite. Flavours of mustard, coconut, river fish, melt in your mouth lamb and mango curd that you managed to find room for seconds, despite the previous indulgence.
It was generous. It was layered. It was, if I’m being honest, one of the best introductions to a regional cuisine I’ve ever had.
Drinks, Dancing & a Dash of Peat
Then came the venue reveal. The much-awaited Conversation Room opened its arms and poured us a drink. Or three.
From there, the energy built, and of course the conversations flowed. A tour of the venue revealed that Conversation Room has pulled off what so many larger places fail to do: thoughtful spaces layered with personality. A number of nooks and corners, each with an artistic talking point at the ready. An invite to bring back what can often be lost in today’s busy landscape. A nudge to look up from your phone and chat with others.
My personal favourite, "First a fancy drink, then I'm moving to Old Monk"
The bar itself was uniquely two levelled, offering guests the opportunity to choose their preferred counter height for personal confort. Behind the bar was SpeedX’s Breakie station, the brainchild of Anirudh and Pankaj, this bar station is designed for minimal movement and maximum efficiency. With the night in full swing, it allowed the team to easily navigate the orders coming in, keep the guest engagement flowing and the drinks pouring.
The cocktail menu, curated by the Countertop and Conversation Room Teams, was cleverly designed. A wonderful collection of serves to suit a wide range of palates, without pushing too far in a region that is still newly blossoming in their cocktail culture.
Favourite drink of the evening? A delightful pairing: a playful house-bottled orange soft drink spiked with a smoky shot of Laphroaig. Bright and refreshing, yet flavoursome and complex.
The Nightcap: Dinner on a Car Hood
We ended the evening huddled around the hood of a car, newspaper table cloth included, plates balanced, stories flying. This was a new experience for me. Having spent much of my Indian experience in Mumbai where Uber is the norm, eating off the bonnet of a car was a new one for me, but what a fun experience.
It’s funny how a single night can hold so much. Flavour, movement, ambition, celebration, and it’s even funnier how that kind of magic usually takes a whole lot of time to build.
117 days, to be exact.
Thank you, Conversation Room. You’ve got something very special brewing in Calcutta. And thank you to the crew - my co-conspirators in a night that I hope is just the beginning.
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