Best Craft Beer Bars in Varanasi for Serious Beer Drinkers
Words by
Akshita Sharma
Best Craft Beer Bars in Varanasi for Serious Beer Drinkers
Varanasi is not the first city that comes to mind when you think of India's craft beer scene, but something has shifted in the last few years. The ghats still smell of incense and marigold, the temples still ring with evening aarti, and yet a handful of places now pour genuinely good beer. If you are a serious beer drinker passing through this ancient city, the best craft beer bars in Varanasi are worth seeking out, and I have spent enough evenings hunting them down to tell you exactly where to go.
I should be honest upfront. Varanasi is not Berlin or Portland. The local breweries Varanasi has produced so far are limited, and several of the places below serve craft beer from other Indian microbreweries rather than brewing on-site. That said, the taps are real, the selections are curated with care, and the atmosphere in these spots feels like a genuine departure from the usual Kingfisher-and-thali circuit. Let me walk you through every place I have personally sat, ordered a pint, and formed an opinion about.
1. The Beer Cafe — Bhelupur
The Beer Cafe on Bhelupur Road was one of the first places in Varanasi to take craft beer seriously, and I remember walking in the first time almost expecting a gimmick. It is not. The interior is dim, wood-paneled, and deliberately pub-like, with exposed brick walls and a long bar that stretches almost the entire length of the room. They rotate taps regularly, and on my last visit they had a Belgian Wit, an IPA from an Indian microbrewery, and a stout that was surprisingly full-bodied for a city better known for lassi.
What makes this place worth your time is the depth of the menu. They stock craft options from multiple Indian microbreweries, not just their own house brand. I ordered the IPA and it arrived in a proper tulip glass, which tells you something about how they think about the experience. The food menu leans toward bar snacks, think loaded nachos and chicken wings, but the beer is the real draw.
The best time to go is between 5 and 7 PM on a weekday. By 9 PM on weekends the place fills up with college crowds from BHU, and the noise level makes conversation difficult. If you want to actually taste what you are drinking, go early.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask the bartender what just came in on tap that week. They get small-batch deliveries from microbreweries in Goa and Bangalore that never make it onto the printed menu. Last time I was there, a pale ale from an outfit in Pune was pouring, and it was the best beer I had in Varanasi that entire trip."
One thing most tourists would not know is that the Bhelupur location sits just a few minutes' walk from the Tulsi Manas Temple, the temple where the Ramcharitmanas was first composed. You can do a quiet temple visit in the late afternoon and then walk over for a pint. The contrast between the two experiences is something only Varanasi can offer.
2. AUM — Assi Ghat Area
AUM sits near the southern end of the ghats, close to Assi, and it occupies a rooftop space that gives you a partial view of the river. I will be straightforward. The beer selection here is not as deep as what you will find at dedicated craft beer spots, but they do carry a rotating selection of Indian craft brews alongside the usual commercial options, and the setting elevates the experience considerably.
I went on a Tuesday evening in October, and the rooftop was nearly empty. The Ganga was visible in the fading light, and the sound of the evening aarti drifted up from the ghat below. I had a wheat beer from a Bangalore microbrewery that was crisp and clean, and I sat there for over an hour just watching the river. That is not something you can do at most bars in this city.
The food is basic, think pasta, momos, and a few North Indian dishes. Do not come here for the food. Come here for the combination of craft beer and one of the few rooftop vantage points near the ghats where you can actually sit with a drink in hand and take in the river.
Local Insider Tip: "Sit at the far-left corner table on the rooftop. It is the only spot where you can see both the river and the Assi Ghat steps at the same time. The staff will not point it out to you because it is technically reserved for larger groups, but if you are a pair and you ask nicely on a slow night, they will let you have it."
The connection to Varanasi's character here is obvious but worth stating. Assi Ghat is where the city's spiritual and social worlds overlap most visibly. Pilgrims bathe at dawn, students from BHU study on the steps in the afternoon, and by evening the ghat becomes a stage for one of the most beautiful rituals in Hinduism. Having a craft beer while watching all of that unfold is a strange and wonderful juxtaposition.
3. Brown Town Microbrewery — Sigra
Brown Town Microbrewery in Sigra is one of the few places in Varanasi that actually brews its own beer on-site, which immediately puts it in a different category from the bars that simply stock craft options. I visited on a Saturday afternoon and the place was busy but not overwhelming. The brewing equipment is visible behind glass at the back of the main hall, and if you ask, the staff will walk you through what is currently fermenting.
Their house blonde ale is the standout. It is light, slightly fruity, and extremely drinkable in Varanasi's heat. I also tried their wheat beer, which was decent but less memorable. The stout was a bit thin for my taste, but I have had worse from microbreweries in much larger cities. The point is that they are brewing here, in Varanasi, and the beer is fresh in a way that imported craft options simply cannot match.
The food menu is extensive, heavy on North Indian and Chinese fusion, and the portions are generous. I had paneer tikka that was well-spiced and not overcooked, which is more than I can say for a lot of bar food in this town.
Local Insider Tip: "Go on a Sunday afternoon between 2 and 4 PM. They do a 'brewer's special' on Sundays where they release a small experimental batch that is only available for a few hours. It is not advertised anywhere. You have to ask the manager directly, and even then they will only tell you what it is if they like you. Be polite, be curious, and do not order a Corona."
Sigra is a commercial neighborhood, full of shops and traffic and the general chaos of a North Indian city center. Brown Town feels like an intentional escape from that chaos, a place where the city's growing middle class comes to do something slightly different on a weekend afternoon. It is not a tourist spot, and that is part of its appeal.
4. Deena Chaat Bhandar Area Bars — Old City (Lanka and Adjacent Streets)
I am going to be honest about something. The old city of Varanasi, the maze of lanes around Godowlia and Lanka, is not where you will find craft beer. The lanes are too narrow, the establishments too old-school, and the drinking culture there revolves around country liquor and cheap whisky. But there are a couple of newer bars on the fringes of the old city, particularly along the Lanka-Assi corridor, that have started carrying craft beer taps alongside their regular offerings.
One such place, a small bar I visited near the Lanka crossing, had two craft taps running when I was there, one IPA and one lager, both from a microbrewery in Maharashtra. The setting was nothing special, plastic chairs, a ceiling fan, a TV playing cricket. But the beer was cold, it was real craft, and the bartender clearly knew what he was pouring. He told me they had started carrying craft options only a few months earlier because a regular customer who travels to Mumbai for work kept asking for it.
I would not make a special trip to this part of town just for craft beer. But if you are already exploring the old city, and you find yourself near Lanka in the early evening, it is worth asking around. The craft beer taps Varanasi has in its less obvious neighborhoods are often the most surprising.
Local Insider Tip: "If you are in the Lanka area and want a beer, do not go looking for a specific bar name. Ask a rickshaw puller or a shopkeeper where the 'new bar with different beer' is. The places that carry craft in the old city do not always have proper signage, and the locals know them by description rather than name. You will end up somewhere interesting."
The old city of Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban spaces in the world. Every lane has a story, every corner has a temple, and the sensory overload is constant. Finding a craft beer in the middle of all that feels almost absurd, and that absurdity is part of what makes it memorable.
5. Hotel Surya — Cantonment Area
Hotel Surya in the Cantonment area is a large, well-established hotel that has quietly built one of the better craft beer selections in Varanasi. I visited their bar on a Thursday evening and was surprised to find four craft taps running, including a pilsner from a Dharwad microbrewery and an amber ale that I had never tried before.
The bar itself is upscale without being stuffy. Dark wood, leather chairs, soft lighting. It feels like the kind of place where business travelers unwind after a day of meetings, and indeed, most of the other patrons looked like they had come from somewhere with a briefcase. But the bartender was knowledgeable and happy to talk about the beers, which made the experience feel less corporate.
I ordered the amber ale and it was excellent, malty with a slight caramel finish and a clean aftertaste. The pilsner was also good, though more conventional. They had a wheat beer on tap that I did not try, and a seasonal option that the bartender described as a "spiced ale" that sounded interesting but a bit risky.
Local Insider Tip: "The bar at Hotel Surya gets a fresh craft delivery every Wednesday. If you go on a Wednesday evening, you will have the widest selection to choose from. By Saturday, the more popular options are often tapped out. I learned this the hard way after showing up on a Saturday and finding only two of the four taps still running."
The Cantonment area is the colonial heart of Varanasi, laid out by the British in the 18th century with wide roads and bungalows that feel like they belong to a different era. Hotel Surya fits into that landscape perfectly, and the craft beer program there feels like a small but meaningful sign that even Varanasi's most traditional institutions are evolving.
6. Tadka — Ravindrapuri and Other Locations
Tadka is a small chain with a couple of locations in Varanasi, and while it is primarily known as a restaurant, the Ravindropuri branch has started carrying a small but thoughtful selection of craft beers. I visited on a Friday night and the place was packed, mostly with young professionals and couples.
They had three craft options when I was there, a lager, an IPA, and a wheat beer, all from Indian microbreweries. The IPA was the best of the three, hoppy without being aggressively bitter, and it paired well with the tandoori platters that Tadka does competently. The wheat beer was a bit flat, which may have been a storage issue rather than a brewing issue, but it was still drinkable.
The atmosphere is casual and loud, more restaurant than bar, so if you are looking for a quiet place to sip and think, this is not it. But if you want craft beer with a proper meal in a social setting, Tadka delivers.
Local Insider Tip: "Order the craft beer as part of their combo meal. They do not advertise it, but if you ask your server, they will bundle a craft beer with a main course and a side for a price that is significantly less than ordering each separately. This has been their practice for at least a year, but almost no one knows about it."
Ravindropuri is a residential and commercial neighborhood that most tourists never visit. It is where Varanasi's middle class lives and eats and socializes, away from the ghats and the temples. Drinking craft beer here feels like a small act of participation in the everyday life of the city, which is something I always value when I travel.
7. The Ganga View Bars — Dashashwamedh Ghat Stretch
The stretch of restaurants and bars near Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most tourist-heavy drinking corridor in Varanasi, and I will admit I was skeptical. Most of the places here serve overpriced, watered-down commercial beer to visitors who are more interested in the view than the pour. But a couple of the rooftop establishments have started adding craft options, and the combination of a decent beer and the view of the ghats at sunset is hard to beat.
I visited one such rooftop bar on a Wednesday evening, about an hour before the Ganga Aarti began. They had two craft beers on tap, a pale ale and a lager, both from a microbrewery in Karnataka. The pale ale was good, not great, but the setting more than compensated. I watched the ghat fill with people, the priests prepare their lamps, the boats line up on the river, all while drinking a beer that was genuinely brewed with care.
The food at these rooftop places is uniformly mediocre and overpriced. Stick to the beer and maybe a plate of peanuts. You are here for the view and the atmosphere, not the cuisine.
Local Insider Tip: "Do not sit at the front railing. Everyone wants the front railing, and the staff will pressure you to order more if you sit there. Instead, sit one row back, slightly to the right. You still get a perfect view of the aarti, but you are far enough from the crowd that you can actually hear yourself think. And the staff will leave you alone after the first round."
Dashashwamedh Ghat is the spiritual and touristic heart of Varanasi. The Ganga Aarti performed here every evening is one of the most iconic rituals in India, and the energy of the crowd, the sound of the bells, the smell of camphor and flowers, is overwhelming in the best possible way. Having a craft beer while witnessing all of that is an experience that sits somewhere between reverence and irreverence, and Varanasi is a city that has always held both.
8. Bara Bazaar and Godowlia Lane — The Unlikely Spots
I want to end with a section that is less about specific venues and more about a neighborhood. Bara Bazaar and the lanes around Godowlia are the commercial core of old Varanasi, and they are the last place you would expect to find craft beer. But over the past year or so, a handful of small establishments in this area have started stocking craft bottles, and if you know where to look, you can find a surprisingly good pint.
I found one such place, a tiny bar tucked into a side lane off Godowlia, that had a cooler full of craft bottles from three different Indian microbreweries. The owner told me he started stocking them after a friend who runs a bar in Delhi suggested it. "People here are curious," he said. "They see the different bottles and they want to try." I had a brown ale that was rich and slightly smoky, and I drank it sitting on a plastic stool while the chaos of Godowlia swirled around me.
This is not a polished experience. The seating is uncomfortable, the lighting is harsh, and the noise from the street is constant. But it is real, and it is happening in a part of Varanasi that most visitors experience only as a transit corridor between the ghats and the train station.
Local Insider Tip: "The best time to find craft beer in the Bara Bazaar area is between 4 and 6 PM. After 6, the country liquor crowd takes over, and the craft bottles get pushed to the back of the cooler. Go early, ask the owner directly what he has, and be prepared to drink it quickly. These are not places where you linger."
Godowlia is the beating heart of old Varanasi, a place where the city's commercial, spiritual, and social lives collide in a constant swirl of noise and color. Finding craft beer here is like finding a jazz record in a spice market, unexpected, slightly out of place, and all the more interesting for it.
When to Go and What to Know
Varanasi's craft beer scene is still young, and it operates on its own schedule. Most bars and restaurants that carry craft beer are open from noon to 11 PM, but the best time to visit is between 5 and 8 PM, when the heat has broken and the evening energy is building. Weekdays are generally quieter than weekends, and you will have more time to talk to bartenders and explore the selection.
Prices for craft beer in Varanasi range from 350 to 600 rupees per pint, which is significantly more than commercial beer but in line with what you would pay at craft bars in Delhi or Mumbai. Some places offer happy hour discounts between 5 and 7 PM, so ask.
One important thing to know is that Varanasi has strict alcohol licensing laws, and some areas, particularly near temples and the ghats, have restrictions on where alcohol can be served. Always check whether a place is licensed before you order, and do not carry open containers in public spaces near religious sites.
The local breweries Varanasi has right now are small and experimental, and the quality can vary from batch to batch. Do not expect the consistency of a established craft brewery in Europe or North America. What you will find instead is a scene that is growing, curious, and genuinely enthusiastic about what it is doing. That enthusiasm is worth supporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water in Varanasi safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
Tap water in Varanasi is not safe for direct consumption. The municipal supply contains high levels of bacteria and occasional heavy metal contamination, particularly in the old city areas. Travelers should stick to sealed bottled water from recognized brands or use a portable water filter. Most reputable restaurants and bars, including the craft beer spots listed here, use filtered or RO-purified water for drinking and ice, but it is always worth confirming with staff.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Varanasi is famous for?
Varanasi is famous for its thandai, a cold milk-based drink infused with almonds, fennel seeds, saffron, and sometimes cannabis (bhang), particularly during the Holi festival. For food, the city's kachori sabzi, served at roadside stalls across the old city, is essential. Pairing a craft beer with Varanasi's street food is an unconventional but rewarding experience, especially the chaat varieties found near Godowlia and Assi Ghat.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Varanasi?
Varanasi is one of the easiest cities in India for vegetarian dining. A large portion of the population follows a strict vegetarian diet due to religious and cultural practices, and the majority of restaurants, including bars and pubs, are entirely vegetarian or have extensive vegetarian sections. Vegan options are less explicitly labeled but are widely available, particularly dishes like dal baati, chana masala, and various sabzis cooked in oil rather than ghee if you specify your preference.
Is Varanasi expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier daily budget for Varanasi ranges from 2,500 to 4,500 rupees per person. This covers a decent hotel room (1,200 to 2,000 rupees), meals at mid-range restaurants (500 to 1,000 rupees), local transport by auto-rickshaw (200 to 400 rupees), and a craft beer or two (350 to 600 rupees per pint). Budget travelers can manage on 1,200 to 1,800 rupees per day by staying at guesthouses and eating street food, while luxury travelers should budget 6,000 rupees or more for premium hotels and dining.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Varanasi?
Varanasi is a deeply religious city, and modest dress is expected, especially near temples and ghats. Shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting religious sites, and shoes must be removed before entering any temple. At bars and restaurants in tourist areas, casual Western clothing is generally acceptable, but overly revealing attire may draw unwanted attention. When drinking near the ghats, be discreet, public intoxication is frowned upon and can attract police attention. Always ask before photographing people, particularly priests and pilgrims engaged in rituals.
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