The Theatre Opens At ZLB23 In Bengaluru, Blurring The Line Between Mixology And Cinema

There had been murmurs for a while in the bar community that something new was taking shape at ZLB23, the much-talked-about Kyoto-style speakeasy tucked inside The Leela Palace Bengaluru. Like many others, I was curious but didn’t have enough information to join the dots. What felt certain, though, was that this would go far beyond a menu refresh or a design tweak.

After all, ZLB23 has consistently raised the bar for cocktail culture in India, earning global recognition with a ranking of #31 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025, #7 on India’s 30 Best Bars, and the title of Best Bar in India 2024.

My instinct proved right. When I stepped into The Theatre for a preview, I hadn’t expected an experience that moved effortlessly between mixology and cinema. Here, craft, performance, and storytelling merged in a way I’d never seen before.

Settling Into A Different Kind Of Space

The Theatre exists within ZLB23 and yet feels distinctly removed from it. The glamour of a Prohibition-era bar remains intact, but this is a more intimate cocoon. It’s being welcomed into a refined living room, a 10-seater space where the curtains lift and the evening unfolds like a performance.

The bar sits directly in front of you, close enough to make the interaction between guest and bartender feel almost personal. This isn’t the casual back-and-forth one associates with most counters. The bartender takes on the role of a performer and narrator, moving fluidly between technique and explanation.

As cocktails are made, a screen behind the bar comes alive with visuals that trace the origin of ingredients, the processes behind them, and occasionally inject a light touch of humour.

What strikes you early on is that there's no menu placed in front of you. Instead, the experience reveals itself gradually, guided entirely by the bartender.

When Mixology Becomes Performance

As the evening progresses, the precision of The Theatre’s design becomes increasingly apparent. Every movement behind the bar is thought through, from the lighting to sound cues, and even moments of silence. It isn't spectacle for spectacle’s sake, but it is undeniably theatrical in its execution.

Much of what plays out in front of you is rooted in work that begins long before a guest ever takes a seat. “For a bartender, a lot of the work happens behind the scenes. There's usually a prep room. I remember asking for one when I joined ZLB23. Little did I know it would evolve into something bigger,” says Rajib Mukherjee, Head Mixologist, Bar Manager & Beverage Operations Specialist at ZLB23 and The Theatre.

The bar itself resembles a laboratory. Mukherjee works with distillation units, freeze dryers capable of preserving seasonal ingredients without altering their flavour, and rows of fermentation jars developing complexity over time. 

Enzymes, cultures, and in-house ferments shape many of the drinks, but none of this is presented as a gimmick. Instead, it surfaces naturally through conversation and demonstration, helping you understand not just what you’re drinking, but why it tastes the way it does.

A Space Built For Curiosity

What truly distinguishes The Theatre is its intent. This is not a bar designed for speed, volume, or casual consumption. It operates strictly on pre-booking, with a maximum of 10 guests per experience, and the pacing reflects that exclusivity.

The tasting menu, Secrets of Taste, Mukherjee tells me, mirrors the natural arc of a multi-course meal. He describes it as a process of “flavour mapping” the palate, beginning with bitterness and ending with sweetness. 

The first act takes the form of an aperitivo-style cocktail, drawing from 19th-century Milan and the origins of the Milano-Torino. Built with Japanese whisky, strawberry, makrut lime, and vermouth, it awakens the palate. 

The second act leans into acidity. A Daisy-style cocktail, it offers brightness with citrus, agave, and a touch of mezcal smoke. 

By the third act, the palate is ready for depth. Inspired by the evolution of the Red Snapper in 1920s Paris and New York, this savoury course layers tomato water, gin, celery, spice, and a measured touch of salinity. 

Sweetness arrives only at the end. Mary Pickford, the final sorbet-style cocktail, draws from Prohibition-era Havana and the elegance of classic Hollywood. Balancing rum, fruit, and acidity, it allows the experience to taper off naturally rather than end on a dramatic note.

Food remains a supporting presence throughout the evening. Popcorn—salted, butter, cheese, and caramel—circulates freely, in tune with the cinematic mood, while a handful of small plates from ZLB23’s kitchen make their way into The Theatre.

Leaving With A Shift In Perspective

By the time the evening draws to a close, what stays with you isn’t just the memory of individual cocktails, but a subtle shift in how you perceive the role of a bartender. 

The Theatre is unapologetically niche, designed for a small audience willing to slow down and engage deeply, but within that framework, it offers something rare in India’s bar landscape.

The Theatre has three two-hour shows a day (7 PM,  ⁠9 PM, and ⁠11 PM) from Monday to Saturday. One has to pay 30K for two hours, 7 pax (can accommodate up to 10 people). Reach out to +91 96320 60433 to make reservations.