If you ask someone in Delhi where to go when you want to eat, shop, hang out ,there is a good chance they will say Connaught Place. Better known as CP, this giant circular market in the heart of Delhi has a little bit of everything. White colonial-style buildings, busy streets, cafés, street vendors, shopping lanes, old bakeries and buzzing nightlife all come together here.
And honestly, that is what makes CP fun. You don’t really need a fixed plan. You can arrive with the idea of grabbing coffee and somehow end up shopping, solving an escape-room mystery and having dinner three hours later.
Start With a Walk Around Connaught Place
Before heading anywhere, take some time to simply walk around the Inner Circle. The white colonnades and circular layout give Connaught Place its instantly recognisable look, and every block seems to have something happening.
The area is especially lively in the evening, when people come out to meet friends, shop and grab food. Central Park is also a nice place to take a break from the crowds. If you’re visiting for the first time, don’t worry about trying to understand the circular roads immediately — almost everyone gets slightly confused in CP at first!
Go Café Hopping in Connaught Place
Connaught Place is a paradise for café lovers. Whether you want a quiet cup of coffee, a proper meal or somewhere to sit and talk for hours, there are plenty of options.
For something with old-Delhi charm, stop by Indian Coffee House. It has a wonderfully old-school atmosphere and is popular with students, writers and people who simply enjoy sitting around with a cup of coffee.
If you’re looking for something more modern, cafés and restaurants around the Inner and Outer Circles offer everything from Italian and continental food to modern Indian dishes. And then there is Wenger’s, one of CP’s oldest surviving bakeries, which is worth visiting simply for its old-world character and pastries.
If you’re looking for a place where you can go with your family and friends then there are a lot of cafes for you like The Big Chill Cafe, Barbeque nation, Sandoz etc. all these cafes are great and in the night time you can visit pubs like Local, Tamasha and Social.
A good idea is to skip the pressure of finding one “best café” and turn your visit into a mini café crawl. Coffee at one place, dessert somewhere else — that’s a much better way to experience CP.
Shop Till You Drop
Shopping in Connaught Place can go in completely different directions depending on your budget.
The Inner Circle is packed with popular Indian and international brands, making it easy to spend an afternoon browsing clothes, shoes and accessories. But if you’re looking for something more affordable and interesting, walk towards Janpath Market.
Janpath is the place to look for jewellery, clothes, handicrafts, bags and little souvenirs. The fun is partly in the bargaining, so don’t be afraid to negotiate. You might walk in looking for a simple pair of earrings and leave with three bags of things you never planned to buy.
For something more traditional, Khadi India is another interesting stop, with clothing, textiles and Indian-made products.
Try an Escape Room at Mystery Rooms
Want to do something that isn’t just eating and shopping? Head to Mystery Rooms, Connaught Place.
The concept is simple: you and your friends are locked inside a themed room and have around an hour to find clues, solve puzzles and figure out how to escape. Games are designed for small groups, so it works particularly well for a group of friends or even a fun date.
The best part is watching your most confident friend suddenly realise they have absolutely no idea how to solve the puzzle. It gets competitive very quickly — in the best possible way.
Don’t Skip the Street Food
You don’t have to sit down at a fancy restaurant every time you get hungry in Connaught Place. The streets around Connaught Place and nearby markets have plenty of quick bites to try.
You can grab momos, chaat, rolls or other snacks while walking around. If you have a sweet tooth, Wenger’s is another easy stop for pastries and baked treats. The combination of street food and cafés means you can easily eat your way through an afternoon without having one huge meal.
Catch a Movie or Explore the Nightlife
If you still have time after shopping and eating, catch a movie at one of the cinema spots around Connaught Place or simply stay out for the evening.
Connaught Place becomes a completely different place after sunset. Rooftop restaurants, bars, live music venues and pubs bring in a younger crowd, especially towards the weekend. If nightlife isn’t your thing, an evening walk under the illuminated white arches is still worth doing.
You can also combine your CP visit with nearby attractions such as Agrasen Ki Baoli, which is only a short walk away.
Explore CP on a Yulu
If walking around Connaught Place starts getting a little tiring, why not explore it on two wheels? If Yulu bikes are available nearby, grabbing one can make your CP adventure even more fun.
Instead of spending the whole day walking between markets, cafés and nearby spots, you can hop on a Yulu and cruise around the streets at your own pace. It is especially fun when you’re exploring with friends — one minute you’re looking for a café and the next you’re casually riding around the beautiful white colonnades of CP.
You can check the Yulu app to see whether a bike and a suitable Yulu Zone are available nearby before starting your ride. Just remember that you need to end the ride at the designated Yulu Zone, so it’s worth checking your destination beforehand.