Varkala, India: Top Restaurants & Cafes
Most of the cliffside cafes are higher in price and won’t serve authentic good local Indian food. The cliffside cafes are great for healthy food and to enjoy the view, but most of the authentic Indian restaurants are in the town (closer to the train station) and much cheaper.
Cafe Sarwaa
MY FAVORITES
Best View: Cafe Sarwaa (South Cliff) or BLG Surf Bistro (North Cliff)
Best Sunset View: Bindu’s Cafe (North Cliff)
Best for Working: Lumuma Cafe (North Cliff) or Cara Cafe (South Cliff)
Best Local Food: Hotel Aryas Pure Veg (Outside Cliffside)
Bindu’s Cafe
Top Restaurants/Cafes and my Review
North Cliff
Bindu’s Cafe (Sea view): I think it has the best spot for sunset and overlooks Black Sand Beach. It’s not rated highly on Google because apparently they aren’t as nice to locals. Their juices were fresh and so good!
Lumuma Cafe (Sea view): Super nice cafe with a rooftop and the food was amazing for vegan food. Best vegan masala chai that I’ve had in India.
InDa Cafe: Very cute and great healthy food, but doesn’t have a sea view.
Aum Cafe (Sea view): Nice cafe to chill at with beautiful cliffside beach views. Good wifi and a nice place to work with outlets, but the food wasn’t as fresh as other cafes.
Bad Habits Coffee (Sea view): The coffee wasn’t bad and it has nice views of the cliffs with outside seating while still being under the shade.
Sun Francisco (Sea view): Not rated high, but it has an amazing view and a nice vibe.
BLG Surf Bistro (Sea view): On the top floor the views are amazing, but the food itself is not great so just go for a drink.
South Cliff
Cara Cafe (sea view): I think this was one of my favorite cafes as it felt like I was on the beach without actually being in the sun on the beach. It is very small and cozy and offers decent vegan food.
Cafe Sarwaa (sea view): Same owner as Praana Spa
Cafe Trip is Life (sea view): They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area is divided into two sections — one right on the water’s edge and another covered section. You can order food and drinks in the covered area anytime, but the water’s edge section is open for orders only after 5:30 p.m. during sunset.
Soul Food Cafe (sea view): Located inside Soul & Surf and has comfy chairs and a large lawn space as well as tables. The view is beautiful and definitely a comfortable space you can hang out at.
Kapi Co-Working Cafe by Sarwaa: Outside the main cliff area and more in the main town, no one was there when I went and it’s quite small.
Mamma Chompos: Really tasty Tibetan food but they also have some Indian dishes as well. They have alot of vegetarian options as well.
Local Indian Food
Tickey Boo: Good cheap, local Indian food. They close midday from 11am-4pm.
Cafe Mohans: Right next to Thiramala Home Foods and also really good local Indian food.
Thiramala Home Foods: They serve the same dish to everyone and you know that it is fresh.
Hotel Aryas Pure Veg: Best local Indian food that I had in Varkala, recommended to me by someone who was working in the hostel I was staying at.
Chimney Restaurant: Good seafood curry, but I felt that Thiramala Home Foods was better. The restaurant itself is nice.
Cafes to Skip
Novella Concept Cafe: The downstairs portion is nice but the upstairs is pretty dark and covered and it isn’t easy to see the beach.
Dajeering Cafe: Was not good and probably used to be good because it is highly-rated online.
Cafe Del Mar: My hostel recommended, but it doesn’t look that great.
Sea View Multi Cuisine: My hostel recommended, but it doesn’t look that great.
Beach Cafe by Sarwaa: Wouldn’t recommend; there wasn’t anyone there when I went and it’s a little far from the beach.
