French Cafes To Beach Shacks, Here's A List Of Top Ten Restaurants In Pondicherry!

Pondicherry is a melting pot of French and Tamil culture, combined with pristine beaches and hippie vibes of Auroville. It’s also a paradise for foodies with its numerous French cafes, corner bakeries offering croissants and galettes and little shops selling chocolates. It can be overwhelming to choose places to visit but we have it all sorted for you with personal experiences from our trip to the quaint town. Here are 10 places you must dine at in Pondicherry.

1. Bay Of Buddha

bay of budha

Open only in the evenings and by the seaside, Bay of Buddha is one of the few places in Pondicherry offering Asian cuisine and with all the fresh seafood available in the town, it is a hit. We suggest you head here early to catch the sunset by the Promenade Beach, order drinks and take in the beauty of surroundings as well as the dreamy decor. Order up on Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Crispy Waterchestnuts & Bamboo Shoots, turmeric Grilled Squid and crab Cha Gio. Follow it up with Thai Banana Leaf Wrapped Fish or the Sushi Platter. Finish the meal with Basil Cheesecake and the Coconut Tapioca Pudding

Where: Bay Of Buddha, 23, Goubert Avenue, White Town, Puducherry
When: 7 pm to 11 pm
Price: Rs. 1,500 for two
Contact: 0413 2227751

2. Storytellers Bar

storytellers bar

Simply grab a drink, sit back and enjoy live music at Storytellers Bar. Our absolute favourite was Organic Piroshka with passionfruit, basil and curry leaf which we ordered twice! Other interesting drinks you can order are Tickled Pink Sangria, French Toast, Promenade Sunrise which are all signature drinks on the menu. For munchies, check out Tamarind Cashews, Cheese Bruschetta Platter, Gambas Al Ajillo and Creole Spiced Calamari. If you are looking for something more filling, order up the Roasted Vegetable & Goat’s Cheese Ravioli, Pondicherry Mutton Samosas and Spaghetti Seafood Marinara. We suggest you call ahead and visit on a day when there is a popular DJ or a band playing for the complete experience. 

Where: Storytellers Bar, 23, Goubert Avenue, White Town, Puducherry
When: 5 pm to 11 pm
Price: Rs. 800 for two
Contact: 0413 2227751

3. Le Dupliex

le dupilex

We are big fans of the franco-Tamil style rooms at Le Dupliex, but the menu at the restaurant in-house is lovely as well. Start off with the rich Roasted Pumpkin Soup or Creole Gumbo, Tawa-Fried Fish, Rasam Aux Crevettes and Trio Of Bruschetta which introduces Pondicherry’s local ingredients. Next up, order Saikyo Yaki Fish or Red Butter Lobster. Finish the meal with a sinful Baked Cheesecake, Tiramisu, homemade ice creams or Orange Ginger Sorbet.

Where: Le Dupliex, 5, Caserne Street, White Town, Puducherry, 605001
When: 12 pm to 10:30 pm
Price: 1,500 for two
Contact: 0413 222 6001 

4. Bread And Chocolate

bread and chocolates

If there is one place that you must NOT miss out when in Auroville, it is Bread And Chocolate. Known especially for their sublime breakfasts, we recommend the Breakfast Board which offers a little bit of everything on the menu. If you are looking for smaller options order the Melba Sandwich, PB&J Sandwich with fig jam, Vegan Tofu Scramble, Tropical Smoothie Bowl and wash it all down with the delicious Hot Chocolate (made with Mason and Co Chocolates). The cafe closes at 5 pm in the evening, so we suggest you head here early and it’s packed on the weekends. 

Where: Bread And Chocolate, Auroville Main Raod, Kuilapalayam, Auroville, Puducherry
When: 8 am to 5 pm
Price: 500 for two
Contact: 0413 2623778

5. Baker Street

baker street

Located in White Town area, this bakery is known for its croissants, galettes, cinnamon rolls and delicious pastries. We like that the spot is old school and counter looks like it belongs to the last decade. Order the coffee with their bread and don’t leave without trying the Paris Brest Eclair which comes with macadamia, pistachio on a light melt-in-mouth frosting. For lunch or dinner, try the Pork Burger which is meaty or the Baguette Sandwiches. Some bakes which we recommend are the French-style Cheesecake, Galette De Rois and other éclair options. 

Where: Baker Street, 123, Bussy Street, MG Road, Puducherry
When: 7 am to 9:30 pm
Price: Rs. 400 for two
Contact: 9944850001

6. Coromandel Cafe

coromandel cafe

Coromandel Cafe was listed under Top 50 restaurants in India by Conde Nast Traveller and for a good reason. With its gourmet menu, stunning decor, the cafe is nestled in an old French Villa – La Maison Rose. Some insta-worthy dishes to try here would be Burnt Orange And Mozarella, Fontina Cheese & Pumpkin salad, Spicy Harissa Macaroni and Cream Cheese & Smoked Sailfish. You can drop by for their breakfast as well and order the Salted Caramel Coconut Apple Smoothie,  Banana Bread French Toast, Butter Spinach Benedict, Mason & Co Pancake Stack and the Cacao Butter Smoky Aubergine Bake. Finish with an Affogato or Cappucino.

Where: La Maison Rose, 8 Romain Rolland Street, White Town, Puducherry
When: 8:30 am to 10:30 pm
Price: Rs. 1,000 for two
Contact: 0413 2221100

7. Selviamma Home Food

selviamma

Fancy food aside, we think nothing comes close to the food served at a shack by the beachside. In fact, we loved the food here so much that we dropped by for three meals during the entire trip. Located on Serenity Beach, this place is not for the vegetarians. Order the (most amazing) Crab Fry, Squid Roast, Fried Para Fish and Shrimp Roast which goes well with the local rice and Fish Curry. You can even choose to have an Omelette but we didn’t bother and suggest you dig into fresh seafood instead. 

Where: Selviamma Home Food, Serenity Beach, Puducherry
When: 12 pm to 10 pm
Price: Rs. 60 onwards

8. Dharma Swasti

dharma swasti

While the Pondicherry town offers quite a bit of seafood, if you are vegan or vegetarian there is no better place to be than Auroville for its vegan cheeses, gelatos and more. Head to Dharma Swasti which has a beautiful hippie vibe complete with a store selling all things eco-friendly. And oh, the folks have the friendliest resident kitty. Order for filling vegan dishes like Massaman Curry, Thai Green Curry, Sushi, Cannelloni and Biryani. Wash it all down with Hot Spring Water in flavours like Ginger, Lemongrass and Mint Lemon. The smoothies like Alchemy and Avocado Savoury look interesting too. Finish with desserts like Avocado Pie and Choco Mousse for a sweet note. 

Where: Dharma Swasti, Auroville Main Road, Kuyilapalayam, Auroville, Puducherry
When: 10 am to 9:30 pm
Price: Rs. 500 for two
Contact: 9994614149

9. Gelato Factory

gelato factory

Pondicherry and Auroville are known for their gelatos but the best is from Gelato Factory. Ask the guy behind the counter for the season's specials and order up! We loved the Vegan Pistachio made from cashew milk (extra yummy because of extra nuttiness), Orange Ginger, Choco Orange, Tiramisu and Spicy Chocolate. We suggest you take a tub of your favourite gelato back to your homestay/hotel because you’ll be craving for another scoop soon after. 

Where: Gelato Factory, Auroville Main Road, Kuyilapalayam Puducherry
When: 10 am to 6 pm
Price: Rs. 500 for two
Contact: 0413 2623918

10. Auroville Bakery

auroville bakery

For the freshest and the yummiest bakes in the whole of Auroville and Pondicherry, head to Auroville Bakery. We have to warn you that the place is closed on Sundays and card payments are not accepted. That said, check out the Onion and Cheese Tart, Chocolate Almond Coconut Cake, Chocolate Croissant, Apple Cupcake, Rolls and Burgers. Wash it all down Papaya Lassi, Hot Chocolate or a cup of coffee. 

Where: Auroville Bakery. Kuilapalayam, Auroville, Puducherry
When: 7 am to 5:30 pm
Price: Rs. 150 for two
Contact: 0413 2622159

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