We went to 403 Forbidden in Indiranagar on a random weekday and accidentally stayed until it felt like a Friday. Which, frankly, is the mark of a good bar. The whole idea is “access denied”, but not in a tech bro way. More like: denied to chaos. Denied to spectacle. Denied to being forced to film your drink before you taste it. It’s low light, high intention, and a room that feels like it’s asking you to calm down (in a hot way).
What We Ordered (and Would Again)
We thought we’d start light but ended up with five drinks. Sparkling water kept appearing between rounds, a polite suggestion we acknowledged and ignored after the first round. We opened with “Life in a Metro”, which felt like the responsible choice: Patrón Silver with beetroot, amla and vinegar. It was savoury, mineral, zero added sugar, and dangerously easy to sip. “Let’s Start” followed, which was bright and confident.
“On and On and On,” layered with masala tea and Earl Grey arrived just as the room started feeling extra flattering. Roller Coaster did what it promised, fully carbonated and sharp in that clean, high-contrast way, and by then I was absolutely flying. We ordered the chicken ghee roast “to stabilise.” It was sublime, rich and deeply spiced, and closed with “Reborn”, fresh and lightly tropical, before finishing with tiramisu.
We Went Behind the Bar
At some point they took us behind the bar, which is when you realise this place is basically a very chic science lab. There’s a Girovap quietly distilling herbs into these insanely concentrated essences. Juices are centrifuged instead of heated so they stay bright. Vinegars ferment for weeks. Everything is timed, temperature-controlled, tested. There’s barely any lime; acidity comes from house-made vinegars and fermentation instead of shortcuts. Even the “skinny” cocktails don’t feel like punishment (no sugar)!
The Room & The Mood
The bar hits you first. Tall, dramatic, quietly showing off. The whole place runs on a slower tempo. No one’s rushing you. No one’s hovering. The music sits in the background and lets you have a conversation. There’s this translucent wall behind the bar that looks abstract until you point your phone at it and suddenly the “error” reveals itself.
For When You Go
Where: 403 Forbidden, Indiranagar, Bengaluru
Cuisine: Cocktails (seriously good ones) + small plates
Best for: Unrushed nights