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NDTV
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Where To Eat In Pondicherry If You Are Not Just Here For The Photos
You can blame Instagram for the post-pandemic rush of visitors to Pondicherry in the 2020s. Travellers no longer just drive in from Chennai or Bengaluru for the weekend - they arrive from all over India, drawn to the photogenic charm of this former French colony. The French Quarter (also known as White Town) has become the epicentre for content creators who have already marked out the best photo spots. Think bougainvillaea-draped yellow villas and sun-dappled streets, especially around Romain Rolland Street. It is here, on this iconic street, that you will now find Pondicherry's newest lifestyle cafe. Chennai's beloved Ciclo Cafe has opened in Upasana - a century-old French villa that comes with more than just retro architecture. Ang Lee's Life of Pi pushed Pondicherry onto the global map yet again with four Oscar wins and eleven nominations. Upasana, which features in the film as Pi's childhood home, has been one of Pondy's most photographed buildings ever since. We round up some of the best cafes in Pondicherry - places that double up as lifestyle destinations and serve more than just good coffee and dessert. Whether you are here for French toast or artisanal cocktails, White Town's cafe scene is all about slow living with great flavour. Also Read: Pondicherry: This French-Inspired Indian Town Will Make You Hit The Brakes On Life Looking For The Best Cafes In Pondicherry? Start With These Favourites: 1. Ciclo Cafe Ciclo Cafe is the latest entrant in a town known for its laidback cafe culture - places where breakfast at 11 am and lunch at 4 pm are perfectly acceptable. Set in a restored villa and spread across 7,000 sq. ft., Ciclo's Pondy outpost unfolds over two levels. Most diners are drawn to the upper floor, which offers sweeping views of the street below - the perfect setup for living your best Pondy life. The menu includes signature dishes like fig bruschetta, mutton biryani and thin-crust pizzas. The highlight, however, might be their small-batch ice creams - do try the Nutella or Pistachio. The cafe also serves hearty brunches and gourmet coffee. Location: Rue Romain Rolland 2. The Spot The yellow exterior wall of this cafeis one of Pondicherry's most Instagrammed backgrounds. But step inside and there is more - rooftop views of the Bay of Bengal, a laidback vibe and a menu that jumps between Italian and Indian. The Pain Perdu (that is French toast, in case you are wondering) and Tiramisu are worth ordering, as are the wood-fired pizzas and Pondicherry-style chicken curry. Location: Dumas Street 3. Coromandel Cafe Brought to life by the team behind Chennai's Amethyst, this stylish cafe is set in a pastel-hued French villa called La Maison Rose. With vintage Athangudi tiles underfoot and lush greenery all around, it is a mood. The menu blends European dishes with Indian accents, there are also seasonal specials and hand-crafted cocktails. Location: Rue Romain Rolland Also Read: 6 Of Pondicherry's Best Outdoor Dining Spaces 4. La Villa This restaurant is part of the boutique hotel La Villa and is tucked into a 19th-century mansion. The garden setting and columned arches give it a colonial-era feel. While the menu leans towards French fine dining, the kitchen uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Choose from à la carte dishes or go for the Chef's tasting menu if you are in the mood for something elaborate. Location: Rue Surcouf 5. Anthe Located close to the Rock Beach (as locals call it), Anthe is one of Pondicherry's newest fine dining restaurants. Opened in late 2023, it features four distinct seating areas, including an alfresco garden space. The menu covers a wide range - from fresh catch of the day to decadent desserts. Anthe comes alive in the evenings, making it an ideal dinner spot. Location: Rue Romain Rolland Also Read: Ironhill India Bangalore: Where Craft Beer Meets Culinary Delights And Good Vibes 6. Bread & Chocolate If you have ever been to Auroville, you know Bread & Chocolate. The White Town outpost brings that same energy, simple, high-quality bakes and croissants that rival anything you will find in Paris. The Pain au chocolat is possibly the best in town and pairs beautifully with their hand-brewed coffees. Also worth trying: the house-made sourdough and rich chocolate spreads. Location: Marine Street, near Aurobindo Ashram 7. Le Petit Four Pondicherry may have had French influence for centuries, but it took a while for proper Paris-style macarons to arrive. Le Petit Four finally fixed that. This charming little bakery serves up the finest macaroons, baguettes, croissants and sandwiches. A must-stop for anyone craving an authentic French pastry experience. Location: La Bourdonnais Street Advertisement About Ashwin Rajagopalan I am the proverbial slashie - a content architect, writer, speaker and cultural intelligence coach. School lunch boxes are usually the beginning of our culinary curiosity hasn't waned. It's only got stronger as I've explored culinary cultures, street food and fine dining restaurants across the world. I've discovered cultures and destinations through culinary motifs. I am equally passionate about writing on consumer tech and travel. For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Pondicherry Pondicherry Guide Cafes Show full article Comments
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ciclo Cafe: Blending pedals with plates on a boutique hospitality journey, ET HospitalityWorld
Advt Advt By , ETHospitalityWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETHospitalityWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App What started as a niche experiment in cycling culture back in 2015 has quietly grown into a unique hybrid hospitality venture. Chennai-based Ciclo Cafe , founded by Ashish Thadani , marries the worlds of leisure dining and cycling, and is now gearing up for a fresh chapter—one that includes boutique stays and a deeper dive into experiential hospitality 'We were passionate about food, and we were passionate about cycling. Ciclo Cafe was the result of bringing both those passions together under one roof,' said Thadani, the director of the Cafe first opened in Chennai in March 2015 as a joint venture between Thadani's company and TI Cycles , one of India's largest bicycle manufacturers. Inspired by European bicycle cafes—like those by premium Italian cycle brand Bianchi—the idea was simple: build a space where cycling culture could thrive alongside good Ciclo Cafe expanded its base quickly to other cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Gurugram quickly, 'with the realignment' in TI Cycle family and the decision to withdraw from retail business led to the breakup of the JV partnership in 2018. Thadani then shifted his focus to Chennai and started consolidating the cafe business there.'At that time, cycling as a sport or hobby was still very nascent in India,' recalls Thadani. Despite the JV supporting professional cycling, hosting the country's top riders and racing in national-level competitions, the sport's ecosystem remained fragile because of multiple reasons including the high equipment costs, limited sponsorship, and poor exposure for aspiring athletes, he said.'It's a chicken and egg story. Unless they participate, they don't get sponsors. But unless they have sponsors, they can't participate,' Thadani the journey after the break up of the JV, he said, 'Cycling was a hobby for me and F&B was my strength. So I decided to continue with the concept on my own and promote cycling in our own small way'.The focus shifted to consolidation and standardisation. By 2019, Ciclo set up a central kitchen and bakery in Chennai—an essential step to ensuring consistency across locations. Today, the brand operates four outlets in Chennai and recently opened its first cafe outside the city in Puducherry The Puducherry outlet, nestled in the heart of the city's White Town, adds a fresh dimension to the Ciclo experience—accommodation.'We've run hotels and serviced apartments before, so rooms weren't new to us. In Puducherry, the property had space for a few rooms, and it made perfect sense for travelers who wanted to experience the town, the food, and cycling—all in one,' said staying at the Puducherry cafe can borrow bikes to explore the scenic French quarters—a nod to the cafe's original inspiration. The brand now sees a potential hospitality play in other leisure destinations as well.'If we get similar opportunities in other cities we are glad to replicate the model,' he Cafe is not a quick-service restaurant. Instead, it positions itself as a leisure dining destination. From chandeliers made of spokes to bicycle-themed tables and lights, the aesthetic stays true to its the cycles are quite precious to them, all the Ciclo cafes allow cycles to be parked safely inside the about the food offerings, Thadani said that they had a special menu for nutrition-conscious cyclists including high-protein, low-carb meals, protein shakes, and hydration options available post-ride.'Being part of the cycling community myself, I know what riders need,' Thadani its growth, Ciclo Cafe remained entirely self-funded. Thadani said the team had deliberately stayed away from outside investment or aggressive franchising.'We're old school. Food is a very hands-on business. Until we find like-minded partners who share our passion for food and service, we prefer to own and operate our outlets,' he said, the team was open to collaborations with cycling brands—both Indian and international—as long as there was a clear F&B-retail alignment. With a scalable backend in Chennai and successful pilots like Puducherry. Thadani was optimistic about growing into tier-2 and tier-3 the kind of infrastructure he had set up in Chennai, Thadani believed that he could easily expand with at least eight to ten outlets in cities in the same radius as a hobby, Thadani believed that there were very few activities like cycling which foster social interactions, cohesion and community-driven lifestyle.'If we can get even a small percentage of people to lead a more active lifestyle through what we do, that's mission accomplished,' Thadani concluded.
