STORY Club and Lounge at The Westin Gurgaon

By: Lavina Kharkwal

Who doesn’t like to hear a good story! Especially when the story teller weaves a little magic, creates a special kind of energy while narrating , grabs the attention of the listeners and leaves the interpretation of the story solely on the audience . Such a story is being unfolded at the newly launched Story Club and Lounge at The Westin Gurgaon.

Another nightclub? What is so novel about that you will ask? Delhi is a city which is notorious for the short life span of nightclubs and lounge bars, a city guided by fads and trends where a place becomes history the moment another new place opens up. There are only a handful of places in this segment which have survived the test of time and most of them are within the confines of five star hotels. The advantage here is that while the security checks are all in place, you can let your hair down  and enjoy way past the witching hour without the fear of cops crashing the party. Most standalone bars and clubs are required by law to close at midnight or maximum by 1am.

Story Club and Lounge too is within the premise of a five star hotel at The Westin  Gurgaon, yet has an identity of its own including a detached and dedicated entrance. Though Delhi NCR now has a thriving pub culture it still woefully lacks decent nightlife venues where the older lot can relax and unwind. This is where this kidney shaped cooper toned lounge bar Story Club with its sophisticated and chic decor fits in. A far cry from the garish  and flamboyant interiors of many nightclubs which are often quite an eyesore. It is spread over two levels. Level one has an elegant indoor seating while level two incorporates an open air roof top space. It has a Cigar Lounge, the first of its kind in Gurgaon. What I found most interesting was the “Ice Machine” installed at the club which dispenses beautifully designed glasses made of pure ice. How does one drink from that? You will have to check it out yourself.

The other integral part of Story club is a sprawling bar serving some unique blends and concoctions called Wake up Zombie, Caribbean Frappe (Chocolate with Rum) and a winter drink called Spiced Molasses along with a huge range of whiskeys, vodka, rum, beers and wines . At the Halloween party, the invitation for which came in the form of a jigsaw puzzle, I got to taste some interesting cocktails like Morgue-a-Rita, Bleeding Heart Martini, Dracula Kiss and Jager Bastard. My favourite was a sparkling wine based cocktail named “Story Bubbly”. There are some great food options which include Asian, Indian, Tapas, Antipasti and Desserts.

I loved the understated elegance of the place. It has good music with a resident DJ and themed nights. All the right ingredients needed for making  the place an eminent new hot spot, a place to be seen. This is indeed a story which is unfolding very slowly with each chapter throwing a wonderful surprise.

Story Club and Lounge

Level 1 above Prego, The Westin Gurgaon

Timing: 6.00 pm till 2.00 am every night.

Contact : 91 124 497 7860

Photographs Courtesy The Westin