While Park Street, Hindustan Park and Southern Avenue remain hubs for the city’s most popular cafes, a number of localities in south Kolkata have recently seen quaint cafes come up. Garia in the far south, too, has joined the bandwagon of late.
So, if you’re in the mood to cafe-hop south of the Metro route one weekend, here are a few hideouts to check out in and around Garia:
Cafe 112
Located just across the Usha Bridge, opposite the Metro tracks, Cafe 112 is a homely cafe sporting interiors that reflect a conventional dining room setting. The idea behind the cafe’s decor and food is to create a place that feels like home, so that families and friends can hang out in comfort. The walls of the cafe are dotted with film posters — from both Tollywood and Hollywood — that make for excellent conversation starters!
Eats available at Cafe 112 include snacky bites that make for perfect mid-day meals. Most ordered items on the eatery’s menu include the All Day Breakfast of sausages, bacon, ham, eggs, toast and tea or coffee, Fry Baskets that come in two variations (either three or five types of fry-ups), and bacon-wrapped sausages. The cafe also has a number of coffees up for grabs — from traditional cappuccinos and Irish coffees to hazelnut, vanilla and cinnamon-flavoured coffees.
Location: 112 Subodh Park, Bansdroni, Naktala, Kolkata (near Usha Bridge)
Pocket-pinch: Rs 500 for two
Timings: 11am to 9pm
Boho The Sky Café
Garia’s sole rooftop cafe — Boho The Sky Café is a quirky haunt that’s made for the gram! Done up in a bohemian theme with a rustic vibe, the sky lounge overlooks the Kavi Nazrul Metro station on one end and Garia’s main road on the other. It has a number of Italian and American picks on the menu — from Spaghetti Aglio E Olio, Margherita Pizza and Caprese Salad to Grilled Chicken Burgers, Honey Glazed Wings and Buffalo Wings.
The dessert and drinks options at the sky cafe are extensive. Choose between Baked Alaska (a sponge cake baked with ice cream), Gajar Halwa Baklava (fried baklava stuffed with gajar halwa) and Sweet Banana Fritters (sliced chocolate-coated bananas served with ice cream and fruit) for dessert, and Desi Tandoori Pineapple Colada (a blend of pineapple juice, curd, ice cream and burnt pineapple), Caramel Popcorn Mojito (a mojito served with caramel popcorn in an old-fashioned glass) and Sunset of Boho (a blend of lychee, grenadine and curacao syrup) to quench your thirst.
Location: 1518, Main Road, Garia, Kolkata (above Baraf)
Pocket-pinch: Rs 800 for two
Timings: Noon to 10pm
Calcutta Bakery Cafe
Stop by Calcutta Bakery Cafe for breakfast. The little cafe has an egg-cellent breakfast menu and is one of the few cafes in the area that serves the hog. Choose between Cloud Eggs, Fluffy Eggs, Egg Witch or a classic omelette (with ham, if you like). If you’re up for a more extravagant feast, however, go for the Dadagiri Platter. It comes with French toast, cheese toast, sautéed mushrooms, bacon, ham, sausages (chicken or pork), baked beans, hash browns, eggs sunny-side-up, grilled tomatoes, and vanilla pancakes with maple syrup. A feast, indeed.
The bakery also has a number of soups, sandwiches and burgers on offer which make for great snacks along with larger portions of pastas, pizzas and steaks to devour, if you’re craving a bigger plate.
Location: 86/276, Raja SC Mullick Road, Baghajatin, Kolkata
Pocket-pinch: Rs 600 for two
Timings: 9am to 10pm
Cafe Spilled Beans
A gem on Garia Station Road, Cafe Spilled Beans makes for a great place to work or chill. The hideout serves quintessential cafe fare that is a real crowd-puller. Fan favourites include Chilli Cheese Toast, Chicken Pops, Nachos with Salsa Dip, Fish Fingers, Bar-be-que Chicken Pizza and Spilled Beans Special Sandwiches. It also has an extensive beverage menu of coolers, shakes, cold coffees and hot beverages. Offbeat items on their drinks menu (which are must-tries) include a peppermint-infused tea, toffee-flavoured coffee, an oh-so-chocolatey cold coffee and a refreshing blackcurrant mojito.
The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating — so take your pick!
Location: 2, Garia Station Road, Near Kavi Nazrul Metro, Garia, Kolkata
Pocket-pinch: Rs 600 for two
Timings: Noon to 10pm
Cafe Drifter
Head to Cafe Drifter if you’re in the mood for some snacky savouries! The cafe which is geared towards creating a comfy space that customers can call their own recently released a revamped menu with a number of exciting options. There’s Break The Fast (all-day breakfast) Salad Therapy (fresh salads), Heart Warmers (soups), Your Sand-wish is My Demand (a range of sandwiches), Pastadente (pasta), Knead Pizzeria (pizza) and more to choose from. Each dish at Cafe Drifter is whipped up using fresh local produce, so it’s always healthy and delicious.
Location: E/1, 19, Baghajatin Station Road, Ajanta Park, Baghajatin, Kolkata (beside Ramthakur Ashram)
Pocket-pinch: Rs 450 for two
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
Lounge Café
This one’s a real surprise! Garia’s No. 6 Bus Stand is like no other in the city — it houses a cafe on its roof. Tucked away inside the terminus, the Lounge Café is a fantastic stopover after a long journey for a quick bite or even a meal. It offers pizzas, pastas, momos, salads, sandwiches, different types of eggs and a number of chef’s specials. Chicken Mexican Steak, Grilled or Baked Fish, Chicken Ala Kiev, and Thai Green Curry are a few of the most popular items at the cafe. Try the Aam Panna or the Blue Lagoon if you’re in need of a refreshing drink!
Location: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Road, Garia 6 Bus Stand, Garia, Kolkata
Pocket-pinch: Rs 300 for two
Timings: Noon to 10pm
Sarobar The Cafe Studio
Sarobar The Cafe Studio is a studio-cum-cafe serving up food and fashion. Located in Baghajatin, the cafe sports an aesthetic ambiance so you can stage a photo-op just about anywhere. The eatery serves Continental classics like the Prawn Newburg, Chicken Parmigiana and Chicken Tetrazzini, Italian mainstays and a host of scrumptious sandwiches. Try the Chicken Tikka and Cheddar Melt and the Tomato, Mozzarella and Pesto sandwich!
Sarobar The Cafe Studio has ethnic attire and accessories on sale. So, shop while you cafe hop!
Location: 155, Baghajatin Block C, C/5, Baghajatin Colony, Baghajatin, Kolkata
Pocket-pinch: Rs 500 for two
Timings: Noon to 10.30pm
