Rakesh Nagaraj
Founder, Happy Brew — Koramangala
Brewing happiness daily — the man who turned a Koramangala corner into a nightlife institution.
Rakesh Nagaraj is the founder of Happy Brew — the gastro beer cafe and cocktail bar in Koramangala that has been brewing happiness for Bangalore since it opened. What began as an all-day dining space evolved into one of the neighbourhood's most reliable nightlife destinations — live DJs, karaoke nights, and a floor that fills up every single day of the week.
Happy Brew is not a concept venue with a big marketing budget. It is the kind of place that earns its reputation through consistency — showing up every night, keeping the music right, and making sure people feel like they belong there. Rakesh built that from the ground up.
In Episode 10 of The VIC Fix, Rakesh talks with VIC about what it takes to run a venue that is both a neighbourhood hangout and a serious nightlife space — the daily grind behind the good times, what makes Koramangala's bar culture unique, and the philosophy of building something that people actually love coming back to.
“The best venues don't need to shout. The regulars do the talking for you.”
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