Tired of the aesthetically-pleasing cafes in Pondichery’s White Town? Looking for cozy restaurants and cafes outside main Pondicherry? You’ve arrived at the right place! Welcome to Auroville – where WiFi is optional but peace is guaranteed! It is a peaceful community where the primary means of exchange isn’t money, but services. Residents contribute their different services using their skills in exchange for goods and services, however, many services also rely on daily-use currency. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Auroville that you can visit for delicious bites and irresistible vibes. Here are our top picks for the same!
Top 5 Best Cafes & Restaurants In Auroville
Maiyam Past Food Restaurant
No, it’s not a typo in the name of the restaurant – you’ll know about why it’s called that. Maiyam is a place where you must head for some authentic South Indian lunch/dinner in Auroville. This is the place where you’ll find recipes straight out of your grandma’s kitchen – recipes that aren’t commonly found in most restaurants today.
The menu refreshes every day, so no two days at the restaurant are the same. Plus, with low seating, wooden furniture, and mats on the floor, the place is as comforting as it can be. The space itself beautifully captures the essence of having a wholesome, relaxed, and comforting meal. So, if you’re craving for homely meals in Auroville that’ll take you back in the past, Maiyam Past Food Restaurant is the place for you!
Address: Auroville Rd, near Edyanchavadi, Auroville, Edayanchavadi, Tamil Nadu 605101
Timings: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost for two: INR 400 to INR 600
Terrassen Cafe
If you’re looking for a vegan cafe in Auroville, Terrassen Cafe is the best place that we’d recommend. With a well-decorated, eclectic space, the cafe instantly pulls you in the moment you step inside. The cafe, with its minimal yet elegant decor makes a space that calms you down. Plus, the tinted windows, traditional roof, and Indian decor elements add a sense of traditionalism to the space.
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Terrassen Cafe is a unique vegan cafe that effortlessly blends two of India’s most distinct cuisines – the Hyderabadi and Rajasthani cuisines. And it does all of it while keeping it cruelty-free and plant-based. At Terrassen Cafe, you must try out their signature dishes like Laal Maas Jackfruit Curry, Chole Bhature, Keema Biryani, and Jackfruit Dum Biryani to get a taste of fusion Rajasthani and Hyderabadi fusion food – all without involving meat! So, if you are vegan and yet crave for delicious meat-based foods, now you know where to head to in Auroville.
Address: Arcade land, Auroville Rd, opposite New Era School, Kuilapalayam, Bommayapalayam, Tamil Nadu 605101
Timings: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost for two: INR 400 to INR 600
Dreamer’s Cafe
This cafe is one of the best places to eat in Pondicherry and Auroville if you like your food with serene views and minimal disturbance. Dreamer’s Cafe in Auroville is the perfect place for a peaceful brunch or lunch with your friends and family. Be it delightful specialty coffee, fresh bread, or delicious Indian snacks, food at Dreamer’s Cafe is of the highest quality. Plus, the interiors are quite cozy and vibrant. And, did we mention that they also have outdoor seating where you can peacefully sip on your coffee, all while listening to the melodies of chirping birds and rustling leaves.
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At Dreamer’s Cafe, we highly recommend trying out their sandwiches! From a classic Chilly Cheese Sandwich to a Tuna Sandwich, there are quite a lot of both vegetarian and meat options. Plus, you can also try their special French pastries and delicious cakes that are a guaranteed indulgence for your taste buds.
Address: Auroville Rd, Auroville, Tamil Nadu 605101
Timings: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost for two: INR 200 to INR 400
The Solar Kitchen
Auroville is a place that is a unique experience in itself – be it the plenty of workshops, the lifestyle, or the food habits here. And if there’s one place in Auroville where you must eat to get a taste of the ‘Auroville life’, it has to be The Solar Kitchen. The Auroville Community began The Solar Kitchen as a major collective kitchen in 1997. And today, it has served countless lunches to guests in its dining hall as well as to schools and institutions.
This community kitchen derives its name from the giant Solar Bowl on its roof that provides energy on most sunny days. The remaining energy is provided by a diesel fired boiler. Approximately 1000 lunches are prepared daily, out of which 540 go to schools, 200 are sent out as tiffins, while the remaining 260 to 300 are served in the dining hall. As food is served only in the afternoon in a limited time period, you must book your meal at least one day in advance.
Address: 2R26+J84, Crown Rd, Auroville, Bommayapalayam, Tamil Nadu 605101
Lunch timings: 12.15 and 1 pm
Naturellement Garden Cafe
The last one on our list of best cafes and restaurants in Auroville is a restaurant that pioneers a clean and organic diet. Naturellement Garden Cafe is a vegan and vegetarian cafe that promises to deliver organic, high-quality food using their farm-to-table approach. They serve small batches of artisanal baked goods that are made using traditional methods, recipes, and handpicked, locally-sourced ingredients.
Naturellement Garden Cafe was founded by two Swedish women who then trained local women of Pondicherry and Auroville. Over the years, their efforts have resulted in the cafe growing multifolds, and today, they also sell a diverse range of healthy food products.
Not just delicious food at their cafe, they also sell jams, chutneys, fruit syrups, nut butters, and pesto, among many other condiments and eatables. These products are made with the finest quality ingredients in the most hygienic conditions by local women. A social enterprise with a focus on providing healthy and organic food, this cafe makes for a must-visit eatery in Auroville.
Address: Udyogam, Auroville, Bommayapalayam, Tamil Nadu 605101
Timings: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost for two: INR 400 to INR 600
Summing Up
These are some of the best cafes and restaurants in Auroville, Pondicherry and we think you should totally include them in your Pondicherry itinerary. Be it a solar-powered community kitchen or a vegan cafe like Terrassen, these cafes and restaurants are redefining culinary experiences in Auroville. So, which cafe are you planning to visit?
