You are walking through Darjeeling's busy Mall Road. Even amid the crowd, the sweet aroma of freshly baked cakes can grab your attention and make you stop for a moment. Or while walking, you might stop in front of the bright red letters spelling 'HOPE'. By now, you must have understood what is being discussed— Darjeeling's iconic Glenary's.
Recently, Glenary's has been in the headlines. The doors of this tourists' favourite Glenary's bar have been announced to stay closed, just before Christmas. On Tuesday, the excise department issued a notice to keep the bar closed for three months. As soon as the news spread, quite a commotion erupted on social media.
Darjeeling's Glenary's is more than 100 years old. Even today, its bakery continues to maintain the aristocracy of the British era equally. However, initially its name was 'Vado'. Later, its name became 'Pliva'. The ownership of this bakery has also changed many times.
After India gained independence, Glenary's ownership changed again. The ownership of Glenary's was handed over to the Edwards family, residents of Darjeeling.
It is known that this family still has a record of the first day's sales. The sales figure was ₹396. Currently, the Edwards family runs this bakery. The current owner's name is Ajoy Edwards.
Glenary's was built keeping Victorian or British architecture in mind. Everything from its decoration to every small detail still reminds one of the British era.
Glenary's building is two-storied. The ground floor has the bakery and cafe, while the second floor has 'The Buzz Bar'. From the building's design to the classy-warm atmosphere inside the cafe, the delicious food— everything makes it clear why it is still so popular.
Times have changed, and many things in Darjeeling have transformed. But one thing has not changed— that is Glenary's aristocracy and food quality. There was a time when English officers used to sit here and praise Glenary's food over tea.
Glenary's is mainly very popular among tourists for breakfast. Along with famous Darjeeling tea, various types of baked items, including sandwiches, burgers, rolls, pies, pizzas, pastries and cakes are available here. And sitting at the bar on the upper floor of Glenary's, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city.
