Top Rated Restaurants en Cafés in Varanasi

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.

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.

Consistently dishing out a mind-boggling range of fresh and tantalizing traditional sweets since 1968, the family-run Ksheer Sagar uses 100% natural ingredients in all its preparations. Literally translating into Ocean of Milk, this shop does roaring business no matter what time of the day or year. Locals flock here to pick up delicacies such as gulab jamun, jalebi and shrikhand (a sweetened yogurt served with cardamom, pistachios and saffron). If the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, Ksheer Sagar wins in a heartbeat!

i:ba Cafe Restaurant is a slice of Japan in Varanasi in every respect. With a wonderful decor that stands out from the rest of the eateries, one can expect a slew of authentically prepared Japanese dishes served to perfection. Prices are not too high and the service is friendly. The only downside is its distance from the main Dasashwamedh Road however if you happen to be living around Assi Ghat, i:ba is not too far.

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.

Serving delicious Chinese dishes, Ming Garden is a popular eatery in the area. Located right next to the delightful Chrystal Bowl, this restaurant has a fan following in the city for the sheer quality of the food, reasonable pricing and the vibrant atmosphere. The choices in the menu are quite elaborate with 14 different kinds of soups and 26 different starters. There is a facility for private gatherings upstairs.