Early to party, early to bed- Kolkata, have you tried drunching yet?

Are you stuck in a 9-to-5 loop, worrying about a hangover the next morning as you give the Sunday night party a miss? If yes, then you may want to dive headlong into the newest trend in town: Drunching.

Held at the city’s hottest spots between 5pm and 10.30pm, it brings together elements of lunch, drinks and dinner without the damage. So this weekend, hit the dance floor, enjoy your music over cocktails , and still wake up on time for the morning Zoom call. CT tells you how it’s done.What is drunching?Unlike conventional nightclub parties that begin late at night and revolve around music and dancing, a drunch offers a more time-conscious social format designed for those who want a full party experience without extending deep into the night.

It brings together food, drinks and music-driven energy in a setting that prioritises balance, allowing guests to unwind, socialise and enjoy while still keeping their next morning free from fatigue.

The format is being embraced by venues as a way to attract audiences seeking shorter, experience-driven outings.

Creating buzz on a budgetA factor driving drunches is their positioning as an affordable alternative to a night out.

It offers better value while still delivering a complete experience. “A night out often involves higher spending on entry fees, drinks, transport, and dining, while drunches offer greater value due to daytime pricing. For many in their early careers, the format strikes a balance between affordability and experience,” says Shivansh Jaiswal of Overhype.

The rise of influencer culture has fuelled the trend. “A drunch is experience-driven.

While a nightclub focuses on music and dancing, a drunch offers a mix of curated food, handcrafted cocktails, and a relaxed social setting,” says SK Samim, Corporate GM, Roots.

The new party clockKolkata has embraced the concept with enthusiasm, emerging as one of the country’s most receptive markets for daytime social experiences. “Kolkata’s social DNA aligns with the drunch format,” says Pranay Varma of Artistique Experiences.

From luxury hotels to restaurants and nightclubs, all are experimenting with drunches as demand rises among young professionals and millennials seeking alternatives to late-night partying.

“Kolkata has always had a strong culture of social gatherings, but today’s audiences are increasingly looking for experiences that fit into their lifestyles,” added Arko Dev Sinha, marketing manager at Communications & Brand Kitty Su & Kitty Ko India, The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group.

When themes take overDrunches are often focussed on curated experiences. Unlike conventional parties, drunches are built around concepts that shape décor, entertainment, menus, and dress codes such as the one we recently attended at Roots. “Whether inspired by Bollywood, retro, carnival culture, beach vacations, or global food trends, themes help transform a meal and party into an immersive social experience,” said Mehul Bidasaria of Vybe Events.

“For attendees, the appeal lies in participating in an event rather than visiting a venue. Themes also create shareable moments for social media,” added Vedant Kedia from the same event organising brand.Reinventing idle hoursWhile turning the lull between lunch and dinner into profit, drunches are redefining the hospitality business. “During the early evening hours, services remain underutilised, generating limited revenue. Drunches help bridge the gap by converting a dormant time slot into a profitable one,” says Shivansh.

By combining curated packages, and live entertainment, venues unlock additional revenue. “Drunches give us that extra cushion on a Sunday.

Sometimes the footfall exceeds Saturdays,” added Ankit Tibrewal, co-owner, Hashtag.

Creating buzz on a budgetA factor driving drunches is their positioning as an affordable alternative to a night out. It offers better value while still delivering a complete experience.

“A night out often involves higher spending on entry fees, drinks, transport, and dining, while drunches offer greater value due to daytime pricing. For many in their early careers, the format strikes a balance between affordability and experience,” says Shivansh Jaiswal of Overhype.

The rise of influencer culture has fuelled the trend. “A drunch is experience-driven. While a nightclub focuses on music and dancing, a drunch offers a mix of curated food, handcrafted cocktails, and a relaxed social setting,” says SK Samim, Corporate GM, Roots.Drunch parties appeal to me most because they fit into my busy schedule, offering a social escape without disrupting the next day– Saif Ahmed, an attendeeI enjoy drunches for their club-like energy without taking over the evening. It’s about good food, music, and a balanced unwinding session – Richa Shaw, a party goer