Kozhikode city is fast taking long strides to accept the lifestyle of a metro city. After malls, hypermarkets and multiplexes, the city is now welcoming 24- hour coffee shops with open arms. The Taj Gateway All Day was the first 24 x 7 coffee shop in the city. The latest addition to it is Chocobay, a 24-hour coffee shop inside Paramount Tower, turning out to be a new rage amongst youngsters and families alike. The greatest advantage of Chocobay is that it is right at the heart of the pulsating city, very close to the landmarks of Kozhikode, Crown theatre, SM Street and Mananchira Square and the railway station. Chocobay was opened in 2012, along with the re-opening of Paramount Hotel. Chocobay, like other coffee shops, has some of the most sought-after hot and cold drinks and also offers quick bites for those who are in search of a sleek and cozy place to hang out after a second show, or for those who have midnight cravings. What makes this coffee shop different from the rest is that it offers chicken curry, fish curry and rice throughout the day and night ! Says Sajeev U M, F &B manager, “Families, women and college students hang out here after late night movies. They mostly ask for light snacks and coffee. However, we are always ready for those who have a bigger appetite. For those who are in the habit of skipping lunch, the white rice with fish curry or Malabar chicken curry are always ready here.”Cold coffee, ice tea, mocktails, burgers, sandwiches, sundaes and ice creams are also on the menu. Paramount Tower will also be introducing a 24- hour pool/snooker club at Chocobay by next month. “A 24-hour pool/snooker club will be the first of its kind here. We are yet to decide on the charges to use it,” says Vibin MR, general manager, Paramount Tower. Talking about a Kozhikoden’s attitude towards a 24-hour coffee shop, he says, “The people here are yet to accept hotel culture like we see in a city like Kochi. They are more comfortable with the restaurant culture.” The coffee shop at Taj Gateway can boast of being the coffee shop that introduced the 24x7 service in the city. “The 24x7 coffee shop is the spirit of Gateway. We provide thali meals and normal cuisines at the coffee shop. Anyone can walk in at any time of the day. We even have families and youngsters dropping in for desserts at night. They mostly prefer desserts, something like the chocolate mousse. There are times when people come in even for a biriyani late in the evening. I guess, in a city like Kozhikode, things like these never change,” says Janaki Gopal, sales manager.