List of Pice Hotels of Kolkata

This post was initially just a list of some of the popular pice hotels of the city, collected over facebook or internet search. Later I have understood that there are several ones, many without a name or signboard across the city and suburbs catering hundreds of people with better Bengali lunches! 

The list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive. 

The Pice Hotels are a part of culture in Kolkata, which is pretty old. During the British era, many people worked at Kolkata, the-then capital of British ruled India and they were coming from far away places. They were staying at the messes across the city and to serve them food at a minimal cost the pice hotels started off. The name 'Pice' originated from what or how - it's still controversial. Many says as 1 paisa converted into Pice. Many says Pice means you have to pay for every piece of food i.e. from the glass to the plate. 

Whatever it is, the pice hotels are now loosing the fame or footfall quite fast these days. May be because of the fact Biriyani became our national food! But as you stay away from home, you will find the difference between bhaat-daal and biriyani. Former one is necessity and later one is luxury, taken from the famous dialogue of Baishe Sraban. For me today any bhaater hotel is the pice hotel - where the food is made for each day, food is made in a healthy way (forget about hygiene though in many places) for daily intake. There is no leftover to pass on to next day. 

সোজা বাংলায় পাইস হোটেল হল বাঙ্গালী ভাতের হোটেল৷ পয়সা ফেললে এখানে চর্ব্যচোষ্য বাঙ্গালী খাবার, সাথে ভাত পাবেন। বাঙ্গালীর সেরা খাবার মাছ-ভাতের বিশাল ভ্যারাইটি এখানে উপলব্ধ। মাছ আর মাছ - হরেক রকম মাছ, লাগাও হাত। মাংসও পাবেন, চিকেন আর মাটনের ঘরোয়া ঝোল - একবার খেলে হাত চাটতেই থাকবেন এমন টেস্ট! সব থেকে বড় কথা, এসব জায়গায় খেয়ে পেট খারাপ চট করে হয় না। দিনের খাবার দিনেই শেষ। তবে সো-কলড হাইজিন অনেক জায়গাতেই পাবেন না। তবে হ্যাঁ বাড়িতে মা'য়ের রান্নাকে টেক্কা দেওয়া মুশকিল। 

The endless list of Kolkata's pice hotels:

✦ Tarun Niketan, Rashbihari

✦ Hotel Siddheswari Ashram, Janbazar/New Market

I visited once, found the food is quite homely but quite bland. May be good for daily eating, but for me it's not exactly no-visit, but I am quite reluctant to visit here. 

✦ Mohol, College Street

✦ Adarsh Hindu Hotel, Gariahat market 

✦ Jagannath Bhojonalaya, S.N Banerjee Road

✦ Arun Cabin, Camac Street

✦ Jagatmata Hotel near Kailash Bose St. and Madan Mitra Lane crossing

✦ Swadhin Bharat Hindu Hotel, College St. 

✦ Young Bengal Hotel in Kidderpore near Fancy Market

✦ Kalapata, opp Lake Mall near Prema Vilaas

✦ Roy Hotel, Dhakuria bus stand

✦ Ayesh, 42C, Surya Sen St, College Square

✦ Hatkhola Grand Hotel, Sovabazar (beside Dhiren Cabin)

✦ Parvati in Jadu Bazar  - CLOSED 

✦ Bangalaxmi Bowbazar - CLOSED

My additions: (and there are endless ones)

✦ Rooftop hotel at Manicktala bazar

Another great unnamed bhaater hotel, located at top of Manichtala Bazar. I would say fresh fish items are their USP. 

✦ All Fish Restaurant at Sector 5 

 

 

We visited here to try the gugli (Periwinkles), but found out that it's a more like a pice hotel with better seating arrangement - a pice hotel for tech hub Salt Lake. Located in Sector V, Salt Lake All Fish serves a long list of fishes. 

✦ Taara Ma Eating House, Shyambazar (oppo. to Standard Chartered Bank)

I had lunch here multiple times during my college days. I loved their fried bata/ chara pona fish (quite good a size) along with the rice platter. 

✦ Bhupen Cabin, near Netajinagar Bus stand

It's not that famous to all, but many tollywood strugglers are daily goers here for lunch or dinner.