Increasingly, recreation in Bengaluru has been associated with high-end restaurants, pubs and malls. But if you were to explore a little more, you would find tucked away in every neighbourhood, cafes, chai points and small eateries that are easy on the pocket and serve as ideal places to relax and unwind.
Among the more well-known hanging out places is Koshy’s on St. Marks Road.
It is a favourite haunt for intellectuals, writers, art and theatre enthusiasts. You could chat over a glass of tea or a cup of coffee. And if you are a regular, there’s every chance you would encounter a familiar face.
The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Vasanthnagar, with its sprawling gardens and colonial-style buildings, makes for an ideal place to amble your way through it. Within its premises, there is an open air café where you will find people seated at tables, immersed in conversation.
Most people prefer to hang out in and around their neighbourhood. Koel Gupta, a software engineer, says that she and her friends have over time have discovered reasonable places.
“In Koramangala, we like to go to Chai Point and Tattva Café. There’s also a dhaba where we get to eat a full thaali for 70 rupees.”
Avinash Kothari, a college student, says he prefers to spend some quiet time at parks. “The city’s beauty is its parks. There is Cubbon Park and Lalbagh. There are smaller parks too. The park in Koramangala, opposite Bethany High School, is quite a nice place for office and college goers to hang out at. There are affordable eateries near by, and street stalls that sell a variety of snacks, momos, dosas and pizzas. You don’t necessarily have to spend a whole lot to have a good time.”
Writer Nandita Bose says her choices, apart from Koshy’s, are heavily Koramangala biased. “I frequent that end of town. The café at Atta Galatta, Café Terra, Coffee on Canvas and Dyu Art Café come to mind.”
Debjit Chanda, an advertising professional, says even though Indiranagar has mostly expensive restaurants, there are other eateries that should be explored. He vouches for Kitchen of Joy. “It’s a small, yet charming place, where Bengali snacks from samosas and rasagollas to chicken cutlets and puri-sabzi are served.” He adds that The Ants Café in Indiranagar is popular for its ambience and the delicious fare it serves.
Ankit S, a software engineer, says the street food in V.V. Puram, is a must visit. “It’s called thindi-beedi street. It functions only in the evenings. Till about 11 pm. It stretches from one end of the street to another. And it isn’t too expensive, either.”
Arundhati Venkatesh, children’s author of four books, gives a comprehensive list of popular cafes. “There’s Claytopia in Koramangala and Indiranagar. Anju’s café at Ranga Shankara, Café Buzzinga at Whitefield, Chaipatty, Café Max at Max Mueller Bhavan and ArtBlend at HSR Layout.”
Pallavi Singh, a student says, her friends like to frequent Commercial Street and bookstores. “We do go to coffee shops or catch a movie. But our favourite places are Blossoms on Church Street and Commercial street, where you can spend an entire day!” So if you are looking for a place to have a good time, all it takes is a bit of exploring.
