Hanging Out
Cafes, bars, cool locations to wander about in

Wandering about is not really the name of the game in Dhaka.  Think Calcutta-style crowds, high levels of pollution, and seriously visible poverty, which can be shocking to the visitor.

In the ChI upmarket residential/embassy area of Gulshan, however, morning walks and joggers are a common site, around the greener areas of the locality.

Cafes (in the western sense of the concept) are few, and mainly located in the big hotels.

Eating out is however a great hanging out pastime, and there are a multitude of surprisingly (sorry!) good restaurants serving international cuisine.

In the residential area of Gulshan, much-frequented by foreigner Insiders and ChI locals, both the Bella Italia (best pizzas in Dhaka) and Saltz (also in Gulshan Avenue), which has great seafood, are good hangouts.

For the best Bangla food (especially the lunchtime buffet) try celebrity Chef Tommy Miah’s restaurant, Heritage.

Or try out Kasturi, in Purana Paltan, which offers good Bengali food.

The Middle Eastern/Turkish restaurant Topkapi also offers nice mezze and Turkish specialities.

All very colonial, perhaps, but there are also lots of clubs where expatriates Insiders hang out…..ChI’s can usually get in, but bring your passport.

American Club
Road 69, House 13 Gulshan-2
Phone: 882.1025-27
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.americanclubdhaka.com
Open every day from 7 am -11 pm
Thursday: Closed from 2 pm (unless signed in by a member)
BBQ Fridays: Noon - 2.30 pm
Pizza Night: Saturday 5 - 9.30 pm
Open Sports: Ladies Social Tennis

Australian Club
Road 83, House 21 Gulshan-2
Phone: 881.3105 x466 or x438
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Open to non-members Thursdays from 5.30 pm onwards

British High Commission Club
Dutabash Road, Bari Dhara
Phone: 989.6605
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Open all day Sunday-Friday, but on Saturdays, open to BHC Club members only
Happy Hour: Thurs.3-7 pm
Open Sports: Ladies Social Tennis
Monday 9.30 - 11.30 am

BAGHA Club
House 17 Road 44 Gulshan 2
Phone: 881.4644
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Open all day Saturday – Thursday; Fridays during the day it is open to BHC members only. Other club members can enter after 6pm.
Happy Hour: Wed-Fri 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Open Sports: Ladies Social Tennis

Canadian Club
6 Madani Avenue Baridhara
Phone: 988.1208
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Open Saturday - Wednesday, 7am-midnight; Thursday and Friday, 7am-1 am
Bridge Night:Monday 7.30- 9.45pm
Open Sports: Ladies Social Tennis Wednesday 9 - 11 am

Dutch Club
Road 74, House 33 Gulshan-2
Phone: 882.3877
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.dutchclubdhaka.org
Open Sunday - Wednesday, 11.30am-3pm; closed Monday and Thursday, 6 pm onwards
Open Sports: Ladies Social Tennis Monday 9.15 - 11.30 am
Open Volleyball Friday 5 pm onward

German Club
Road 104, Hs. 24 Gulshan-2
Phone: 882.1101
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Open Monday & Tuesday, 6pm onwards

Goethe Institut
Road 9 (new), House 10 Dhanmondi
Phone: 912.6525-6
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.goethe.de/dhaka.org
Open Sunday - Thursday, 7am - 5.30pm

International Club
Road 74, House 5, Gulshan-2
Phone: 988.1712, 989.6309
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.icdhaka.org
Open Saturday - Thursday, 12-3 pm

Nordic Club
Road 55, House 18, Gulshan-2
Phone: 882.3021
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.nordicclubdhaka.com
Open Saturday - Wednesday, 7am-12 am
Thursday & Friday, 7 am-1 am
BBQ Tuesday: 5.30 - 10 pm
Open Sports: Ladies Social Tennis Thursday 8 - 10 am
Aerobics (100 Taka fee per session) Monday 7 - 8 pm; Wednesday 6 - 7 pm