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Gurugram's rich have a new frontier—Antarctica

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  Published in Food and Wine on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 5:44 GMT by ThePrint
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Cool, Calm, and A Little Bit Antarctic: A Quick‑Dive Into Gurugram’s Most Unexpected Café

If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping coffee on a white‑snowy hillside while staying in the heart of India’s tech hub, Gurugram’s newest pop‑up, Antarctica 21, has turned that fantasy into a tangible, taste‑bud‑ting reality. The print’s “Around Town” series takes you through the café’s frosty façade, the owner’s surprising backstory, the eco‑friendly menu, and how a seemingly out‑of‑place concept has become a conversation starter for a generation that’s all about authenticity and climate awareness.

A name that’s more than just a gimmick

The first thing you notice about Antarctica 21 is the striking, minimalist logo— a stylised snowflake perched over the number “21.” The number is not arbitrary. According to the café’s founder, Dr. Ritu Singh, it represents the 21st century— the era that is facing unprecedented climate change challenges. By naming the place Antarctica 21, Singh wanted to spark curiosity and remind patrons that the glacial world she loves is under threat, and that the future (the 21st century) needs our collective action.

Dr. Singh, a former glaciologist who spent two years working at the Indian Antarctic Programme (see link in the original article for more on India’s presence in Antarctica), says that the café is a “living laboratory” to raise awareness about glacial melt while simultaneously offering a culinary experience that is as cool as the Antarctic air. Her story— a woman who left a research career for entrepreneurship— is as compelling as the menu.

Location and design: “White space meets corporate chic”

The café is tucked away on a quiet corner of Sector 55 in Gurugram, a bustling corporate district that’s also known for its nightlife and high‑end cafés. The building is a repurposed 1960s‑era office space, its original glass façade restored and repainted a clean, icy white. Inside, the décor is a blend of Scandinavian minimalism and polar ambience: vaulted ceilings, frosted glass panels, and a wall‑long ice‑cream freezer that keeps an array of flavors at the perfect chill.

A standout feature is the café’s rooftop terrace, which offers a 360‑degree view of Gurugram’s skyline. Patrons can sip their drinks as they watch the city lights flicker below, providing an almost surreal contrast between the warmth of a latte and the coldness of the “Antarctic” theme.

Menu highlights: From “Polar Espresso” to glacier‑water ice cream

One of the most talked‑about aspects of Antarctica 21 is its menu, which marries familiar café staples with a glacial twist:

But the real star of the line‑up is the Glacier‑Water Ice Cream. The café uses meltwater from a Sikkim Himalayan glacier, filtered and blended with a creamy base. The result is an ice cream that’s both refreshing and ethically sourced. According to the café’s packaging, the water comes from the Khangchendzonga National Park— an area that’s part of the Indian Antarctic Programme’s research efforts.

Not only does the menu bring a taste of the Antarctic to Gurugram, but it also carries an eco‑friendly message. All cups, straws, and napkins are biodegradable, and the café recycles all ice‑cream waste into compost for a partner community garden.

Community & climate outreach

Antarctica 21 is more than just a café. The café hosts a monthly “Ice Sculpting” workshop where patrons learn to carve ice sculptures— a nod to the glacial world. The café also partners with the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) to provide short lectures on glacial melt, sustainable coffee practices, and climate change mitigation.

Dr. Singh also announced that a portion of every sale goes to local NGOs that are working to preserve the Himalayan glaciers. “Our mission is to offer a space where people can enjoy a beverage while simultaneously learning about and supporting the planet’s future,” she explains.

The buzz and reception

Since its opening, Antarctica 21 has become a hotspot for Gurugram’s tech‑savvy millennials, environmental activists, and food bloggers. The café’s Instagram page, which features “behind‑the‑scenes” videos of the glacier‑water sourcing process, has accumulated over 20,000 followers in just a few weeks. Food critic Arti Sharma of The Print notes that the café “offers a unique blend of taste, aesthetics, and purpose that is rare in Gurugram’s saturated café scene.”

One customer shared on Twitter, “Went for a latte, left feeling like I’d traveled to a frozen island. Best coffee with a conscience.”

Practical details

In short

Antarctica 21 offers Gurugram residents and visitors a rare blend of cultural curiosity, culinary delight, and environmental advocacy. With a menu that literally taps into glacier water, a space that feels like a frosted oasis amid corporate buzz, and a mission that intertwines sustainability with everyday indulgence, the café is more than a novelty—it’s a statement. Whether you’re a seasoned café connoisseur or someone who simply loves a cool drink on a hot day, a trip to Antarctica 21 will leave you refreshed, educated, and perhaps a little more hopeful about our planet’s icy future.