With so many open spaces, it may appear easy to choose a café in Delhi – but the pickings become much narrower when you factor in amazing coffee, stellar food, an aesthetic that matches your vibe, and the ideal blend of busy and calm.
Our selection includes everything from quaint coffee shops to renowned coffee houses that have stood the test of time (and patron volatility), as well as magnificent venues with burrata and baos asking to be ‘Grammed.
1. Cafe Dori
But Delhi’s adoration for this hipster-packed converted warehouse is unquenchable. The Nappa Dori store-slash-café, arguably the first to put the (now) posh nerve-centre Dhan Mill Compound on the map, is a perennial favorite for its airy areas with plants, panelled windows, carrot cake, and pet-friendly policies (and menu).
2. Rose Cafe
This lovely and pastel-infused cafe is worth the ever-confusing walk through the backstreets of Saidulajab. Once inside, the room is ideal for a lengthy winter reading session accompanied with a cup of French Pressed and Pesto Chicken waffles, or a summer day with an Iced Chamomile & Mint Basil Tea. They also offer a vegan menu for those who prefer to live a plant-based lifestyle.
3. Cafe Lota
Lota is a Delhi institution, having been housed in the National Crafts Museum for decades and competing with another central Delhi cult favorite we’ll cover later on our list. Despite the fact that a new cafe opens every day, Lota devotees go to the thatched-roofed Pragati Maidan hangout every week for their fill of Chicken Samosa, Bombay Keema Bao, and Bhapa Doi Cheesecake.
4. The Grammar Room
Since mid-2018, when Olive Delhi chose to transform its private dining area to The Grammar Room, the city has been raving about its sunny outside setting and delectable brunch menu. The Katsu Sandwich and Shrimp Benedict Brioche will quickly become favorites, as will their famed Cookie and Milk, which tastes just like childhood comfort food. Start with a flute of their Raspberry Sorbet Spritzer (rosé, sorbet, ginger ale) when you’re ready to reclaim your adulthood.
5. Cafe Tesu
Since its opening in 2017, people have been drawn to this lovely little cafe by its large, bright letters that shine out at the famed Essex Farms roundabout. The turquoise and Navajo decor are bright and inviting, with indoor and outdoor seating, ideal for a relaxing coffee with a friend (their Old Rum Barrel is great). A side of their Fig, Bacon, and Blue Cheese pizza is also a good idea.
6. Blue Tokai
In our perspective, the original that started it all is still the best place to hang out. This store, located once again past the maze that is Saidulajab, will always be remembered for its outside space, which is bamboo-roofed and features hanging lanterns and wooden benches. They make a fantastic Cortado (espresso with textured milk), and while their coffee is the main attraction, we always get a plate of pancakes with candied bacon and fried eggs to accompany it.
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7. Triveni Terrace Cafe
Triveni Cafe, Lota’s unofficial foe (not formally, but it’s been a capital-created rivalry for years), has its own cult following of Delhi residents who go to its packed terrace on any weekend with decent weather. The old-school Mandi House coffee shop serves comfort cuisine like pakoras, aloo tikki chaat, and masala cheese toast with ragi bread, and has never felt compelled to extend its basic, three-page menu since public demand has never demanded it.
8. Diggin’
The Anand Lok room, with its brick walls and lovely lighting, and the Santushti space, with its ceilings and walls dripping with fresh bougainvillea, are both charming in their own way. Each one is more beautiful than the last, but we prefer the Santushti one since it allows you to explore this hidden-secret Delhi complex before ordering their Baked Goat Cheese and All Pork Sandwich.
9. Cafe Di Milano
Although most of the city’s greatest cafés are in South Delhi, Cafe Di Milano in Dwarka is one of the rare exceptions. White with flashes of color, the large, open area (with enough outdoor seating to accommodate even the busiest winter rush) is ideal for a day date. A cup of Irani chai, a slice of Mississippi Mudpie, and a cup of Charmula Chicken Pizza are all you need here.
10. Perch
Perch has remained a Khan Market favorite since it first opened its high stool and Vietnamese Iced coffee in the old city center several years ago. The gathering outside the small walk-up facility refuses to dissipate as they wait for a weekend brunch featuring handcrafted drinks and potato gnocchi. One of their best-kept secrets is their Porcini and Gouda Chicken Leg Roulade.
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