The highlight of my trip to India was absolutely the food and the drinks. Jaipur has a range of fabulous places to eat from cool brunch hang outs to elegant bars and delicious street food. If you’re spending a couple of days in Jaipur then make sure to read through my guide for some epic places to stop at. We had three days in the city and enjoyed plenty of yummy cafes, bars and restaurants so save this post for planning your Jaipur foodie itinerary 😋
1. Curious Life Coffee
Starting off with Curious Life Coffee (Red) because we are here four times…oops! And could easily have eaten here for every meal to be honest because they have everything from excellent speciality coffees and granola bowls for breakfast through to spaghetti and sandwiches later in the day. The coffee was definitely the best I tasted during my whole trip to India and I also cannot tell you how good the pistachio croissant was as well.
This is a super popular spot for brunch, especially on the weekends so it’s likely to be busy but if there’s a queue then it really is worth the wait! We stayed at The LIV Boutique hotel and when you choose an option with breakfast, the breakfast is here – incredible.
2. Bar Palladio
Next up is the iconic Bar Palladio. Some may say it’s overhyped but if you visit during the week at opening time you may in for a treat like we were. It was unbelievably quiet with just three other tables there (4:30pm on a Tuesday) which meant we could we really appreciate the beautiful decor. There are canopied seats and tables outside as well as a maze of different rooms and spaces in the interior of the bar.
Bar Palladio combines Rajasthani royalty with Italian elements as the owner is Italian and the food menu here is largely Italian in dishes and flavours. We just enjoyed drinks and I did thoroughly enjoy my cocktail. It is often recommended online to book your visit to Bar Palladio so if you are intending to come for dinner then it is probably a good idea to make a reservation so you don’t miss it.
3. Nouba
I believe Nouba is relatively new to the Jaipur dining scene but despite this, it’s a bit of a hot spot with excellent Google Reviews. Nouba was at the top of our hotel and so we accidentally ended up going for dinner twice. The restaurant has an inside section housed alongside the impressive bar as well as an exterior terrace which affords views across the city towards the hills in the very background. If you can come here for sunset then you can watch Jaipur transition into the evening city lights. I had a cocktail on the first night and a glass of wine on the second and both were delicious, crisp and fresh for a warm evening meal. The dishes here might have been the spiciest on the whole trip for me so do be careful with ordering something spicy! We just love curry and Indian flavours so much that on both nights we opted for the Indian section of the menu but Nouba is popular for its Asian fusion cuisine and has Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese small and large plates.
4. Tattoo Cafe and Lounge
Tattoo Cafe & Lounge is famous for its Instagrammable rooftop view. You have an uninterrupted vista across to the stunning Hawa Mahal which may be one of the most famous photos in the whole of India! The portions were a pretty standard touristy price without actually really having a bump up for its positioning and they were incredibly generous sizes. You absolutely could have ordered the biryani for two.
You have to pay a cover charge of 250 INR per person to be on the rooftop because otherwise the cafe would be inundated with people who were coming for the view only and they wouldn’t be making any money! So make the most of it and order a drink or your full lunch here because you’ll get the money back on what you order. Above the hustle and bustle of the crazy road below, it feels rather peaceful up here on the rooftop, as though you’re floating above it all. And of course make the most of the view!
5. Cafe Kassa
Cafe Kassa is tucked away in a hidden courtyard within the Narayan Niwas Palace complex (you’ll find Bar Palladio very very enarby). There are some beautiful clothes boutiques and craft shops in this spot so take a browse and then stop at Cafe Kassa for a peaceful moment. Jaipur is as noisy and busy as you imagine Indian cities to be so it really was a lovely respite to enjoy a flat white away from it all for an hour.
6. Banana Leaf
We were playing the game of Google Map reviews (how many stars to review number ratio) when we found Banana Lounge and it had a good number of stars (4.4) with plenty of reviews (1.7k) and so it seemed like it would be a good option for lunch. Plus, a great benefit that it was only just around the corner from our hotel. The food here was excellent and on a mid week lunch, it wasn’t too busy so easy to get a place. My partner tried the Thali plate which had a great selection of curries to try as well as a few options that you could customise to your choices. The menu was nice and big with lots of South Indian food (sorry – I know Jaipur isn’t the south!) to choose from. I know Jaipur is not South India, but you may be finding the choices of where to eat overwhelming (I certainly was) and we really enjoyed our meal here.
7. Chaisa
Chaisa is a pink chai heaven! Located above the busy Chaura Rasta road, it has delicious chai options including the Chaisa Chai which has saffron as well as the usual masala chai spices. It’s a cosy space which was actually quite reminiscent of a more Tokyo or Seoul cafe aesthetic and I enjoyed the little touch of the menu on a scroll!
8. Nothing Before Coffee
If you’re in need of a cheap coffee on the go to fuel your city break exploring then pop into a Nothing Before Coffee outlet. It’s a Jaipur chain with a few spots around the city and it’s a great option for a brew that doesn’t cost much but still tastes pretty good. It’s fuelling Jaipur residents through their working days.
9. No Diet Club Food Tour
India is all about the food and it’s just as famous for its street food. I can imagine, however, you might be feeling slightly anxious about the prospect of eating street food in Jaipur. Delhi belly is the colloquial name of traveller’s diarrhoea and plenty of people know someone or have experienced sickness travelling themselves. So, jump on a food tour to enjoy street food with minimal fear! The No Diet Club is based in France and have plenty of food tour walks around the world so I was confident in booking a tour with them. We were not disappointed. We ate so much food. Tried so many different flavours and foods and left rolling home…very satisfied! Read my post on 12 tips to avoid getting sick in India if you’re anxious about your trip.
Join a No Diet Club food tour here.
👇 For more tips for your trip to Jaipur don’t miss the below!
Cat x