11 Best Places To Eat In Pondicherry - Treat Your Taste Buds!

places to eat in pondicherry
Nevedha
Nevedha 
Updated
| 5 min read

Pondicherry, also called ‘Puducherry’, is a town situated on the Bay of Bengal, and is known as the Little France of India. The town is known for its marked colonial history, and the influences of numerous colonial powers, including those of the Netherlands, Portugal, France and England, can still be felt in the town today. These influences are particularly noticeable in the town’s restaurant scene, which features a variety of international flavors mixed in with the traditional Indian cuisine. Here we list 10 of the best restaurants in Pondicherry.

1. Kasha ki Aasha

Posted by Kasha Ki Aasha on Sunday, 3 April 2016

A restaurant that provides good food and shopping as well; might sound too good to be true, but here in Pondicherry you’ll find just that. Kasha ki Aasha is a culturally significant restaurant. On entering the restaurant you are greeted by local Tamilian women, who have been a part of the restaurant for 10 years. Walking towards the rooftop restaurant, it is hard to miss the walls that are adorned with art and photographs that showcase the tradition and culture of India and its history. The restaurant also offers unique hand-made products from all around India.

Kasha ki Aasha

Address: 23 Rue Surcouf, Puducherry 605001

Website: Kasha ki Aasha

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2. Cafe Xtasi

Bad boy burgers...try our humble Giants 🙈

Posted by Cafe Xtasi Pondicherry on Tuesday, 7 February 2017

This new pizzeria offers 20 different pastas, 60 different pizzas and salads, most of which are based on their own recipes. Home delivery is also possible. This place is well known for its amazing pizzas. You can smell the cheese scented smoke wafting out of their huge chimney when you enter the place. The menu speaks of one thing and one thing alone, pizza and more pizza. They have nearly 30 pizzas sitting there in three different sizes. They’ve also got pastas and drinks and the occasional day’s special - pork chops.

Cafe Xtasi

Address: Shop No.245, Mission Street, MG Road Area, Opposite VOC School, Puducherry 605001

Facebook: Cafe Xtasi

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3. La Villa Shanti

Villa Shanti by Sai Joshi

Posted by Villa Shanti Pondicherry on Friday, 6 May 2016

Occupying a 100-year-old building revamped by two French architects, Villa Shanti puts an exquisitely contemporary twist on the French Quarter heritage hotel. Beautiful modern rooms combine super chic design with typically Tamil materials and colonial-style elegance: four-poster beds, Chettinadu tiles, walk-through bathrooms, and Tamil-language murals. The sunken courtyard houses a hugely popular restaurant and bar.

La Villa Shanti

Address: 14 Suffren Street, White Town, Puducherry 605001

Website: La Villa Shanti

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4. Surguru

A good dosa always has our heart ❤️ This one is the Podi Dosa at Hotel Surguru, Pondicherry 😍 Picture Credits : @manan_t 🙃

Posted by The Food Fishing Company on Thursday, 16 March 2017

The best dosas and thalis served with flavorsome coconut ad tomato chutneys. Do try their meals (thalis) and I am sure you will end up licking your fingers. The assortment of rice, sambhar, korma, avial, chutnies, rasam, puri and curry should be on top of your priority list.

Surguru

Address: Many locations are available, refer to website

Website: Surguru

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5. The Indian Kaffe Express

Cheese Paratha
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bhavika Nanda used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Indian Kaffe Express or TIKE is an elegant as well as cozy restaurant in the French Quarter of Pondicherry, near the Police headquarters and church “Eglise Notre-Dame des Anges”. The menu is limited but serves some unique dishes from Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi like jhalmuri, Bombay sandwich, Delhi tikki chaat, with a touch of Europe like couscous salad and crepes. Apart from egg varieties, no non-veg preparation is served. Coffee is its specialty. Wi-Fi is available at a nominal charge. Overall it is a good joint for breakfast, brunch and tea/coffee. It also specializes in organizing small get togethers where one may book the place and throw a themed party!

The Indian Kaffe Express

Address: 3, Rue Dumas Street, Near IG Office, White Town, Puducherry 605001

Website: The Indian Kaffe Express

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6. Tanto Pizzeria

Posted by Tanto Pizzeria Trattoria on Saturday, 8 August 2015

The best Italian food, Tanto Pizzeria is your one stop shop for the best Italian food in Pondicherry. The pizzas at Tanto are certainly to die for. The portion size is more than satisfactory and the quality of the ingredients is impeccable. Try any pizza on the menu and you won’t regret it. They also have beautiful sorbets and desserts, however, on my part, I will highly recommend tiramisu to those who love sweets.

Tanto Pizzeria

Address: Main Road, Near Iyyanar Koil Kullapalyam, Auroville, Puducherry 605101

Website: Tanto Pizzeria

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7. La Maison Rose

14. Pondicherry The ‘little Paris’ of India, Pondy is a faded colonial villa with a hint of bohemian-chic. You’re in...

Posted by Curio Tours And Travels.Com on Monday, 22 May 2017

La Maison Rose is a slice of heaven located in the White Town of Pondicherry. The restaurant was an old colonial house, and the subtle colors that fill the interior of the restaurant immediately create a sense of peacefulness within you. There is also seating available outside, perfect for a breezy chat during the day or an intimate candle lit dinner at night. Highlights from the menu include the heavenly chicken breast with green tabouli and sweet lime relish, a must-try when visiting La Maison Rose.

La Maison Rose

Address: Auroville, Bommayapalayam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

Website: La Maison Rose

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8. Café Des Arts

Croque-Monsieur is new. New cheese, new ham, new bread, new look! yummy! #pondicherry #cafedesarts #croquemonsieur #croquemoi

Posted by Café des Arts on Saturday, 13 August 2016

Heavenly French food: Café Des Arts is a concept store in the White Town, which is also famous for serving authentic French food – the breakfast especially, is a huge draw. A beautifully conceptualized place, Café Des Arts has vintage décor, a laid back vibe and the tastiest ratatouille sandwiches and crepes. You can spend your whole day sitting here reading a book and sipping on the heavenly beverages. One can shop for beautiful artifacts at the adjoining Nirvana store. The also organize a Vintage Design Bazaar every first Saturday of the month.

Café Des Arts

Address: 10, Suffren Street, White Town, Puducherry 605001

Facebook: Café Des Arts

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9. LB2 Lounge

Introducing "SUMMER SPECIAL DESSERT" from today onwards in LB2 lounge.."SUMMER FALOODA"...

Posted by LB2 Lounge on Thursday, 13 April 2017

LB2 Lounge & Rooftop became functional on New Year’s Eve in 2011. It started functioning on the ground floor with an outdoor seating area, which was quite like the cafes in Europe. In 2015, the restaurant was expanded with the outdoor seating taken out and the first floor and a rooftop area were added, which was opened on New Year’s Eve of 2015. It serves the best of Indian, continental & Italian cuisine and lip licking cocktails which are the best in town. LB2 Lounge & Rooftop is one of the best places to wine and dine and have fun in Pondicherry.

LB2 Lounge

Address: 2, La Bourdonnais St, White Town, Puducherry 605001

Website: LB2 Lounge

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10. Satsanga

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Satsanga aims to keep its guests happy and healthy through a delicious yet fresh menu. Located on La Bourdonnais Street, Satsanga grows their vegetables organically and serves a fresh ‘catch of the day’ on their seafood menu. They believe in serving fresh and organic food, resulting in delicious, flavorsome dishes. The large space allows the guest to linger in the courtyard garden, admiring the works that are displayed in the regularly held exhibitions.

Satsanga

Address: 54, La Bourdonnais Street, Near PWD New Head Office, Puducherry 605001

Facebook: Satsanga

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11. Cafe Udupi Ruchi

Cafe Udupi Ruchi is a delightful restaurant mainly catering to lovers of South Indian cuisine. The establishment is ideally located right along the promenade in White Town and provides lovely sea views. It offers both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned seating areas and a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

South Indian delicacies served here include crispy dosas, fluffy idlis, and flavorful vadas. You must also try the aromatic filter coffee served in quintessential steel glasses. The place is ideal for enjoying a wholesome breakfast by the sea.

Cafe Udupi Ruchi

Address: No. 50, Goubert Avenue, Beach Rd, White Town, Puducherry, 605001

Website: Cafe Udupi Ruchi

Opening hours: 8am - 11pm (daily)

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Why not try your hand at cooking traditional recipes? (20 USD)

places to eat in pondicherry | why not try your hand at cooking traditional recipes?

If you are looking for something a little different for lunch, then this one is for you! Get a crash course in local cuisine with our professional chef and share her enthusiasm for food. The course will begin with a trip to the market to buy fresh ingredients for the meal. Choose from among vegetarian or non-vegetarian menu or North Indian menu. You will not only get to enjoy fabulous local dishes. You will also get to take an active role preparing them from scratch while learning some tips about the ingredients, spices and the meal at the kitchen table. As a bonus, you will also take home a booklet of recipes and tasty souvenirs.

Indian cooking class with Manisha

Price: 20 USD

Duration: 4 hours

Never disappoint your tummies

The food in Pondicherry is outlined with a dominant influence of the French cuisine, especially in its elements and styles. I, myself am a proud Pondicherrian. A lot of restaurants serve authentic French food - definitely the best place in India for French cuisine. Some of the popular items here are baguettes, croissants, Italian baked beans, stuffed cabbage and many more. The Union Territory also derives flavors from the neighboring South Indian states and you can find countless South Indian preparations (specially tamil) in the city. Pay a visit here and leave with happy tummies.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Nevedha, an engineering graduate, channels her passion for travel through her lifestyle website, Life Simplified 101. Writing is her liberating medium, allowing words to articulate her thoughts....Read more

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