A short lane off BBD Bagh, officially James Hickey Sarani, lined with small kitchens feeding the office district. Chow, stew, chops, fish fry, tea and rice, cooked on the pavement and eaten standing or on a bench.
It is the office lunch of central Kolkata and it has been for decades.
Inside the market
The sections, the shops and what each one sells| Name | Where | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Chitto Babur Dokan1920s | Dacres Lane | The best-known stall on the lane; stew, chops and toast. |
| The chow and stew stalls | Dacres Lane | Kolkata-style chow mein and mutton stew, cooked in the open. |
| Fish fry and cutlet counters | Dacres Lane | Fry food for the office crowd. |
| Tea stalls | Dacres Lane | Bhanr tea through the day. |
| BBD Bagh | adjoining | The old banking and administrative district the lane serves. |
| Writers’ Building1777 | BBD Bagh | The old seat of government at the end of the lane. |
Worth knowing before you go
- Lunchtime on a weekday is when it works; it is dead at weekends.
- Cash, small notes, and expect to stand.
- Chitto Babur Dokan is the name most people know.
- It is a two-minute walk from BBD Bagh and the metro.
The other markets
Read the city another way
A note on this page. Restaurants, shops and markets open, move and close far more often than industries do. Everything here is a snapshot of Kolkata as of 2026, offered as a starting point rather than a live listing. Check the address and the hours before you travel.
Restaurant, shop and company names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Inclusion is for independent discovery only, not endorsement, ranking or affiliation.
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