Located at Hotel Varuna, VNS LIVE STUDIO is a lively spot to enjoy delectable Chinese and Indian specialties. The restaurant also offers hookah pipes to those who like to smoke up flavored Herbal Sheesha along with delicious cuisine. It is one of the few restaurants in Varanasi serving authentic Egyptian-style sheesha pipes. This lively restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating and often has live music.
The Brown Bread Bakery has plunged abysmally in terms of hygiene, ambiance and service, ever since the original German owner Michael left after differences with his Indian partner. Drawn in by previous glowing reviews in popular backpacker guides, unsuspecting budget travelers and backpackers still arrive here only to be greeted by a musty odor, mice scurrying hurriedly between cushions and lethargic service. Make sure you ask the waiter if you are likely to get what is included in a set meal; the chefs often replace non-vegetarian items for vegetarian ones, for example mushrooms replace meat. The menu rattles on about various N.G.O's supported by this cafe as well as the freshest meat being flown in from Delhi. For what it's worth, the prices are inflated but then again, to each his own. Go for yourself and check it out - and maybe later head to the newer Brown Bread Bakery on the other side of the road for an unbiased comparison. The old Brown Bread Bakery is a perfect example of how change in management can make or break a business.
Jyoti Cafe is a neighborhood spot to relish authentic local cuisine preparations in a no-frills setting. The friendly owners are quite welcoming of their guests, which usually comprise foreign tourists and locals alike. Stop in for a hearty breakfast of mueseli curd honey, cornflakes or the wholesome porridge, even as you get to choose from a wide selection of lunch and dinner options like aromatic curries, rice dishes, noodles and chopsuey.
Shri Restaurant is the rooftop dining venue of the eponymous guesthouse in the heart of the holy city. The open-air space features a rustic vibe, of wooden planks, dining booths, small lamps and a thatched roof lending it a very countryside feel. Menu features an array of Indian and European breakfast specialties, apart from light bites, pizzas, sizzlers and Chinese picks.
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.
Hotel Premiere Villa's Banana Leaf welcomes gourmands to devour authentic South Indian and North Indian cuisine in an elegant setting. The restaurant offers an interesting selection of breakfast standards like idli, uttapam, dosa and sandwiches. They also have some inviting options under continental cuisine like sizzlers and salads. Service is friendly and efficient and it adds to a memorable dining experience in the holy city.