Inside Olive Bar & Kitchen at Olive Qutub in Mehrauli, New Delhi, there is a four-seater cocktail experience called The Hidden Club (THC), which is part of the Olive Group. Designed for small-group interactions based around drinks and conversation, the facility is positioned as an experimental cocktail room.

At its inception, the lounge served as a research and development (R&D) hub for the brand’s beverage team, where they could try out new cocktails, hone their expertise, and brainstorm menu items. With only four seats available each night, it has been revived as a limited-capacity guest experience.

The concept is characterised by carefully selected non-alcoholic beverages and carefully crafted cocktails made and delivered by in-house bartenders. The beverage program is all about trying new things, and you can expect to see a few of these cocktails on the menus of Olive Group properties in the near future.

“I initially encountered this room with a handful of friends while it was still serving as our research and development space,” says Olive Founder and Managing Director AD Singh. I couldn’t help but remember more than just the cocktails. The ambiance was the key. As the bartenders did what they do best—not only make cocktails, but bring people together—ideas were being tried, tales were being traded, and discussions flowed effortlessly.

Something incredibly impromptu about it was charming. There was an air of intimacy, relaxation, and pure joy. This emotion shouldn’t be reserved for just us, I thought back then. We should make it possible for more people to feel it.

Our method of conveying that essence is through THC. Just like olives, it’s constantly changing. Every night is different, and it’s a place where experiments, talks, and friendships are born.

Bartenders double as hosts for the evening, escorting guests through sampling and facilitating conversation. The idea is based on speakeasy concepts and highlights intimacy, in-house experimentation, and limited seating.

Image: Indian Retailer