Skip to main content

Lohri Celebrations at Gurgaon Pub Exchange - Smaaash - Gurgaon


Lohri away from Punjab is not a Lohri et all for me. So this time around I was delighted at the prospect of spending the Lohri night at Smaaash and the newly opened Gurgaon Pub Exchange.

About Gurgaon Pub Exchange

Trade like a pro is the underline theme of Gurgaon Pub Exchange. Like many other speculation driver bar exchanges in the city, Smaaash has got itself its own version of stock market like pub exchange.

The place is tucked away at the back end of Smaash which is famous for its games. The bar has a comfortable and lounge setting with live music playing throughout the evening. TV screens adorn the walls of the place. These show you the ticker, a live mechanism showing fluctuating prices of drinks and liquor based on demand.


And as it often happens in the stock market, here too market crashed. So at times, when prices go very unstable, the market just crashes and rates are reset.

The Food

The food is quite good and surprisingly I enjoyed the vegetarian fare better than the meat dishes. The Tempura stuffed mushrooms are a recommended try and their Dahi Kebabs are good too. Another dish, their cheese rolls are again very good. In meats, the Tandoori chicken came out well prepared. The chef has worked hard on getting a basic menu done just right. The desserts which I ate included a chocolate brownie with ice cream.

The Games

Now that I was at Smaaash, also tried their arcade games and bowling which makes your leisure time relaxed and refreshed. Their signature game is cricket which I could not play as the waiting time was a whopping 2 hours.

Lohri done right

I had their winter special for dinner, saag makki ki roti with jaggery and lentils. A dhol played in the background with the DJ playing peppy Punjabi numbers. Followed by Gajar ka Halwa and chef special ladoos, the festival was made special by the Smaaash people.

Gurgaon Pub Exchange is a recommended place for group gatherings where food and games can be mixed with good drinks.

Comments

Also read

Spill the Tea: Ira and the quiet exhaustion of being watched

Ira comes for tea and slowly reveals a life shaped by emotional surveillance. Loved, watched, and quietly evaluated by her parents, she lives under constant explanation. Through food and confession, she names the exhaustion of being known too well and finds nourishment not just in eating, but in finally being heard. Ira arrived  five minutes early and apologized for it. The way people do when they are used to taking responsibility for time itself. She said it lightly, as if time itself had offended her. She wore a white A-line shirtdress, clean and careful, the kind that looks chosen for comfort but ends up signaling restraint. When she sat down, she folded herself into the chair unconsciously. One leg rested on the floor, the other tucked underneath her, knees visible. It was not a pose meant to be seen. It slipped out before her body remembered how to protect itself. I noticed the brief softness of it, the quiet vulnerability, before she settled and forgot. I was still pouring t...

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...

Worst Idea Ever-Jane Fallon-Book review

Is your closest friendship built on trust or convenience? Have you ever questioned whether your closest friendship survives on love or habit? This detailed, non partisan review of Worst Idea Ever by Jane Fallon explores jealousy, insecurity, digital deception, and emotional convenience, while honestly critiquing its length, clichés, and uneven characterisation. A sharp look at friendship when kindness turns quietly toxic. Have you ever stayed in a friendship simply because walking away felt harder? You know that uncomfortable feeling when you realise a friendship no longer nourishes you, yet you keep showing up anyway. Not because it brings joy, but because history exists, routines are set, and absence would require uncomfortable explanations. Jane Fallon’s Worst Idea Ever taps directly into that quiet, relatable discomfort. It asks a question many of us avoid asking ourselves. Are we friends because we care, or because we always have been? Published in 2021 by Penguin B...