The Imperial Durbar

I’m not sure how I haven’t reviewed this place yet?
I love it in here, they have really gone all out with the décor, they have old British Empire maps on the walls, the menus, food and drinks are all colonial inspired, a lot of thought and care has gone in to the smaller details. They are open in the mornings for tea, coffee, Masala Chai and breakfast foods, they do a great range of pastries and cakes, paninis etc…
If you go in the evening I recommend the Masala Chai Martini, it’s happiness in a martini glass, their wine selection is a little lacking and the drinks are a little on the expensive side, but you are definitely paying for the experience and atmosphere. They also serve food in the evening you have to order at the Cardamon Club a few doors down and it’s cash only.
You can book the areas at the back and you can even buy a bottle of spirit at the bar and they’ll make you drinks with it all night, perfect for a night out with your friends.
Only a couple of things prevent it being 5 stars, it’s very small so it’s gets very cramped very quickly, on Saturday when we went they obviously had a small party in the back area, and diners in the front so it meant lots of people were kind of hovering/​sitting at the bar. The bar staff are friendly and welcoming, although one particularly barman Saturday night was clearly showing off a little for some customers, which meant at one point he accidentally splashed gin up my neck, when making a cocktail. Then a few minutes later he shattered a bottle of tonic when he ‘couldn’t find’ the bottle opener (which was nearby) and tried to open the tonic with a cocktail shaker, considering how busy the bar area was, it seemed a little stupid. No one begrudges anyone having fun at work (really I don’t) but it just seemed stupid to me.
Overall awesome place, definitely need to go back slightly earlier in the night, perhaps order some food and more guarantee of a table to sit at, looking forward to my next visit and more Masala Chai Martini’s.

The Imperial Durbar is the hidden gem of Tooting. I had heard about this place for a while but only went a couple of months ago.
It’s intended to be a breakfast place and café as well as a bar, so serves coffees, teas and cocktails. The drinks menu deserves an award as being the most creative — it is designed as a British-​Indian newspaper from the colonial period, and contains lots of authentic-​looking news clippings and adverts that I imagine appeared in Bombay at the time. I was super impressed by the selection of herbal teas and Indian-​styled cocktails, and it also serves food.
The décor is fantastic, and a lot of thought has gone into the detail. The front of the venue is filled with some plain-​looking tables, but venture towards the back and you’ll discover a treasure trove of Indian-​infused furniture and decorations. There is a seated area on the left hand side that is furnished with a standing floor globe, a lampshade, imperial-​style sofas and plants. There is also an enclosed seating area with a deep-​backed sofa and chaise lounge that really feels like a VIP area — perfect for a night with a group of friends.
The members of staff are really friendly and will want to get to know you, making it feel like a truly local hangout.

I love this place. It is only about one year old but has really bought life into Tooting Bec. As an Aussie I can be really fussy about my coffee but the flat whites here are the perfect mix of strong and smooth. At night, the bar sells fancy cocktails — my favourite is the chai one. You can also order curry from the restaurant down the road to eat in the bar. This place has been decorated in a british Indian theme and it’s like stepping into another world. Drinks and the curry are a bit pricey though.

First popped into the Imperial Durbar for a little lunch back in January when the boyfriend and I were planning our trip to Paris. Having never been, we weren’t sure what to expect, and hadn’t really clicked onto the Indian theme throughout until we received our panini’s in naan bread. Ham and melted cheese with a side of mango chutney, just what the morning ordered.
We sat right in the front, Lee pouring fresh green tea leaves into his tea pot, and I was enjoying a nice latte. It wasn’t until my second visit when I learnt (having popped to the loos at the back) that the place extended much further back that I thought. There’s free wifi and loads of tables, chairs, armchairs and benches; every kind of chair a coffee shop needs.
I visited whilst writing an assessment for a marketing qualification possibly the second time, and indulged in a chocolatey rocky road. Really delicious and lasted me quite some time as the portion was pretty large.
The service is great, I saw some ladies having an issue with something they ordered one time, and the staff apologised profusely and gave them a chocolate brownie to make up for it. Another time I came in hungover, desperate to kick off my shoes and relax, and the waitress suggested exactly what I was thinking. As I had ordered so many drinks during my visit, she even stamped my loyalty card to represent them all!
A great little spot at the Tooting Bec crossroads, perfect for coffee and/​or lunch. I’m yet to have any of the cocktails they offer in the evening, but another reason to return. I’ll keep you updated!

A new fave for a cupper — and I treated myself to a gluten free brownie — very tasty. Service with a little friendly chat and great service! Hope to check out the bar in the evening soon…