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Central Bangalore
Central Bangalore is the heart of the city. It contains the original mud fort, the old neighbourhoods and the British-era cantonment. For a long time, it was the city, or rather the agglomeration of two cities: Bangalore Pete and Bangalore Cantonment. The older Pete has narrow alleys and dense living, while the newer Cantonment has wide streets and more greenery.
Get in
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Map of Central BangaloreBy metro
[edit]The Purple Line Purple serves the entire Central Bangalore east-west, from Mahatma Gandhi Road to KSR station. The Green Line Green runs across the district north-south, serving Majestic, Chickpet and KR Market. Majestic is the interchange of Purple and Green lines.
See
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- 1 Bangalore Fort (metro: Krishna Rajendra Market Green ). Built in 1537. A small part with massive granite walls, big gates, a dungeon and a small Ganesha temple is still intact. Check out the stone carving high up on the wall to your left after entering the massive wooden door. Free.
- 2 Visvesvaraya Centre (Visvesvaraya Towers) (metro: Cubbon Park Purple ). A government office complex, built on the site of the house of Sir M. Visvesvaraya after his death. Initially constructed for the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), it was later bought by the state government to house government offices. The brutalist architecture of this high-rise building at Cubbon Park area stands in sharp contrast to the neoclassical architecture of Vidhana Soudha, Attara Kacheri and the General Post Office. The general public is not allowed into the premises, unless they have an appointment at one of the offices.
Cubbon Park area
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- 3 Attara Kacheri, Dr Ambedkar Rd (metro: Vidhana Soudha Purple ). A two-storey neoclassical red-painted stone and brick building, hosting the High Court of Karnataka. It was previously a secretariat of eighteen departments, built under the reign of king Devaraja Wadiyar II in 1701. The main structure of the building is surrounded on all sides by porticoes and verandahs. The entire building is surfaced with plaster and painted with red ochre. It houses a law museum the houses an original print of the Constitution of India, articles and documents related to the legal profession, seals, insignia and books. It also showcases the history of the Karnataka High Court and the development of courts over the ages.
- 4 General Post Office. Its first floor contains a philatelic museum.
- 5 Kingfisher Towers, UB City. Probably the most famous high-rise residential building in Bangalore, despite not being the tallest in the city. The top of the building is occupied by a mansion, which is one of the few instances of a "building atop a building" in India.
- 6 Government Museum, Kasturba Rd (metro: Cubbon Park Purple ). Established in 1865, the museum is flanked by the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum and the Venkatappa Art Gallery. It is an archaeological museum with a rare collection of archaeological and geological artefacts, including old jewellery, sculpture, coins and inscriptions. The museum is also home to the Halmidi inscription, the earliest writing in Kannada (450 CE).
- 7 Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), 22, Kasturba Rd (metro: Cubbon Park Purple ). Su-Th 10AM-6:30PM, F Sa 10AM-7:30PM. This museum presents 4 exhibitions (2 free and 2 paid, ₹150) and contains a café, restaurant and library over 5 stories. It's well worth a visit and takes about 2 hours. 2 free exhibitions, 2 paid exhibitions (₹150 combined).
- 8 Seshadari Iyer Memorial, Kasturba Rd (metro: Vidhana Soudha Purple ). A distinctive red sandstone building, hosting the State Central Library.
- 9 Venkatappa Art Gallery, Kasturba Rd (metro: Cubbon Park Purple ).
- 10 Vidhana Soudha (Karnataka Legislative Assembly), Dr Ambedkar Rd (metro: Vidhana Soudha Purple ). This granite building houses the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka. It was built during the tenure of K. Hanumanthaiya, Chief Minister of Mysore State (1951–1956). A marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture, and one of the most imposing buildings in India. One of the interesting features of this building are the grand stairs in its front. The steps of the grand stairs are 62 m (203 ft) wide and 21 m (69 ft) deep, giving direct access to the foyer of the first floor leading to an assembly chamber. The architecture comprises of Dravidian richly carved bases and capitals for pillars, deep friezes, kapotha cornices, chaithya arches, heavy pediments domical finials. At the same time, the construction uses modern designs, making use of present-day materials like steel, reinforced concrete, glass, and plastic. General public and tourists are not allowed to enter the ground or the building. It can only be viewed from the road and footpath outside the boundary walls.
- 11 Vikasa Soudha (metro: Vidhana Soudha Purple ). Located next to Vidhana Soudha, built in the same classic style. It was inaugurated in 2005. General public and tourists are not allowed to enter the premises. It can only be viewed from outside the boundary walls.
- 12 Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum (VITM) (metro: Cubbon Park Purple ), ☏ +91 80-22866200, [email protected]. 10AM-5:30PM (closed in Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali). Contains many fun learning activities and exhibitions that can be enjoyed by adults and children. Most exhibits are based on simple science, but some have industrial applications. For general visitors entry fee is ₹40. Some groups receive discounts (organised school groups, BPL Category when showing valid BPL card, etc). Entry is free for military and police personnel in uniform, the physically challenged, and children below 5 years of age. There is also a 3D show costing an extra ₹25 (for general public).
Museums and galleries
[edit]- 13 Gandhi Bhavan, Kumara Park E. The museum consists of a gallery with rare photographs of Mahatma Gandhi and letters written by him, a library and an auditorium. It serves as a venue for meetings organised on Gandhian values in Bangalore.
- J's La Quill Museum.
- 14 Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. A visual art complex with 18 galleries, 13 of which carry a permanent collection of paintings, sculptures and folk art. The folk art collection showcases Mysore paintings and leather puppets.
- 15 Kempegowda Museum. 9AM–5PM (closed Su). A government museum dedicated to Bangalore's founder Kempe Gowda. It is housed in the Mayo Hall, which was built in memory of Lord Mayo, the 4th Viceroy of India. This two-storey building is known for its ornate furniture and architecture. It is adorned by chandeliers, Greek cornices, Tuscan columns, stone arches, wooden floors and beautiful furnishings. The building itself offers a panoramic view of the city's Parade Grounds and Ulsoor Lake on one side, and the Bangalore Race Course and Brigade Grounds on the south. Free.
- 16 Museum of Art & Photography (MAP). A private art museum and a custodian to a collection of Indian art, textiles, photography, craft, and design objects spanning from the twelfth century to the present. MAP has more than 20,000 artworks, predominantly from the Indian subcontinent, in its collection that are organised into six departments: Modern and Contemporary Art, Photography, Living Traditions, Popular Culture, Pre-Modern Art and Textiles, Craft and Design. The collection includes works by Indian modernists, as well as Indian artists. In addition, the vast collection includes photographs and works by indigenous artists.
- 17 National Military Memorial. A memorial-cum-museum dedicated to the personnel and families of martyrs who have died in the service of the nation. The collection in the museum include mockups of missiles like AKASH, Prithvi and BrahMos and rockets like Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
- 18 National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), 49, Manikyavelu Mansion, Palace Rd. Sa Su 11AM-7:30PM, Tu-F 11AM-6PM. The National Gallery of Modern Art houses an auditorium, café, shop and exhibitions of modern and contemporary art in a beautiful building. The gallery organises and hosts talks on art and culture by speakers, seminars, film screenings as well as workshops and guided walks throughout the year. ₹20 for Indian citizens, ₹500 for foreigners.
- 19 Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Albert Victor Rd (metro: Krishna Rajendra Market Green ), ☏ +91 80 2670 6836. daily 9:30AM-5:30PM. Dating to about 1790, it was the summer retreat for Tipu Sultan. The two-storey structure is made mostly out of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches. It contains a small museum with information on Tipu Sultan. ₹20 for Indians/SAARC/BIMSTEC citizens and ₹250 for foreigners (tickets only available online, you will need a phone with a QR code scanner and mobile data).
Natural attractions
[edit]- 20 Government Aquarium (at the entrance of Cubbon Park, close to VITM). 10:00AM-5:30PM. The second largest aquarium in India. It has a variety of exotic cultivable as well as marine fishes on display, including include eels, angelfish, glowlight tetra, hockey stick tetra, red-tail shark, catla, Indian tiger barb, mahseer, freshwater prawns, blue gourami, pearl gourami, goldfish, moon tail etc. ₹150 per head for adults, ₹5 per head for students upto 10th standard, free for children below 5.
- 21 Lalbagh Botanical Garden (metro: Lalbagh Green ). Built during the reigns of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the botanical garden is home to numerous wild species of birds and other wildlife. The garden also has a lake adjoining a large rock is home to some water birds. Flower shows are conducted annually during the weeks of Republic Day (26 January) and Independence Day (15 August) to educate the public about the variety of flora and foster public interest in plant conservation and cultivation.
Places of worship
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Churches
[edit]- 22 Holy Trinity Church (at Trinity circle at the east end of the MG Rd). A major landmark of Central Bangalore. It was built in 1851, for the British Regiment stationed in Bangalore. Built-in the English Renaissance style, the church can accommodate 700 people and is regarded as the largest military church in southern India. It has a congregation of over 450 families.
- 23 Hudson Memorial Church, Hudson Circle. Established in 1904 and named after missionary and scholar Rev. Josiah Hudson, who was responsible for opening Kannada schools in Bangalore Pete. The church attracts people of all faiths, especially in Thursdays and Sundays.
- 24 St. Andrew's Church, Cubbon Rd. A Presbyterian church, consecrated in memory of Mary Elizabeth McGoun, wife of Col. Thomas McGoun of the 6th Madras Native Infantry. It is an example of Gothic architecture in the city, with a steeping roof of Mangalore tiles, a row of decorative ridge-tiles on the top, turreted parapets and gables, iron crested towers, intricately done plaster motifs, railings of cast iron, and pilasters and pavilions rising from the wing.
- 25 St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral. The cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangalore.
- 26 St. John's Church. The fourth oldest Protestant church in the city, with a distinct red edifice and towering steeple, rising out of the leafy surroundings. There's a memorial in front of the church for its members who lost their lives in service of 'King and Empire', in World War I.
- 27 St. Mark's Cathedral. The sole cathedral of Bangalore is dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist. It is famous for its English Baroque architecture inspired by London's St Paul's Cathedral. The entrance has elaborate woodwork with ornate carvings. The bell is the amongst the most well-maintained church bells in India. The stained glasswork adds to the beauty of the cathedral.
- 28 St. Mary's Basilica. The oldest church in Bangalore, and the only church in the state which has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica. It is famous for the festivities held during the St. Mary's Feast in the month of September each year, an event that attracts devotees from in and around Bangalore. The basilica is built in Gothic style with arches, ornamental motifs and stained glass windows. Multiple columns and tall spires of the basilica can be seen from quite a distance. The stained glass windows were removed during World War II and were subsequently restored in 1947.
Temples
[edit]- 29 Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. One of the oldest temples of Bangalore and also the smallest, the Temple has existed since the times of Kempe Gowda. It is on S.P. Road close to Corporation Circle, behind the LIC building. This temple is famous for the Annual Karaga Festival held every summer. The Presiding Deity is Dharmaraya (Yudishthira) & Consort Draupadi, making it a unique one of its kind.
- 30 Kote Venkataramana Swamy Temple (metro: Krishna Rajendra Market Green , next to Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace). A fine example of Dravidian architecture, built by Maharaja Chikkadevaraya Wodeyar.
- 31 Maha Bodhi Society Temple, No. 14, Kalidas Road, Gandhi Nagar (northwest rim of Freedom Park). A relatively new structure, with the main shrine built as a replica of the historic stupa at Bodh Gaya. The temple grounds are very peaceful, and visitors are welcome to stroll around. In addition, the temple houses an excellent library of books on Buddhism, many of which are in English.
- 32 Someshwara Swamy Temple, Halasuru (close to Halasuru Police station; metro: Halasuru Purple ). Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the oldest temples of the city. The inner sanctum sanctorum is said to have been built in the 8th century by the Cholas, who ruled this place, the outer Praharam during the Hoysalas of the 11th century, while the front hall construction and the Gopuram during the Vijayanagar Empire of the 15th century. The structure resembles the various changes the temple has gone through during the period, with major additions and renovations done to preserve the temple. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Bangalore Race Course.
- 2 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore Association for Science Education, Sri T. Choudaiah Road, High Grounds (opposite Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain, Near Raj Bhavan), ☏ +91 80-22379725, [email protected]. 12:30-4:30PM (closed M and second Th). A very good planetarium for adults and children alike. Shows are offered in Kannada and English. Each show is about 30 minutes long. There are about 200 seats available for each show. A ticket can be used only for the show mentioned on the ticket, and is non-refundable if you miss that show. ₹35 for adults and ₹20 for school students and children (up to 16 years), children below 3 years are not allowed inside the Sky-Theatre.
- 3 Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall (Bangalore Town Hall), 112 JC Road. A neoclassical building. The structure features a flight of steps leading to the entrance porch resting on Tuscan columns with identical columns extending on either sides. The auditorium has two floors with a total capacity of 810 seats.
- Urvashi Theatre, Lalbagh Road (near Lalbagh Main gate & MTR). A cool remodified theatre that allows a 1st hand experience in watching movies. One of the oldest theatres and important landmark of the City
Events
[edit]- 4 Chitra Santhe (Paintings market). An annual exhibition, held on the first Sunday of every year in January, the Chitra Santhe on Kumara Krupa Road (near Golf Course) brings together artists from all across Karnataka. Paintings, pottery, and sculpture are all on an exhibition-cum-sale. The road is closed to traffic on that day, making it possible to have a leisurely stroll, admiring and buying the items. Prices range from ₹100-20,000. Bargaining is recommended, but not too hard. Pay a fair price. (Credit cards and foreign currency are rarely accepted, so carry sufficient cash in Indian currency).
- Flower Show (Biannual). 9AM to 5PM. A bi-annual affair at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, during the Independence Day (August 15th) & Republic Day (January 26th). Various companies display their floral exhibits in this period, normally held from a week before the above-mentioned days. The main epicentre would be a Rose arrangement representing a theme, or a heritage structure, which attracts major crowd from around Bangalore. ₹50 entry fees.
- Mango Mela. 9AM to 5PM. An annual affair, at the beginning of summer, the season for the king of fruits. Normally, mangoes (raw & ripe), cultivated in Bangalore Rural and Ramanagara, as well as in neighbouring Kolar and Chikballapur, are brought and kept for show as well as sale during this period, at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. A must-visit for mango fans. ₹30 entry fees.
Parks and stadiums
[edit]- 5 Cubbon Park (Sri Chamarajendra Udyanavana) (opposite to Chinnaswamy Stadium, Cubbon Park Purple ). A nice forested area in the city centre. The entrance from Queen's Statue forms the tourist attraction owing to the presence of the Government Aquarium and Bal Bhavan, a play area for kids. Puttaani Express a small toy train for kids, runs inside the Bal Bhavan, attracting kids from far and near. For attractions around the park, see the Cubbon Park area subsection of See.
- 6 Freedom Park. A park built on the grounds of a prison. It is also used for public protests.
- 7 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Mahatma Gandhi Rd (Cubbon Park Purple ), ☏ +90 80 4015 4015. With a capacity of 40,000, this is the home of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which has a large and loud following. The IPL season typically is from March to May every year, matches are played in the evenings and last around 3 hours. Scour the daily newspapers for ticket information - tickets sell out a week before.
- 8 Sree Kanteerava Stadium. A multi-purpose stadium with a running track, a volleyball court, and two outdoor rock-climbing walls.
- 9 Ulsoor Lake (Halasuru lake). One of the biggest lakes in Bangalore, with several islands. There's a watch tower with a Chinese bell on the lake.
Spas
[edit]- SPA.ce, Cunningham Rd. Run by an expat Brit. Offers a variety of massages, scrubs, and facials.
Learn
[edit]- 1 Alliance Française de Bangalore, Thimmaiah Rd, Kaverappa Layout, ☏ +91 7899562404. 9:30AM–5:30PM (closed S). Offers French language courses.
Buy
[edit]- The UB City and Vittal Mallya Road are Page-3 shopping areas. You'll find brands like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Kimaya in the UB City. Vittal Mallya Road has stores like The Collective which is a shop only for men. Armani, Versace, Boss, you name it, they have it. There's even Canary Blue and Esprit on the same road.
- 1 Brigade Road/M.G. Road (metro: MG Road Purple right next to the intersection of both roads). The most popular place for tourists. These two roads are filled with shops of every kind, whether it be traditional handicrafts or the latest western wear (this is especially true for Brigade Road). Brigade Road, where British soldiers used to buy their necessities, is now the centre of yuppie Bangalore; you'll see hordes of college students on the road any time of day or night. Stores on Brigade Road include: Planet M (a huge music store with everything), Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Phillipe, Pepe Jeans, Levis, Lee, SanFrisco Jeans, Nike, and Titan (great Indian made watches). There are also many eateries on Brigade road and on the side roads that lead off it. Fast food outlets include KFC (right at the entrance), Pizza Hut (at the other end of the road), and many cafes including the Indian coffee chain Cafe Coffee Day. Also includes a tattoo studio. M.G. Road is short for Mahatma Gandhi road.
- 2 Commercial Street. A legacy of the British is another shopping mecca that sells international brands (similar to Brigade road) alongside locally produced items. Commercial Street has more of a bazaar feel than Brigade Road. In addition, it is famous for its body piercing centres. The price of goods here is very competitive and it is a great place to pick a bargain.
- 3 Krishna Rajendra Market (KR Market) (metro: KR Market Green ). The city's largest vegetable and fruit market.
Books
[edit]- Gangarams Book Bureau, #3, Church Street, 3rd Floor, ☏ +91 80 2512 7888, [email protected]. M-Sa 10AM-8PM. Since 1977, a destination for booklovers with books in a diverse range from academic, professional and technical to fiction and non-fiction.
- Blossoms, Church St (parallel to MG Rd and nearby Coconut Grove Restaurant), ☏ +91 80 255 9733. There are 3 full floors of those rare, hard to find old books. All 2nd hand, good condition and at low rates.
- The Bookworm (Church Street, opposite Starbucks). This is a small used book store. Good bargains on used and new books are available here.
- Crossword, Residency Rd (ACR Towers, opposite Gateway Hotel), ☏ +91 80 2558 2411-16. A hot spot for books of various genres combined with seating areas, spacious racks, music and movie section, children's section and a coffee shop. A wonderful hangout to read, browse and shop.
- Elloor Library, Blue Cross Chambers, Infantry Rd (close to Commercial St). A circulating library that has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including new titles. Requires membership which includes a deposit.
- Gangarams Mg road, Triumph Tower, 2nd Floor, 48 Church St (opposite High Gates Hotel and Mainland China; Church Street is parallel to Mahatma Gandhi ("MG") Road), ☏ +91 80 2512 7888, [email protected]. M-Sa. A wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, including textbooks and professional works.
- Goobes Book Republic, 46-1-1 Church St (in the basement of Church Street Inn, Budget Hotel, near MG Rd), ☏ +91 80 4112 4956, [email protected]. Secondhand and new books on a wide variety of subjects and a very cost effective library option and buy back used books.
- Higginbothams, 68 MG Rd, ☏ +91 80 2558 7359, +91 80 2558 6574. This bookstore has a good selection of maps, postcards, guides and novels.
- Premier Book Shop, 46/1 Church St (off MG Rd), ☏ +91 80 2558 8570. A venerable institution that has books on every conceivable subject literally stacked from floor to ceiling. Although the store may appear to be utterly chaotic, the owner knows where every piece of his stock lies - just be careful with those elbows, a slight nudge and the whole place will come tumbling down. This store however, will shut down shortly.
- Sapna Book House, 3rd Main Rd, near Kamat Yatri Nivas, Gandhi Nagar (Walking distance from Majestic Bus stand). This is a large bookstore, they also have branches in three other locations Sadashivnagar, Jayanagar, and Indiranagar. Sapna Book House also provides online book delivery.
- Select Bookshop, Brigade Rd (off Brigade Rd Behind Curzon Court Hotel). Used to be the only old bookstore. Mr Murthy, who runs the bookstore, is one of the most knowledgeable people. His grandfather started the bookstore. He also has a collection of lithographs, stained glass paintings and collectors copies of antique books.
- The Strand book stall, Dickenson Rd (1st Floor, Manipal Centre), ☏ +91 80 2558 0000. Best known for the latest releases in art, design, architecture and all at good prices.
Boutiques
[edit]- Mahendra Textiles, ☏ +91 80 4124 9900. Sarees and dress materials from Surat, Mumbai, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kerala and Sri Lanka.
- Marmalade, Magrath Rd (adj to Spratt Salon; left before Coffee Day, on Brigade Rd Extn), ☏ +91 80 4122 1814. Loads of affordable young designer wear.
- Native Place (behind Museum Rd Post Office, Museum Road). Loads of interesting merchandise, crafts made by NGOs, c/o The Only Place Restaurant.
- One G, ☏ +91 80 4123 1231. (Jewellery) Hatworks Boulevard, Cunningham Rd.
Handicrafts
[edit]- The Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium, 45 MG Rd, ☏ +91 80 2558 1118. A large store, offering a wide selection of some of Karnataka's best hand made products. The carvings made of Mysore sandalwood are an especially good buy.
- Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), MG Rd. A government run store promoting traditional Indian hand crafts. The CCIE has major outlets in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.
- Chandi - The Divine Gallery, MG Rd (Shop No. 12, First Floor, Public Utility Building), ☏ +91 80 4112 3590, +91 80 4112 3610. Specialising in Indian divine figures in all mediums. Claims to have the biggest collection of Ganeshas in town. High-quality and locally-priced wares, supposedly no pushy salesmanship.
- Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, 45 K.S.H.D.C Complex, MG Rd, ☏ +91 80 2558 1118. Specialises in Karnataka handicraft.
Jewellery
[edit]- C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons (Diamond Flagship Store), 2-1 Main Cross Rd (next to Safina Plaza), ☏ +91 80 4000 1869. 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2) dedicated to the finest gold and diamond jewellery, spread over two floors.
- C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons-The Heritage Store, 35 & 36 Commercial St, ☏ +91 80 4000 1869. Dedicated to gold and silver.
Shopping malls
[edit]- 4 Garuda Mall. On the corner of McGrath and Commissariat Roads.
- 5 Safina Plaza. The sale capital of Bangalore, on Infantry Road. Every week there is sale going on of any type. One week it might be home furnishings and the next men's wear. Good place to find some bargains. Many exhibitions are also held here, although there are retailers here too. So for quiet shopping come here (much less crowded than the other malls). Its best to visit during end of season sales (summer, monsoon) or during festivals (New Year, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi).
Eat
[edit]- Annapoorna, Ulsoor (near Sai Baba Temple in Ulsoor. Need to get down at Ulsoor police station). Pure vegetarian food in Tamil style.
- Bheemas, Church St. If you have the penchant for spice this place is meant for you.
- I-Talia, The Park, MG Rd, ☏ +91 80 2559 4666. Expensive, but arguably the best Italian food in town.
- Kudla, Ramanashree Comforts, Richmond Rd. For seafood, serves excellent dishes.
- Mainland China, Church St.
- Oh! Calcutta, St Mark's Rd. Part of a chain of restaurants across the country, and the best Bengali food available in the city albeit pricier than the other options.
- Pabrai's Fresh and Naturalle Ice Cream, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, ☏ +91 80 6453 0000.
- The Palms, 33 Church St (at the Highgates Hotel), ☏ +91 80 2559 7172. Mangalorean, Coorgi, and Malabari style. (shut for renovations)
- Queens, Church Street, opposite Amoeba. Small restaurant but great food at reasonable prices.
- RRs, off Brigade Rd. A renovation of the vintage RRs, the fun doubles here with the double storeyed restaurant, one serving Andhra and the other Hyderabadi cuisines. There's also alcohol, all the more reason to indulge on a Saturday afternoon.
- Tijouri, Hotel Atria, Palace Rd, ☏ +91 80 2220 5205.
Budget
[edit]- Adiga's Delicacy, 105 Dickenson's road, Manipal Centre.
- Adiga's Majestic, (next to Fkcci Bldg), KG Rd.
- Anupams Coastal Express, Shivananda Circle. They make fantastic fish dishes. Neer Dosa with Chicken Pulimunchi, kori roti and chicken ghee roast are some things you really cannot miss.
- 1 Bobby-da-Dhaba, Near Lavanya Theatre, St John's Road, Near Ulsoor, ☏ +91 96 6367 8382. 12:30PM-3:45PM, 7:30PM-11PM. The food is good (albeit slightly oily). It basically serves paranthas (with lots of butter), chaach, kheer and a number of side dishes (most notable being their shahi paneer and rajma). You may have to wait for a while in case it is full. So it's better to go slightly early, noon for lunch and 7:30PM for dinner to avoid rush).
- 2 Coconut Grove, Church St. Appams and Kerala parottas with a chicken sauce dish. Their lunch offer for ₹80 is also really good. A pretty good choice for reasonably priced quality seafood. Coco-Grove the outdoor 'beer cafe' extension is also worth a look.
- Fanoos (adjoining Johnson Market, off Brigade Rd). One of the joints for getting sheekh (beef) rolls in Bangalore. They come in various sizes- sheekh roll, sheekh jumbo, sheekh mambo, sheekh rambo and sheekh sambo- the latter of which is almost 2 in thick. There are other options like chicken, mutton and paneer rolls as well as kababs and shawarma. ₹30-100 per head.
- 3 Indian Coffee House, Church St.
- 4 KC Das, Church St. Bengali sweets.
- Kohinoor, Brigade Rd. Serves very reasonably priced Kerala Muslim style food.
- Lake View Milk Bar, MG Rd, ☏ +91 80 2558 7410. Excellent ice creams, club sandwiches and burgers.
- 5 Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR), 11 Lal Bagh Rd, ☏ +91 80 2222 0022, +91 80 22221706. One of the very old traditional breakfast places in Bangalore. There are a few people who have been having their breakfast at MTR every day for the past 15 years. Closed between 2:45-3:30PM. Expect a long wait on weekends. Traditional 12-course Karnataka lunches are also available here for around ₹90 per head. Advance reservations recommended at weekends. Rava idlis, dosas and bisi bele bath are excellent. It has maintained its quality over the years and is very famous. It is on the road perpendicular to Lal bagh main gate.
Mid-range
[edit]- Alibaba Cafe & Restaurant, ☏ +91 80 4091 7163. Frazer Town. Arabian, Persian and Bhatkali cuisine described as "An Arabian Lake in the Indian Ocean". A themed restaurant with the feel of Arabia, Persia and India. The "Shaiya Biryani" of the Bhatkali cuisine, the Al faham chicken barbecue out of the Arabian cuisine and the chicken Jujeh kabab from the Persian cuisine are all recommended.
- Caesar's Multi Cuisine Restaurant, Mahalakshmi Chambers, 9/2, MG Rd. (beside HSBC bank opposite ING Bank). 6:30PM–11:30PM. Indian and continental food. Classic environment. The ambience is good, though the food is a tad expensive. Parking is a problem.
- Canopy, PU Building, M.G. Rd. Open air, multi-cuisine North-Indian food. Cooking techniques date back to the independence era offering the unique taste. Great outdoor ambiance in the middle of the central business district. ₹125-750
- Ebony, MG Rd (on the 13th floor of the tallest building on MG Rd, Utility building). Stylish eatery with excellent evening views of the city. Service is a bit slow, but the ambiance makes it worth the wait. Book ahead for a terrace seat. ₹200-400
- 6 Koshy's, St. Marks Rd (Below Church St). A Bangalore institution, serving a smattering of Western favorites (like fish and chips) along with the usual South Indian fare in a bohemian-for-India atmosphere. On weekends, they serve up greasy Western-style breakfast, including omelettes and Bombay (i.e, French) Toast. Appam and stew is their Sunday breakfast special and a must eat. Turn right at the entrance for the more expensive (and decidedly less charming) A/C room. ₹50-200. Smoky, with sluggish service, and not particularly clean Koshy's still has plenty of character and history but its getting harder to justify their skyrocketing prices.
- Le Rock Pub Cafe, Rest House Rd (Off Brigade Rd), ☏ +91 80 4123 1001. Hot coffee to chilled Kingfisher beer on the tap awesome cocktails and even hand rolled Havana cigars. Salads, sandwiches, jacket baked potatoes to entrees. LRC also offers an Oxy Bar, Bangalore's first.
- Mainland China, Church St (Near Museum Rd), ☏ +91 80 2227 7722, +91 90 2224 5864. Upscale Chinese food. Good, fairly authentic food and excellent service. Serves a decent lunch buffet. Also new outlet on 100ft Road, Indiranagar. ₹500-800.
- Pinxx, Manipal centre (off MG Rd). A great place for Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. ₹200-400 per head.
- Samarkand, Gem Plaza, 66, Infantry Rd (East of Central St), ☏ +91 80 4111 3366. North West frontier food (i.e., kebabs, Afghani) in a kitschy atmosphere but the food is great. You will need to book on weekends. ₹300-600.
Splurge
[edit]- Blue Ginger, Taj West End (just next door to Blue Bar). High-end Vietnamese restaurant with a beautiful setting and excellent food.
- Graze, Taj Residency, MG Rd. Has some of the best creative continental you will get in Bangalore.
- I.Talia, Park Hotel, Opposite 1 MG, Old Madras Rd. Has the best Italian food in town
- Karavalli, Residency Rd (at the Gateway Hotel), ☏ +91 80 2558-4545. Mangalorean, Goa, Karwar, and Kerala style cuisine. Best Indian food you will get when visiting BLR.
- Monsoon, Park Hotel, Old Madras Rd (Next to Taj Residency). 24 hr cafe with a variety of Continental Dishes, Indian, Southeast Asian and Mediterranean. Ideal location for private parties.
- Olive Beach, Wood St. A long time favourite that will serve you Italian meats and cheese in a nice setting, this is still among Bangalore's best.
- The Raj Pavilion, ITC Windsor Manor, Golf Course Rd.. 24/7 restaurant that offers the taste of the British Raj. Anglo-Lucknowi, Far East and Continental cuisine is served. Amongst the best in Bangalore.
- Sunny's, 34 Vittal Mallya Rd (at Embassy Diamante), ☏ +91 80 5132-9366, +91 80 5132-9391. Among the best restaurants in Bangalore. Try the starters, salads and pasta is fine here. Hot sandwiches for lunch. Also has a branch at Indira Nagar. About ₹1,200 for a 3-course meal for two, excluding drinks.
- Vaayu, 5th floor, Eve Mall, Brigade Rd. It has comfortable lounge seating, and is open air, giving some nice views over the city.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Café Coffee Day, ☏ +91 80 4001 2345. Popularly known as CCD. Established in 1996, at Brigade Road, Bangalore, the chain has over 1,000 cafes throughout India. It is found all over Bangalore.
- Coffee Workers Co-op, Church St's Brigade Gardens. A venerable Bangalore institution, with waiters in traditional uniforms and customers slowly savoring the age-old tradition of coffee drinking - though there are just two choices of coffee: black or white. Have some delightful "masala dosa" here.
- Java City, Church St. Pleasant old Bangalore atmosphere. Offers a wide variety of tea, coffee from all over the world including pizza, pasta, pastries, cookies, you name it they have it plus you get to see a unique sense of humor in their menu and on the walls. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, there is live music, rock and guitar. This place is simple, expatriate friendly and not at all pricy. There is another Java City near Lavelle Road.
Mid-range
[edit]- Bull n Bush, 4th floor, Garuda Mall. Plays hip hop, house and occasionally trance. ₹500 cover charge.
- The Bunker, off Residency Rd.
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