Must-see restaurants in Kerala

  • Cocoa Tree

    Kochi (Cochin)

    With trailing plants, gleaming fresh-cake displays and newspapers to flick through, this bright cafe makes a sophisticated, rustic-chic retreat from busy…

  • 8 Point Art Cafe

    Kerala

    On the fun side of Ashtamudi Lake, 1km north of the jetty, this creative cafe in a restored heritage building with a breezy verandah and a leafy garden is…

  • Taste the Brews

    Munnar

    An easy-going traveller-oriented cafe, opposite the bus station, for Continental-style breakfasts (omelettes, fruit salads), fresh juices, carrot cake and…

  • Zains

    Kozhikode (Calicut)

    A local favourite for its Malabar dishes, biryanis and snacks, with a small terrace out the front, three-decades-old Zains is run by the entrepreneurial…

  • Suprabhatham

    Kovalam

    It doesn't look like much, but this rustic pure-veg courtyard restaurant hidden back from Lighthouse Beach dishes up excellent Keralan-style cooking,…

  • Sahib's Grill

    Kannur

    Tables dot a wraparound verandah overlooking a shady garden with vibrant hand-painted murals at this warm, sociable and contemporary hang-out, 700m west…

  • Fishmongers

    Kochi (Cochin)

    On the footpath behind the Chinese fishing nets are several fishmongers, from whom you can buy fish, prawns, scampi or lobster, then take your selection…

  • Wilton Restaurant

    Northern Kerala

    A stand-out roadside restaurant on the western outskirts of Sultanbatheri, where snappy service delivers an eclectic menu of North and South Indian,…

  • Malabar Cafe

    Kovalam

    The busy red-cloth tables tell a story: attentive service, candlelight at night and views through pot plants to the crashing waves set the tone for…

  • Curry Leaf

    Kovalam

    On a gently sloping hillside above Samudra Beach, this two-storey restaurant boasts enviable ocean and sunset views beyond slender palms, while keen staff…

  • Loafers Corner

    Kochi (Cochin)

    A stylishly restored 200-year-old Dutch-Portuguese-style building, Loafers is all reclaimed wood, minimalist design, cosy window booths and delicate…

  • Le Coffee Time

    Alappuzha (Alleppey)

    A friendly, tucked-away courtyard cafe at Nanni Backpackers Hostel, 500m west of the beach, with a genuine Italian espresso machine, where you can tuck…

  • Corniche Resto

    Kerala

    Indian flavours infuse the global-inspired menu at this fashionable hang-out furnished with cosy booths, suspended lamps and coffee paraphernalia. Spicy…

  • Rock Cafe

    Kovalam

    A friendly, simple seaside old-timer with check-print tablecloths and reliably good fresh cooking, hidden behind fishing boats where Hawa Beach meets…

  • A Beach Cafe

    Kovalam

    An easy-going balcony restaurant overlooking Lighthouse Beach, Indian-Swedish-operated ABC does a wide-ranging global menu of omelettes, soups, veg…

  • Navaratna Restaurant

    Kerala

    Dark, intimate and air-con-cooled, this is one of the classier dining experiences in the city centre, with marble-effect floors and seating at check-cloth…

  • Chilliout Cafe

    Kerala

    A breezy, open-sided, French-Portuguese-Indian-run hang-out for sea views, relaxed vibes and authentically good European-style comfort food right by the…

  • Ali Baba & 41 Dishes

    Munnar

    A sizzling Indian-international menu of red-hot noodles, spiced seafood platters, paneer/chicken tikka, northern gravies and southern thalis draws locals…

  • MRA

    Kannur

    Tucked into the entrance to Kannur's train station, MRA does delicious biryanis and tandoori platters as well as dosas and Keralan classics like molee …

  • Barbeque Nation

    Kochi (Cochin)

    You'll be cooking up your own chicken, prawn, fish, falafel or paneer skewers (spiced to individual heat levels) on personal grilling stations before…

  • God's Own Country Kitchen

    Varkala

    This fun place doesn't really need to play on the Kerala Tourism tagline – the Indian-international food is good (including spiced fish wrapped in banana…

  • Halais

    Alappuzha (Alleppey)

    Locally famous for its chicken and mutton biryanis, busy Halais is a clean restaurant hidden behind a street-front sweet shop. It's also popular for…

  • Saravana Bhavan

    Munnar

    Town-centre branch of South India's favourite pure-veg chain, serving all the idlis, dosas and filter coffee you could want. The restaurant was closed at…

  • Sree Mahaveer Bhojanalaya

    Munnar

    Friendly and well-dressed, this all-veg hit at the northern end of Munnar keeps busy with families for its great range of thalis: pick from Rajasthani,…

  • Kayees Ramathula Hotel

    Kochi (Cochin)

    This no-frills spot is legendary among Kochi locals for its lunchtime chicken, mutton and seafood biryanis – get here early or miss out. Don't confuse it…

  • Hotel Odhen's

    Kannur

    Kannur's must-try restaurant, in the market area, is usually packed at lunchtime. The speciality is Malabar cuisine, specifically the banana-leaf thalis…

  • Meenachil

    Kerala

    A favourite Kottayam spot to fill up on Indian and Chinese fare, hidden in a tidy modern upstairs restaurant in the heart of town. There's a friendly,…

  • Azad

    Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

    A busy family favourite serving authentic Keralan seafood dishes such as molee (fish pieces in coconut sauce) and prawn masala, and excellent biryanis and…

  • Wok & Grill

    Kerala

    The combination of Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisines turns out some delectable dishes at modern, well-kept Wok & Grill, just west of central Kollam…

  • Dreamers

    Alappuzha (Alleppey)

    Designed to resemble a kettuvallam (rice barge), Dreamers stands across the road from Alleppey Beach, where it's unfortunately being blighted by a massive…

  • Salkara

    Kozhikode (Calicut)

    From the team behind Calicut's famous Paragon Restaurant, frills-free Salkara fuels hungry rail travellers with Malabari biryanis, steaming filter coffee,…

  • Juice Shack

    Varkala

    Relocated to less shack-like premises (after the original burnt down), the Juice Shack turns out creative, health-focused tropical juices and smoothies in…

  • Cochin Majlis

    Alappuzha (Alleppey)

    Indian, Chinese and Arabic flavours collide at smart Cochin Majlis, whose sprawling air-con dining hall and smattering of terrace tables are set back from…

  • Indian Coffee House

    Kerala

    Amid whirring ceiling fans and red plastic chairs, this super-central branch of the always-reliable ICH dishes out steaming biryanis, masala dosas (large…

  • Kream Korner Art Cafe

    Alappuzha (Alleppey)

    The most colourful dining space in town, this food-meets-art restaurant in Alleppey's bazaar area greets you with vibrant tables and contemporary local…

  • Swiss Cafe

    Kovalam

    On the north half of Lighthouse Beach, this 1st-floor cafe-restaurant, with its balcony and wicker chairs, stands out for tasty Euro dishes like rösti,…

  • Hotel Guru Prasad

    Kerala

    Tucked into a neatly repurposed red-and-white colonial-style building, in the heart of town, this busy all-veg spot draws the crowds with its cheap thalis…

  • Cafe Crafters

    Kochi (Cochin)

    At the heart of Mattancherry's Jewish quarter, with a small balcony above a sprawling antiques warehouse, this charming, low-key 1st-floor cafe-restaurant…

  • Upstairs Italian

    Kochi (Cochin)

    For authentic Italian – imported Gorgonzola, prosciutto, olive oil, Parmesan – head upstairs to this cosy mural-filled place serving Kochi's best pizza,…

  • Thaff

    Alappuzha (Alleppey)

    In the heart of town, popular Thaff cooks up expertly spiced South Indian bites (appam, idlis, Keralan meals, prawn masala), with some North Indian and…

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