Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Varanasi

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.

The Pizzeria Vatika Cafe deserves all of the acclaim it receives - this place truly dishes out the best Italian cuisine offered in all of Varanasi, and the standards haven't dropped since its inception in 1993. Wood-fired pizzas, focacia, cheesy lasgnas and even Chinese and Indian dishes await you at this cafe ensconced in leafy foliage where obliging waiters attend to you with rapt attention. For dessert, try their much-loved apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon! Pretty views of the river and a chance to catch up with other backpackers is yet another reason why Vatika emerges a winner.

The Open Hand Shop and Cafe is an oasis of sorts for Westerners seeking solace in the familiarity of smoothies, frozen yogurts, mouth-watering muffins, steaming hot cappuccinos, fruit plates, crunchy salads, freshly-baked pastries and more. You can also pick up some free-trade merchandise, post cards and bookmarks made by locals at competitive rates. Rhyne the manager will charm you with her knowledge about Varanasi and little anecdotes to match. Free internet available!

El Camarom De La India is a laid-back Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine restaurant located at the terrace of Assi Ghat's Ganga Paying Guest House. Menu offers an array of Spanish standards like delectable pastas, croquetas, paellas and tortillas. A must-try here is the toothsome churros served with savory chocolate sauce. El Camarom also has an interesting list of Indian beverages and decadent Spanish desserts.

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.

Flavours Cafe is located near Banaras Hindu University. It serves great snacks, desserts and beverages. To start with they have some amazing signature drinks such as Masala Mocha, Masala Latte and Masala Cappuccino. The beverage menu includes fruit punch, desi drinks, fruit juices, iced tea, smoothies and milkshakes. The snack menu consists of pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, French fries and rolls. A visit to this cafe is incomplete without trying their Chocolate Danish Pastry, Banana Muffin and Caramal Mocha Cake. The menu is quite affordable and the quality of food is sure to bring you back again and again.