How excited would you be if I told you that the team behind Delhi’s most beloved standalone cocktail bar, Sidecar, has created a new muse under a 100-year-old Banyan tree in the heart of Kathmandu, Nepal?
Star mixologist Yangdup Lama and his business partner, Minakshi Singh, have launched The Old House, which pays tribute to Kathmandu’s Newari way of life and culture and encapsulates the old-world charm of Kathmandu of the 1980s. The duo has partnered with the creators and founders of The Park, an upmarket retail cum F&B space. “The idea behind the bar was to bring to the diners a piece of Kathmandu through the ambience and the cocktails,” said Lama in an exclusive conversation with Outlook Traveller Eats.
The Old House is his first International venture after three successful ones in Delhi NCR— Cocktails and Dreams Speakeasy, Sidecar, and The Brook. “I received offers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Dubai, but something about Nepal resonated with me. I am from Darjeeling, and the culture and language of Nepal are very similar to mine,” said Lama.
Cocktails At Old House: A Tribute To Kathmandu
Along with bringing the most iconic drinks like the zing thing, cilantro, foghorn, and duk ley from their menus at Sidecar, Cocktails and Dreams Speakeasy, and The Brook, the menu at The Old House also pays tribute to Kathmandu and its rich produce.
“I wanted to name the drinks in a way that they are catchy, but they also mean something to the locals and their identity,” said Lama. There is a cocktail called Dhaka topi, which is the name of the Nepali topi and another with the name Sindhuligari, which is not only the name of a place but also a popular Nepali folk song from the 1970s. “One of my favourites and a no-brainer is Why? Why?, which is inspired by the wai wai noodles that are quite prevalent in Nepal,” said Lama. It is a clear drink, quite against the masala-heavy noodles.
Another drink called Mustang Valley includes local produce from Mustang, such as sea buckthorn and apples. Sea buckthorns are small, sour berries, and the Mustang Valley is a cocktail that uses them. Makalu Maya (Makalu is the name of a mountain in Nepal, and Maya means love) is another cocktail that uses cardamom because it is richly available at the mountain peak.
As someone who believes that using local ingredients is feasible for a bar and also makes the availability of its drinks and food more consistent, Lama has incorporated Kathmandu’s rich produce in almost all his cocktails.
From using roasted jimbu (a Nepalese herb) for adding tadka to a cocktail to using Himalayan juniper berries with a touch of timbur (Nepali Sichuan pepper) in the gin-based mountain martini, the cocktails bring the fields and farms of Nepal in a glass.
Food At The Old House
This commitment to celebrate Nepal’s culinary heritage is reflected in the food menu as well. Conceptualised by Dhenup Lama, the food at The Old House showcases staples from the Newari kitchen but with a twist.
Rest assured that the authenticity and heart of Kathmandu’s cuisine will be retained in the dishes. “Our offerings are heavily inspired by the Sekuwa culture— a traditional technique of barbecuing a multitude of meats,” said Lama. The bar also features the Nepal Coffee Company’s impressive selection of teas and coffees.
Ambience: A Reflection Of Newari Architecture
Housed under a 100-year-old Banyan tree, The Old House is designed to transport you to Kathmandu of the 1980s. The interior is fully decked with woodwork, tapestry, and terracotta floor work. The charm of Newari architecture is further reinstated through features like closely-spaced joists (dhalin) supporting a subfloor of terracotta tiles and wooden planks adorned with a layer of fine yellow clay.
“Kathmandu is a significant place for Hinduism. It is believed that all the 33 lakh Hindu gods and goddesses once resided here,” said Lama. As a spiritual element, the back bar has five wood-carved Bhairava masks. “In a Bhairava temple, alcohol is a part of the offerings made to the deity, and we wanted to incorporate that in the ambience,” added Lama.
The space also features details that can be found in traditional houses across Kathmandu—most importantly, rakhi jhyals (peeping windows), which are commonplace in the city’s houses.
Infused with thoughtful and authentic elements that invoke the region’s history and culture, The Old House is not just another feather in the cap for the already acclaimed duo, Lama and Singh, but rather a fitting testament to the commitment to innovation, with a nod to the region’s heritage.
