The residents of this tranquil neighbourhood guard its laid-back residential vibe jealously – and no wonder. There’s an incredible community spirit, and pop-up melas and exhibitions happen regularly, in one of the two parks in the neighbourhood. Wander through Cooke Town, though, and you just might miss some of its gems, many of which only locals know about. With a few small forays into the closeby Richards Town, here’s our guide to getting the best out of this little piece of old Bangalore.
Eat, Shop and Be a Culture Vulture in Cooke Town
Food & Drinks
Cooke Town is not known for its food … but that might be about to change, with pop-up dining, bakeries and ‘secret’ food groups leading the way.
Patisserie Nitash
Another well-kept secret is Patisserie Nitash – where you can bag some of the most delicious cakes in town. Everything is made-to-order {just give a day’s notice} – and local delivery is often available. If you opt to collect in person, you can literally smell the goodness from the end of the street! Read more of us raving about the cakes here, or find out about the WhatsApp group for weekly bread here.
Sunny Side Up
This is one of the only ‘eat-in’ food options you’d actually stumble on by chance if you were to walk around the area. Recently opened, these guys are breakfast specialists, and the great news is you can enjoy it all day. We’ve written about what not to miss when you drop by here.
Café D’Costa
A small bakery with a very local feel, which punches above its weight. Swing by for caramel tarts, coconut cake, wholemeal sliced bread, chicken rolls and vegetable samosas. There’s no space to eat in, but it’s perfect for a fast bite to take away – and super reasonable, too.
Happy Belly Bakes
Cupcakes and brownies to die for, as well as good old fashioned tea cakes are the order of the day here. Boxes of chocolate truffles also make for a pretty take-away gift. This place scores extra points for quirky wall art and pretty, outdoor seating. More on the signature cakes here.
Shopping
Locally run, one-of-a-kind shops selling everything from crafts to children’s books are dotted between houses on quiet Cooke Town lanes. Pop-up bazaars happen regularly at the Milton Street park or High Street park, and are fantastic community events.
Windchimes
In a similar vein, Windchimes is another rustic gift store, which we like for the garden/balcony accessories – from colourful metal pots and terracotta planters, to comfy cotton hammocks. Now in its 16th year, you can also find Kalamkari photo frames, candles, kurtas, greetings cards and (of course!) wind chimes here.
Lightroom
If you’ve read our earlier review here, you’ll know that we’re massive fans of this children’s bookstore, which, kids aside, attracts designers, illustrators, writers and other creative types. Since our earlier piece, they’ve started stocking a stunning range of two-colour books by K. G. Subramanyan, published by Seagull Books.
Things To Do
Apart from pop-up exhibitions in High Street park, alternative spaces put Cooke Town on Bengaluru’s cultural map.
Paulogy Gallery
Cartoonist Paul Fernandes has a special knack of capturing old Bangalore – with all its charm and idiosyncrasies. Having grown up in this neighbourhood, his work is full of ‘insider’ details. Buy his gorgeous coffee table book Bangalore: Swinging in the 70s to delve into the city’s colourful past, or select framed prints and memorabilia from the gallery come shop.
The Practice Room
Another institution which puts Cooke Town on the city map is this Iyengar yoga studio. Read our take on their distinctive classes here.