Plays, learning new languages, art, and books may provide plenty of food for thought but they rarely fill your tummy. Don’t worry! Bangalore’s best known cultural institutions totally get that. Which is why many of them have opened up cafes and restaurants in their premises. While many of these are old haunts, cafes in places like the Indian Music Experience are set to open soon. Here’s a list of places in the city where culture meets cuisine.
Possibly the most popular offering on this list, Cafe Max is as well known as Goethe Institut itself. Located on the top-most floor, the vibrant cafe serves European delicacies. Menu favourites include the Bavarian Meatloaf, the Spinach Roulade, and their array of sandwiches, crepes, and pancakes. Their weekend breakfast buffet is a huge hit with the crowds.
To say that Alliance Francaise is a hub of activity would be an understatement. Apart from offering courses in the French language, the charming campus also hosts musical festivals, art showcases, plays, movie screenings, cooking classes and whatnot. So we would totally understand if you find your tummy growling amidst all this. Thankfully, you can head to Cafe de la Liberte that served delicious banana cake, chocolate cake, samosas, and sandwiches.
Indian, regional delicacies reign supreme at Anju’s Cafe at Ranga Shankara. You can gobble up fluffy appams, akki rotis, parathas, and pav bhaji here. Their Sabudana Vada is a hot favourite with customers. They also serve simple, no-fuss pastas and sandwiches too. You can finish up with cups of their flavourful tea. Psst… Anju also does a mean Onam Sadhya during the festival, we have heard. So make sure you book yourself a place at her feast.
The cafe at the National Gallery of Modern Art {NGMA} is set in one of the most picturesque locales in the city. That itself warrants a visit. Add to this, the cafe is renowned for its delicious South Indian filter coffee {perfect for the weather Bangalore is seeing these days}. With this, you can chomp down on samosas, sandwiches, and pastas. Plus, juices, cakes, and even biryani. It’s all pocket-friendly so that’s an added bonus as well.
There’s no better place in the city to curl up with a book while enjoying hot beverages and short eats. The cafe at Atta Galatta has, over the years, won over bookworms who swing by for their well-priced sandwiches, omelette served with toast, and samosas. For those of you with a sweet tooth, the baked goodies counters hold plenty of treats.
When you want your cultural experience to come with a slice of gourmet, just head to Jagriti. After you’ve caught on a theatre performance, you can head straight to their cosy restaurant – The Fat Chef. Their Sweet & Chilly Prawns, Mushroom and Smoked Cheese Pizza, and T-Bone Steak prove to be excellent accompaniments to your glass of wine.
