Top cafes with a view to grab-a-cup when traveling in India
Scattered around India are travel cafes offering visitors a good background to rest and enjoy a warm cup of coffee or a delicious quick meal before continuing their wanderlust. To help you narrow down the best names among thousands of coffee houses out there, here is the list of top cafes with a view to visit when traveling in India, where you can have traditional coffee or the country’s authentic food and freshly-baked desserts while admiring incredible scenery.
Mango Tree
Address: Janatha Plot, Hampi
Located near Virupaksha Temple, Mango Tree carries a traditional cafe spirit in a vibrant tourist culture. The first impressive thing upon entering the bar is how the thatched roof instantly cools the place, contributing to a comfortable atmosphere. The place has two types of seating – sitting tables and cushions on the floor – with fantastic settings.
Many foreigners and tourists are found here as they crave for a good meal of Chinese and Indian food, which also makes it hard to find a seat during peak times. The menu offers only vegetarian food and no alcoholic beverages. The food is carefully prepared and well-matched with the village background. Besides coffee, there are plenty of options for normal drinks as well, such as buttermilk, lemon juice, etc.
Cafe 1947
Address: Near Bridge to Manu Temple, Old Manali
Unlike the rather old-school name, everything Cafe 1947 offers is quite new and trendy, especially the ravishing views over Manalsu River. That scene would be perfect for a relaxing evening away from the crowds and soaking up the melodious music while enjoying delicious Italian pizzas and salmon dishes. Many drink options are available on the menu as well.
In addition to the outside seating nearby the river, from the inside, customers can still look out the window to see the beautiful snowy mountains. It is also a great stopover for your trip to Solang Valley or Rohtang Pass.
AMA Café
Address: 1st floor House 6, New Colony, Majnu ka Tilla, New Delhi
AMA Café is a familiar address for a lot of visitors to New Delhi who want to have a true Tibetan experience. The interior space is decorated with a cozy brown tone, and the outside is hung with baskets of green plants to create a fresh atmosphere for visitors to admire the lovely scenery while drinking coffee
The cafe serves all kinds of delicious and premium coffee in the world, along with hot beverages and juices. They also have a continental food approach, with lots of pizzas, burgers, pasta, and breakfast options to choose from, which are tasty and absolutely inexpensive.
Oh Magic View
Address: Parvati River Bridge, Ram Mandir Marg, Kasol
This is a must-visit cafe in India for the best views of the Himalayas and the Parvati River. They provide a homely and secured atmosphere in both outdoor and indoor areas. Come here at the time of sunset, and you will be amazed by the alluring sunset view over the magnificent mountain backdrop.
The menu includes a wide range of drink options and different types of Indian, Israeli, and Italian food, but don’t miss out on some chai and paratha.
Café Diem
Address: 2A Kotaigiri Road, Coonoor
Combined with absolutely gorgeous interiors, stunning mountain views, and impeccable service, Café Diem is a great stop whenever you’re in Nilgiri. The cafe has a beautiful view of Nilgiri and the tea estates. The most perfect seat in this coffee house is next to the large glass window overlooking the hills.
Lush green lawns with artfully designed walkways, a small pond, terracotta decorations, and a vintage bicycle with flower baskets provide a vibe of the traditional French countryside. The highlight drinks are filter coffee and cappuccino, while the food menu is entirely vegetarian featuring a fusion of French, Mediterranean, and Thai dishes.
Lake View Cafe
Address: Aarey Powai Road Renaissance Hotel & Convention Centre, Mumbai
The primary reason anyone would have selected Lake View Cafe is for the awesome view of Powai lake. While the outdoors is closer to nature, the indoor line close to the glass walls gives pretty views of the lake. The design still ensures sufficient natural lighting inside and has netted draw curtains for keeping direct sunlight away.
You can expect a comfortable ambiance to sit and do a lot of chitchat with decent coffee, tea, and awesome bakes, like muffins and waffles. More interestingly, the chefs also suggest appropriate food according to what customers liked.
The 60s Café
Address: Badrinath Road Hotel Green Hills, Rishikesh
To reach The 60’s cafe, visitors have to climb lots of stairs through a small lane, but once there, you will be surprised by its unique decor and cozy ambiance. The 60’s cafe has “The Beatles” theme with photographs of the band and some graffiti-style paintings hanging around the walls, feeling like you’re walking into the past. The seating is at low tables with views of the Ganges river.
The menu features vegan delicacies along with high-protein pancakes and scrambled tofu. They serve the best vegan burgers in the town. It’s ideal to spend a relaxing afternoon here listening to classic songs from the 60’s and 70’s.
Wake and Bake
Address: 34/1, Mall Road, Shimla
Tucked away on the second floor of a building on the bustling Mall Road of Shimla, Wake and Bake is one of the city’s iconic cafes that will guarantee to give you a good time spending with your loved ones. It offers some spectacular views of the lush valley on one side and the busy city street on the other with the highest point overlooking the regal Gaiety Theater.
Aside from countless choices for delicious breakfast – pizzas, bread, pancakes, and other Middle Eastern food, this Indian coffee shop also offers quite a large selection of hot coffee at affordable prices.
Landour Bakehouse
Address: Sisters Bazaar, Landour, Mussoorie
The little bakery Landour nestled on the edge of a cliff among pine trees on a hill is a worth-visiting spot for anyone coming to Mussoorie. This bakehouse is a place where you can feel the simple but classy British taste in their space and food.
You’ll find lovely macaroons, cookies, croissants, sandwiches displayed with plush pots of tea alongside classic country coffee cups. Overall, the space is intimate and classy, and the only minus seems to be the seating is quite limited.
Bon Appetit
Address: Chang Spa Road, Leh
Bon Appetit is known for its good food, laid-back ambiance, music, and great mountain views. The location that is slightly hidden from the main market makes this coffee shop utterly peaceful. The outdoor seating position will be very suitable for watching the sunset over the Stok Kangri range and the majestic valley.
It serves multi-continental, mainly Italian dishes – pasta, pizza, steak. Bear in mind that this place is closed in winter, so if you are in Leh during the summer months, make time to go to this restaurant.
