For several years, rooftop restaurants and cafes were a common sight on Kolkata’s skyline, providing a combination of food, fresh air, and great views. For romantic dates, weekend outings with friends, rooftops were the destination for many Kolkatans seeking a break from the congested streets of the city.
That experience, however, has taken a dramatic turn.
At the beginning of May 2025, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) made rooftop restaurants and cafes on building terraces official no-gos. Notices were issued to 82 venues—the majority being very popular joints at Park Street, Salt Lake, and Southern Avenue.
Why Did Kolkata Ban Rooftop Cafés?
The surprise and harsh move is because of grave fire safety issues after a recent horrific incident in a Kolkata hotel, in which scores lost their lives due to asphyxiation and inadequate evacuation routes. Although the accident was not at a rooftop café, it highlighted a city-wide issue: unsafe structural arrangements, most of them on terraces, not in conformity with fire regulations.
Rooftop cafes often operate in spaces that were never originally designed for commercial use. Over time, many of these venues added kitchens, storage areas, decorative structures—even air conditioning units—without proper municipal or fire department approvals.
The result- A ticking time bomb.
What the Rules Actually Say
Terraces on top floors of residential or commercial buildings, as per Kolkata Building Rules, shall always be open and available, mainly for evacuation during emergencies, fire fighting, and normal maintenance.
Many rooftop cafés have, however, done the following:
Blocked the access routes with enclosures or furniture
Installed unauthorized electrical and kitchen appliances
Had no proper fire exits or extinguishers
Now, according to the new enforcement by the KMC, all such commercial activities on rooftops have been illegalized unless they strictly adhere to safety and zoning standards.
Who Is Impacted?
82 rooftop restaurants and cafes were found and served notices. Though the official list remains unrevealed, it is known that some well-known names in Kolkata’s nightlife and café culture are included in it.
Some of them were running for decades and had attained cultural icon status in themselves. The news has shocked many restaurant owners and loyal customers.
Can These Rooftops Ever Open Again?
The short answer: Possibly—but only after complying with all safety standards.
As per KMC officials, rooftop establishments that are:
Approved by the fire department
Structurally sound
Legally zoned for commercial use
Yet, this translates into a full overhaul for the majority of current rooftop establishments, and this is time- and money-consuming.
Voices from the Ground
Numerous owners of cafes complain that they were open to modifying their establishments, but the general ban has not provided them with a chance to react or make things right.
Some consumers, likewise, regard the move, though imperative for safety, as a step that may have been phased in. An effective audit system or a graduated penalty system may have facilitated smoother transition rather than outright shutdowns.
What Can We Expect Next?
The hospitality sector is already calling for talks with the powers that be to arrive at a compromise. There’s also talk of legal petitions opposing the blanket ban, particularly where rooftop cafes had section clearances or in the course of submitting applications.
As of today:
No new rooftop restaurant permits are being given out
Current arrangements have been directed to close and demobilize
Unannounced inspections are being carried out all over neighborhoods
The rooftop café ban in Kolkata is a turning point for the city’s dining and leisure culture. Safety always has to come first, but the move has revealed a more profound problem—city planning that hasn’t kept pace with the needs of the modern lifestyle.
