This just in. If you were thinking of making Sunday brunches your thing this summer, DON’T. There’s a WHOLE new summer ritual that’s got your name on it – if you’re willing to be adventurous – and they’re called sundowners.
You’ve probably heard of it in literature, particularly ones written around the British colonial era. A ‘sundowner’ then, meant an alcoholic drink that the British would consume after completing a day’s work – usually at sundown.
Sundowners pay delightful homage to this tradition.
These parties let you soak up the summer sun as you frolic in the pool, shake your leg to good music, relax on sun-beds and sip on that perfect summery alcohol.
While a great many cities like Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata and Kochi have already woken up to this, it is fast catching pace in Delhi and Hyderabad too!
We bring you a few reasons why you should absolutely ditch that Sunday brunch and instead head straight to a Sundowner party!
Because You Have Work the Next Day
If you’ve always abandoned the idea of clubbing on a Sunday and instead settled for a Sunday brunch because you had an early Monday, you can thank your stars for sundowners.
Sundowners ensure you begin drinking early and get back home well in time to not be sleep deprived. So even if you party till you drop, on a Sunday, you can still land up to work on time, looking as fresh as a daisy!
Your Parents Won’t Know!
This one’s for all the youngsters out there who do not want to be caught in flagrante delicto, having guzzled litres of alcohol and turning up home in the wee hours of the morning.
Also, if you believe your parents could well parrot the ‘log kya kahenge’ line (you remember it too well from the last time you came home in an inebriated state), sundowners are your best bet. You can gobble down a quick dinner, sober up and be home well within the Cinderella hour!
Dress Code is Cool and Casual
Strappy, skinny, skimpy, backless – everything works. The dress code is cool, casual, and whatever spells COMFORT! You needn’t worry about breaking your legs or twisting your ankle in knee-high stilettos that secretly make you cry. Just strut around in a pair of flip flops or chappals – there’s no style judgement at a sundowner.
Also? Don’t forget to carry your swimsuit, lest you miss that chance of frolicking in the pool.
Men can go the whole hog too – shorts, capris, crocs, the unkempt beard, the messy hair.
Everything goes!
...For the Love of Fruity Cocktails & Finger Food
If you are a sucker for bite-sized munchies and finger foods – and have had just about enough of greasy takeout dinners – then you need to drag your butt to the nearest sundowner. Now!
Pizzas, salads, sliders, fish and chips, grilled meats – all’s fair game; and the best part is, you can continue munching on these till the very end.
Your drinks too will be light, summery and fruity – think mojitos, margaritas, sangrias and fruit-based mocktails – all of which will help keep you on your feet and dancing till sundown.
Because Being a Water Baby is Your Thing
Summers are here and so are the pool parties. Most places hosting sundowners have a pool so if you are heading to a place that is blessed with a pool, you’re in luck!
Take a dip (if you will) or simply lounge around on the periphery looking bored and pretty. Your call.
If you’re looking for a sundowner near you in Pune and Mumbai, here are some places you can head to:
- Mix 36 at Westin that hosts a sundowner from 5pm to 8 pm every Sunday
- The Lalit, Mumbai that recently hosted All Wet Sundowner party on April 10
- O Hotel, Pune (Koregaon Park)
- Ignite Bar and Grill at Courtyard Marriott, Hinjewadi
(A freelance food and fashion blogger, Pranjali Bhonde Pethe aims at getting people and their favourite food and style closer through her blog moipalate. Email her at pranjali.bhonde@gmail.com and follow her on @moipalate.)