Hey hey hey!!
I’m back with another post on the #TGGFinds series (I’m super stoked that so many of you loved the last one on Goa!) Seems like everyone gets the romanticism of sipping a coffee or having brunch in quiet, little known cafés.
So here’s a list of cosy places that deserve to be known and visited in Ahmedabad! This is all I could cover in a weekend, so if you have one that you think should feature, let me know in the comments below. All I need is a reason to go back.
Apna Adda (The Kafe Keetli)
In a city like Ahmedabad that has colleges at every corner and a prohibition on alcohol, the need for a cheap hangout with excellent coffee is the need of the hour. The city is full of cafes – some with free wifi and buzz of coffee brewing and others with a cleaner, contemporary ambiance.
Apna Adda has none of that. It’s literally a coffee stand under a tree by the highway. Not the best in terms of hygiene, but the coffee was the best I had in Ahmedabad. It was tall, dark, rich, strong, handsome… ok, maybe not handsome, but you get the drift. It sure looked good, though! Loaded with chocolate hand-numbing-ly cold, it was was just what I needed on a hot day, out and about.
And taste-wise, it can send franchise coffee shops on a run for their money! They also do a good kulhad tea/coffee with light bites like sandwiches, pasta and pizza.
I hear they’ve opened a new outlet with indoor seating but I’m not too sure where that is.
The Project Café
The quirky yellow bungalow helps in making Project Café instantly identifiable in Ahmedabad. Art lovers or those in search of collectibles will have a fun time gazing around at the assortment of paintings on the wall, scarves and clothing on display and knick knacks from stationary to leather bags.
Each room has a mix of college crowd chatting, corporate folk grabbing a quick lunch/dinner and the occasional loner on his laptop. While it can be a little cramped and loud, the homey feeling helps to dismiss all of that. Adding to the “feels like home” factor is Parul, the host who hovers from room to room making sure everything is as it should be. I was telling the peeps on Twitter how she would appear at the table ever-so-frequently to ask how the meal was and when I assured her it was good, she would say ‘Really? Or are you just saying that?”
Much to my embarrassment, she also took me to various spots in the house to pose for a picture or twenty 🙂 Cute lady!
I ordered the French Crepes and Mexican Rice, both suggested by Parul as the house specials. It was pretty delicious and if I had some space in my already stuffed tummy, I’d have definitely tried some more. The menu also has a mix of small plates, mains, wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. Everything is vegetarian, like in most places, which I had gotten used to by now – after getting stares on casually asking if a dish had chicken in it.
Varietea
At first glance, Varietea isn’t very impressive. The entrance is just beside the main road under residential apartments with a pretty dusty front window. But when you descend to a floor below, it opens out into an expansive lounge with various seating options.
The ambiance is perfect to spend some leisurely time in. A huge bookshelf laden with books and board games coupled with a massive menu of every tea you can imagine make it a great spot to escape a hot afternoon or rainy evening in. I love the tea-related quotes on the wall, too!
Some of their signature teas are the choco-coconut tea, Christmas tea, energitea, birthday tea and silver needle tea. The menu also features ice teas and coffees, with accompaniments like French fries, nachos, sandwiches and options by the dozen. I opted for the Ginger Tea (my favourite) which came in a teapot containing three servings and a cutting-chai glass. Tasted just as good as the roadside one in Mumbai. Price wise, it is very reasonable! Also in the picture below is a cold coffee in a milk bottle and watermelon iced tea.
The staff seemed a little lost which is probably due to the fact that one needs to call them by ringing a small bell on the table. It results in them looking in the general direction of the ringing bell without knowing where to go.
One thing I’d wish they’d change is the sofa seating – they’re in desperate need of a revamp or at least some decent upholstering.
Now that I’ve been back in Mumbai for a week or so, I’m really starting to miss Ahmedabad. The lifestyle is much slower paced than it is here, in Mumbai. People really take their time to enjoy their coffee before rushing to their next engagement.
These cafes are pretty popular among people in the city so while they aren’t really hidden gems, they’re definitely worth a visit if you’re ever there.
Do you have any favourites? Share ’em with me in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe!!
See ya next time!