F Bar and Lounge, The Ashok - On a Saturday Night…

Posted on April 9th, 2008 by Malvika

Finally after having gotten into a phase of quasi-depression stemming from the fact that the highlight of an average Saturday night is to catch the re-run of some movie or some award show on TV, a friend of mine called and asked if I was interested in saving her from the hell-hole she was getting sucked into. Her work timings are very erratic and weeks go by and I don’t get to see or hear from her. The sad part is that during college we were together all the time. It would be rare to not see us together; of course we were in the same class and were part of the same social circle so we were sort of a disjointed Siamese twin! So finally on Friday night she asked if I was interested in meeting up and going out for a few drinks or dinner. I complied because I wanted to meet her, I had no plans for Saturday night and I too wanted to go out for a few drinks. So we planned to meet up around 9 or play by ear, whichever seemed easier! That is how we ended up at F-Bar…

On most of our night plans, our back up has always been Café Morrison in South Ex. So keeping that option open we met around 9:30 pm at her boyfriend’s house. We had a little dinner and left from his place for F-Bar. Due to misinformation, I wasn’t sure where F-Bar was though someone mentioned there was one in Ashoka Hotel and one in Gurgaon. With no mood to go to Gurgaon, we went to Ashoka, if nothing else, Capitol was still at Ashoka and there were a few places in Samrat Hotel which we could end up going to (yes, we always have back-ups for back-ups)! There was one F-Bar that opened in Lado Sarai and then it closed and was replaced by something etc. etc. etc and now it has opened up again in The Ashoka Hotel.

We found our way to the F-Bar early. By early I mean we reached around 11:40 and the crowd was not too much (we did feel a little foolish, but I am glad we reached early!). The entry fee or cover-charges were Rs. 2000 for a couple and Rs. 500 for single women. I did not think of asking what the chares were for single men! It is a little strange how the costs vary for men, women and couples! But more on that another time! So we went in and were instantly hit by this psychedelic ambience. There were neon lights everywhere which looked nice with the dark surrounding. I don’t mean to imply that it felt like something out of the 70’s, it was very chic and very tastefully decorated. We made our way to the bar and luckily since there weren’t so many people there at the moment we could easily place an order for the drinks and stand around without being elbowed! The bar tenders knew their alcohol and they were well stocked. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to sample any food, but at least the potency of the drinks was perfect!

The music wasn’t all that great. I understand that they cannot play Bollywood music but at least play music that can be danced to and without the aid of 5-7 drinks! It was very techno and trance music and all remixed-ish so even if it was ‘all-that’ it wasn’t much fun! I had half a mind to go up to the DJ and ask him to play something a little more dance-worthy, but as I said I had only half a mind! The thing I realized about Delhi is that:-

1)      A party never starts before 11:30 pm, and we have no respect for a person who arrives early for a late-night party!

2)      There is an unaccountable number of ‘wannabe-fashioneistas-gone-wrong’ in this city

3)      Women will always want to dress younger than their age and will always want to size other (known and unknown alike) women down!

4)      There aren’t many good-looking men in this city

5)      Too many middle-aged men seem to arrive with a 20-something woman.

6)      Secretly everyone wants to dance to Bollywood music but will have trouble admitting it. I think it’s a genetic defect all of us are born with!

7)      Men often pose as a billboard for brands more than women!

Finally around 1:15 am we were all really tired and ready to drop dead, so we decided to make our way out of there. We went to the bar to get my friend’s credit card and it took us some 7 odd minutes to get to the bar. The number of people waiting for a drink and standing at the bar was an incredible sight. Myriad shouts and blaring music made my ears want to burst! In retrospect I am glad we reached there just a little after 11:30 because that was when the place started picking up. On our way in there were about 25-30 people trying to get in (including us) and on the way out there were a little over 80 people waiting to get in!

Filed under: Delhi, Eating Out

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22 Responses to “F Bar and Lounge, The Ashok - On a Saturday Night…”

  1. Amrit, on April 9th, 2008 at 7:31 pm Said:

    Your realisations are funny but true.I was in Delhi a few months back and enjoyed my stay.But the nightclub (cant remember the name) did play some bollywood tracks .BTW,you would never catch a DJ playing a bollywood track in between english songs in a B’lore nightclub.

  2. malvika, on April 9th, 2008 at 11:24 pm Said:

    like i said, we secretly enjoy bollywood music but are not ready to accept it openly ! in a warped manner its like coming of out of the closet! besides we stigmatize bollywood music to being something that is not enjoyed by the educated masses (or something like that).

  3. T., on April 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pm Said:

    Ooh, how i miss the delhi night scene..replete with bhangra and bollywood music, overdressed women, blinding bling and pawing men. sigh!

  4. Nits, on May 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 pm Said:

    there is no doubt that all d points u said r so true bout delhi crowd..
    was in capitol last week..
    cudnt believe aunties climbin onto the podium for billo rani…hehehe
    can get damn claustrophbic man

  5. malvika, on May 4th, 2008 at 1:43 am Said:

    capitol can indeed be claustrophobia inducing! the ceiling is low and the whole place seems much smaller with the dim lights and dark interiors…but i cannot imagine aunties there or the fact that they play bollywood music! most of the times that i have gone there they have played some jazzy mixed up crap which ruined the original!!

  6. Bipin Bhalla, on May 31st, 2008 at 6:59 pm Said:

    Nice place in delhi for saturday night

  7. mansi, on June 17th, 2008 at 6:10 pm Said:

    I must visit this place after hearing it from you . Before 11.30 part sounded good but after that which you told is bad. Truly, the crowd start coming late nights only . So, if i have to catch up for a saturday night this will be my next target.

  8. Purva, on June 17th, 2008 at 7:46 pm Said:

    Hi
    I also recently went to the F Bar.i quite agree..the DJ just does not know his music..u jus cant dance to it..also, the party begins only at 1:00 AM.

  9. Malvika, on June 18th, 2008 at 7:48 pm Said:

    F-bar is a good place no doubt but if the music changed to more in sync with pop-culture they fear that they might have to compromise with their “exclusivity”, the one in Ashoka hotel has a very strong ‘posh’ vibe coming from, i don’t know about the one in gurgaon tho!

  10. Verena, on June 21st, 2008 at 11:22 pm Said:

    hahaha i love this…. hilarious…
    n in d end… delhi rox

  11. AJAY, on September 1st, 2008 at 2:15 am Said:

    I DO AGREE WITH YOU MOSTLY,, BUT AS FAR AS THE MUSIC IS CONCERNED.. I FEEL THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO F BAR THEN THE TECHNO/TRANCE MUSIC FITS PERFECTLY WITH THE AMBIANCE… AND YES WE CAN DANCE TO IT- THE WORLD DOES!! IF U R IN A BOLLYWOOD MOOD THEN GO TO CAPITOL-SIMPLE!

  12. Kabir bansal, on October 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pm Said:

    I really feel very strange when the delhi gals inspite of the fact do not have nice curves try to show their tits while dancing on the dance floor and tried to react like they are most wannabe-fashioneistas gal in the D- town, rest the venue and drinks are acceptable to accept

  13. RICHA, on October 26th, 2008 at 11:11 am Said:

    I DONT KNOW WHY THE DJ!!PLAYS TRANCE HERE….

  14. swaran, on October 27th, 2008 at 6:40 am Said:

    hi kabir,
    Seems like you didnt get your part of the booty.
    Never been to the delhi one but now surely will drop in to have a glimpse.

  15. ROHIT, on October 29th, 2008 at 10:54 pm Said:

    YOUNG OR OLD EVERYONE NEEDS A PLACE TO LOOSE INHIBITIONS THAT IS WHY THEY COME TO NIGHT CLUB.WHY SEGREGATE WHY NOT SUPPORT ALL YOUNG AND OLD TO ENJOY WHY NOT ENJOY TOGETHER LOOSE INHIBITIONS AND HAVE FUN .THAT IS HOW THE OLD PEOPLE CAN COMPENSATE FOR WHAT THEY COULD NOT ENJOY IN THEIR YOUNG DAYS THEY HAVE A CHANCE NOW

  16. kabir rana, on February 19th, 2009 at 2:43 pm Said:

    its a very gud club…….compare 2 any one……….evry person buzz d night……

  17. vineet, on April 17th, 2009 at 10:48 am Said:

    well if any one has been to FBar recently —- there are some really great bolly wood remixes and my fav ones are from Delhi 6 —- very very dancable to ;) F is the only real international class club in New Delhi and stands apart —- cheers and keep going!!!!

  18. Dancing Queen, on May 25th, 2009 at 9:59 am Said:

    Hi…have recently been to F-Bar, the music was good, the DJ did play some nice bollywood remixes, but only when the dance floor started to lack energy dancing to the trance uptil 1 am !! The crowd is obviously typical delhi… gregarious youngsters, fashion wannabes, pot bellied aunties, uncles with 20 somethings, some couples who were jus there to grope in the dark and gayish lookin men just staring at the dancing crowd in anticipation…thats the kinda crowd that you get naywhere on a saturday night….sampled a few snacks with drinks there, it was good apart from the quantity served…and yes the party begins quite late, its a given..we moved out at around 2:30 and that time the entry gate was bustling with the young crowd still waiting to get in more people thronging the alleys …its amazing to see the undying spirit of Delhi’s party hoppers on Saturday night , the fever just keeps on rising as Sunday morning comes closer….

  19. Smita.....Delhi, on June 30th, 2009 at 1:23 am Said:

    I visit Fbar as wel as to Capitol every sat…almost…these 2 r the only happening clubs in delhi…i jus hv 1 suggestion to all, every body should reach these clubs wen they r lil typsy…hv 3-4 drinks n then go…u vl surely njoy it.Be it capitol or F-BAR..Atleast u all can do head banging on Trance in Fbar…I m sure..try this…CHEERS

  20. aakash, on December 27th, 2009 at 4:02 pm Said:

    hey ppl… do temme.. how mch i need to hv in ma pocket fr a fairly gud xp in fbar… jaldi btao

  21. puneet, on February 20th, 2010 at 7:17 pm Said:

    i like the club but thr is no way toserve drinks the way to get the drinks is no good u have to push peoples to get a drink only this is the thng i dont kike in this club othrwise its a very nice club so try to improve this thng

  22. ashish, on April 19th, 2010 at 1:03 am Said:

    f bar delhi is old and cheap and low class entry this is worst bar dont have modern interior and lighting this is only bar in delhi people dont have any other way to go if you want to know meaning of bar then come at enigma mumbai the expensive place in india fuck off
    f bar delhi

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