In your list of things to do in Fort Kochi, missing out on David Hall is next to criminal. Because this 300+ years old art gallery, when not a venue for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, is an art gallery with a cafe located inside it. The art gallery is steeped in history, having first built around 1695 by the Dutch East India Company as an official residence. It was associated with Hendrik Adriaan van Reed tot Drakenstein, a Dutch Commander known for his work Hortus Malabaricus, a compilation of the flora in the Malabar region. You can find more about Hortus Malabaricus at Bastion Bungalow, a museum located in Fort Kochi.
Currently owned and maintained by CGH Earth, David Hall is split into three main rooms with the central room being the largest. There's a caretaker/gallery in charge who will give you a basic download of the artwork (which is on sale by the way), the gallery's history, and some trivia. Fun fact, the hall is named after one of the last occupants, David Koder, a Jewish businessman. The art on display keeps changing depending on the curation.
The gallery's second portion is taken up by Pandhal Cafe & Deli where you can order coffee, freshly baked pizza, sandwiches, and rice bowls. There is some artwork hanging on the walls here. The cafe is a nice spot to sit around, sip on coffee, meet friends or just get some light work done.
