Aum Cafe is located near Assi Ghat and is considered to be one of the healthiest options in the city. It serves pure vegetarian food that comprise of soups, starters, Lassi, organic Herbal Tea and a number of breakfast items. It opens at 7a that makes it ideal to have breakfast after your morning walk. The menu includes Idly, oatmeal, fresh fruits, eggless omelets and so on. It also serves herbal pasta, Veggie Burger and Mozzarella Cheese Pizza and sandwiches. The cafe believes that each one of their customer should eat healthy while eating out, thus taking care of their health first.
Lassi, a yogurt drink topped with fruits and spices, is hugely popular in the Northern side of India, and Varanasi has the atmospheric Blue Lassi Shop to boast an exclusive shop. Painted in blazing blue, the small outlet is on the narrow alley leading to the mighty Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The small seating area has a nice display of photographs. Served in earthen pots, the drink is a must-try while in India; look no further than this blue laden charmer to try it out.
Kashi Chat Bhandar is one of the famous fast food restaurants serving snacks and Chats. Some of the items they serve are Dahi Bhalla, Aloo Tikki, Paani Puri, Papri Chat, Mixed Chat and Dahi Masala Chat. In their sweet menu, Rabri Jalebi is the best. It has a typical Banarasi taste. The place is very small but is well maintained and clean. The prices are kept as low as possible so you can come here often with a gang of friends and enjoy munching some tasty snacks.
Perched on the rooftop of Kautilya Society, Filocafe is a neighborhood bistro frequented by the society's residents. The breezy terrace coffee shop offers an exciting selection of hot and cold beverages, frappes and light bites. Apart from the delicious espressos and cappuccinos, it also serves up about 45 different kinds of teas.
The Bread of Life Bakery is undeniably a haven for home-sick Western tourists who crave their hearty breakfasts consisting muffins, warm pancakes with syrup, steaming hot chocolate, croissants and fresh omelets. Not just this, Chinese dishes are also served at this relaxed cafe where one can lounge around writing postcards or letters for hours on end. An art gallery and silk shop upstairs stocks some interesting things that can be taken home as souvenirs. A good idea would be to drop in after a sunrise boat ride. Only cash accepted.
Kerala Cafe in the heart of the sacred city serves up delectable South Indian grub in a relaxed setting. The no-frills eatery offers an exciting menu featuring South Indian standards like lemon rice, masala dosa, filter coffee and other classics. Hop in for a typical Kerala-style feast and enjoy the generous portions and friendly service.
Located inside Shivam Hotel in the busy neighborhood of Cantonment, this bar has an unpretentious vibe that attracts a select crowd to this place. The surrounding area has an abundance of budget hotels and restaurants convenient to travelers in general. The food menu is diverse with a mouth-watering choice of Indian and Chinese delicacies. Do not expect the plush ambiance of a high end lounge, but the bar is charming in its own pleasant way. Varanasi Railway station is walking distance away; so there is always a chance for a quick drink or two.
A variety of cuisines and a nice homely ambiance defines El Parador, a popular eatery at the busy Cantonment area. Greek, Mexican, Italian and French savories are up for grabs which means a struggle to choose ensues. Run by a Gurkha family, the interiors exude a peaceful Nepalese grace and the terrace garden is a beauty. The weekend buffet is very popular among the locals and they also provide take away for long train journeys; Varanasi Junction is only meters away. This one is surely a humdinger of sorts. A welcome option to experiment in Varanasi, Mandarin Bar is next block.
The Golden Dragon Restaurant is located inside Hotel India in Varanasi's Cantonment area. Serving in-house guests as well as casual passersby, this restaurant comes in handy to guests who do not have many culinary options due to the lack of eateries in the vicinity. Call for timings.
Perched at the ground level of the ritzy Hotel Hindustan International, Atrium Cafe invites gourmands to savor a range of cuisines like Indian, Continental and Chinese. The restaurant offers extensive la carte and buffet menus and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Floor-to-ceiling windows pour in a lot of sunlight inside, thus creating an inviting milieu for all its guests. Grab a table and ask for day specials or choose to go with dependable options from its elaborate menu.
Tandoor Villa on Nadesar Main Road is a famous outpost for classic North Indian preparations and sees crowds pouring in from far and wide. The elegant interiors are well-done with dim lights, plush dining booths and sharp lines. Villa's menu is a true ode to the ancient culinary choices of Indian royals, with preparations like Murgh Tikka (chicken bbq), Paneer Lababdar and Dal Makhani, among other hearty picks.
Found a few steps away from Anand Mandir Road, Baati Chokha welcomes food connoisseurs to relish delectable local cuisine in a rustic setting. Handicraft accents, clay pots and white mud walls create an earthy atmosphere to savor the holy city's traditional grub. The cooks rely on age-old, secret recipes to doll out some toothsome local eats like the baati chokha, choorma and Banarasi kheer.