It’s all about the gram, am I right? The country’s burgeoning dining culture has given rise to some of the most beautiful cafes in India that are going beyond the cookie-cutter approach to really spotlight design and decor. From minimalistic interiors to bold colour choices, these design-first cafes around India provide the perfect aesthetic for your social media feeds.
Araku Coffee, Bengaluru
Last year, the specialty coffee company Araku launched its first café in India, a 6,000 square foot, two-story building with indoor-outdoor seating. The cafe has bamboo chandeliers and brass accents, which give it a pleasant feel. It also has plenty of natural light. The coffee is excellent and goes well with dishes that highlight local ingredients with international flavours. It is prepared at the chic island barista bar.
Address: Plot 968, HAL Second Stage, 12th Main Road, Indiranagar. Tel: 7993989888
Fika, Chennai
Despite its name, which is Swedish for “coffee time,” Fika isn’t your typical Scandinavian-style cafe; it occupies 10,000 square feet in the busy Adyar neighbourhood. The area is separated into various sections, including an amphitheatre shaded by trees, a glass-encased orangery lighted by fairy lights, a bakery fashioned after a dollhouse, a number of individual cabanas, and a backyard with trees. Anywhere you sit, there is an abundance of light and greenery because of the community space’s exposed brick walls and bright pink stairway.
Address: 13, Second Main Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar. Tel: 9962200662
The Daily Cafe, Kolkata
As soon as you walk inside The Daily Cafe, a hand-painted flamingo mural with a tropical motif draws your attention. The area is decorated with millennial pink and green without being too flashy. The cafe’s clean, minimalist decor is light and airy, and the arched roof adds an intriguing architectural detail. The cafe also features an outside area that is bordered by vertical gardens.
Address: 5, Satyen Dutta Road, Desapriya Park, Kalighat. Tel: 8017099950
Chica, New Delhi
Choose from a pastel-colored interior space or a lovely outdoor French garden scene; Chica is definitely instagrammable in both settings. The floral furniture, vine-draped gazebos, and bubbling fountains are just a few examples of how the garden theme runs through the entire space. Experience innovative beverages and Mediterranean-Asian food in this fantasy environment.
Address: One Golden Mile, Chanakyapuri. Tel: 9990019981
Elgin Cafe, Amritsar
Elgin Cafe, which effortlessly transitions from a cafe-bistro during the day to a speakeasy-esque bar at night, is drenched in striking shades of emerald, from the fluted walls to tabletops to tableware. What could have been an overbearing colour choice is cleverly offset by natural cane furnishings, salmon-colored textiles, and dull gold accents scattered throughout.
Address: Ajnala Road, Near Ivy Hospital, Amritsar Cantonment. Tel: 7087934000
Cafe Rasa, Goa
Rasa is a café, co-working place, gallery and retail all rolled into one that is housed in a historic structure in Panjim’s Fontainhas. With its gentle pastel decor and abundance of natural light, the cafe captures the vibrant feel of the Latin Quarter without feeling crowded or overbearing. It’s the ideal location to start the day with a substantial breakfast or unwind in the evening while taking in a breathtaking sunset.
Address: 2nd Floor, Predio Abilio Coelho Pereira, D B Bandodkar Road, Panaji. Tel: 070580524