India, July 4 -- It was one of those confused Calcutta afternoons, sun and rain playing hide-and-seek. My cab inched forward through the usual traffic, and yet, I felt unusually at ease. Somewhere beyond the honking and haze, I knew something special was waiting.

Eventually, I reached Chowringhee Mansions, a building that has watched Kolkata change but never forgotten who it is. I climbed three echoing staircases and arrived at a quiet penthouse space that felt instantly like home.

This was Kulture - Specialty Coffee & Bistro.

The cafe opens up into light: warm wooden floors, soft hues on the walls, and windows that offer a rare, stunning view of Vidyasagar Setu. That bridge, suspended in the distance like a painting, gives the space its...