India’s finest all-day cafes

From breakfast to a late night drink, these stand-alone cafes add considerably to India's dining culture

Café Zoe Mumbai: One of this year’s most promising additions to Mumbai’s vibrant dining out scene and the brainchild of Tarini Mohindar, Viraf Patel (who was also associated with the launch of ) and Belgian Jeremie Horowitz, Café Zoe’s interiors stays true to its mill heritage with high ceilings, painted beams and unfinished red brick walls. There’s a smattering of Italian, Spanish and French cuisine in a menu full of compelling options. Cafe Zoe is open from 7:30 am to 1 am and features prices that might have you fighting to pay the bill. Read our full review here.

Amethyst, Chennai: The setting might not be as dramatic as the large heritage bungalow that was the previous home of Chennai’s trend-setting café/designer store. But the new location works almost equally well. Never-ending seating spread over a large area with minimalist décor and soothing landscaping backed with a menu full of comfort food that is perfect for a late Sunday breakfast or an early dinner just after work. Small wonder it's a magnet for Chennai’s glitterati.

Sunny’s Bangalore: Bangalore might boast of a long list of new cafes and delis that have sprung up over the past few years but Sunny’s, located near UB City, continues to hold sway even after all these years. Named after the founders’ (Arjun Sajnani and Vivek Ubhayakar) golden retriever, this all-day diner’s biggest calling card is its exquisite European fare like the scrumptious grilled lamb chops and spicy country-style barbeque chicken. And desserts like the ganache tart and the frozen meringue cake make it the perfect dessert and coffee pit stop.

Teapot Café, Kochi: A welcome addition to Fort Cochin’s eclectic mix of restaurants and cafes, this café is located in a quaint building within a maze of narrow, historic streets in the old quarter. The décor is dominated by teapots of different sizes and the menu features a smattering of teas and nibbles. The cheesecake is probably the best in town and the café is a hub for luxury travellers and backpackers alike.

Café at Moon River, Delhi: Not one of Delhi’s most popular cafes but easily one of the city’s cosiest. Located in South Delhi’s Defence Colony, the café takes its name from the theme song for the Hollywood classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The café’s Rattan chairs are the ideal place to curl up with one of the books from the large library in-house if your girlfriend is the type who keeps you waiting. The ‘blooming’ teas here are a must-try.

Flury’s Kolkatta: You might love or loathe the completely refurbished Flury’s but if you want evidence of how popular this iconic establishment is, try getting a table for breakfast on a Sunday. This legendary ‘tearoom’ on Park Street dates back to 1927 and while the menu might not have changed much, it still continues to be one of the city’s favourite meeting places.

-Ashwin Rajagopalan

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