Good Ol’ Coffee House!

India Coffee House is an oldie but a goodie and no one will ever get tired of it. And in my opinion, they may even serve the best filter coffee you could ask for in Bangalore. This is one those places that invites you with a strong whiff of coffee. The only thing I wouldn't brag about is the experience. Because sitting in Coffee House is like being in a classroom!

Sure, that still hasn't stopped me from frequenting. When I'm tired and desperately need a caffeine kick, whenever it's possible, I run to Coffee House. But for some reason, the staff is always waiting to kick me out. It's like they want to serve me, but God forbid I overstay my very brief welcome!

This is mainly because of how popular the place is. You’ll see customers barging in every five minutes and if the place is too full, you will have to share your table. But this is definitely not a place to sit back and hang out. It is ideal, however, if you're taking a short break during work. The India Coffee House waiters will make sure you don't procrastinate. They'll bring you your bill along with your food!

 I should also explain my premise about the classroom experience. You can't share a good joke and laugh out loud. Because the cashier will ring that bell multiple times to shut you up. Principal Cashier, I like to call him.

I still remember that time around three years ago when my friends and I went to the branch on Church Street one Saturday evening. Every time we laughed, the bell would go off.  But the cafe itself is LOUD. And most of the time it's the waiters and the kitchen staff who are bellowing at each other. So why this need for silence?

Enough cons. It's about time I get to the good part.

Yes, amazing, strong and authentic filter coffee. I found the cold coffee much stronger. Their menu features mostly breakfast and snack items. You can enjoy their masala dosas, idlis, vadas and many other traditional delights. But regulars seem to be big fans of their omelets, scrambled eggs on toast, sandwiches and cutlets. I have tried the mutton cutlet. Crispy and tasty, but maybe a bit too heavy for me. 

My favourite snack is the Bread Butter Toast.  Yes, it is as unhealthy as it sounds - bread fried in truckloads of butter. But if you're like me or my childhood friend who used to lick butter off the packaging, you'll love it. 

See, there are so many reasons to love this place. If only we could sit there long enough to savour it all! I adopted a new strategy of ordering my next cup as soon as the waiter brings the bill. Last time, I managed to stay there for half an hour!

I encourage you to do the same. After all, coffee this good calls for more than just a cup. 

WHAT HAPPENS IN KOSHY’S STAYS IN KOSHY’S

Koshy’s is not for the faint-hearted, nor is it for those with low threshold for the odd. So before you enter, promise yourself, you will not stare or squirm.

So, what’s odd about this place? The crowd. Period. You have all kinds. That reaffirms the saying, ‘to each his own’. So, let them while they let you be.

Also, as a side note: nobody goes to Koshy’s for the food. While food is good, it’s not what people go there for. It’s not what I go there for.

I go there for comfort. A comfort that says, ‘just be’; comfort that says, ‘why not eat some bread and butter and a glass cold bournvita?’; comfort that says, ‘sure drop in, let me know if you need something, I will be around’; and especially a comfort that says, ‘good to see you, where have you been?’.

First what strikes you about Koshy’s is its old world charm, the high ceiling, the uniform of the staff and the incessant hum. People do come to Koshy’s to eat but mostly to talk. They talk a lot. And when talking makes them hungry, they eat. They talk about things from this world and another [I am pretty sure of that], they meet, greet, eat and then talk some more. You’ll discover the most eclectic crowd ever. Yes, that’s Koshy’s for you. Pleasing to the senses and if you order right, will please your pallet as well.

There is one to the left and one to the right. While the menu is relatively the same, the prices and décor aren’t. Soft napkins replace paper tissues and the usual spoons and forks make way for fine cutleries. So, when in a group, or alone head to the one in the left. And if you are on a date… the one on the right will be the right one for you.

I recommend the cold bournvita [request for without sugar], the fish and fries, the mutton broth and the classic bread and butter sandwich. This is comfort.

CUBBON PARK IS just PERFECT TO work on your BUCKET-LIST or THAT to-DO LIST

No matter what your choice of exercise is – running, jogging, hopping, skipping, walking or saluting the sun, you will fall in love with it.

I have certainly fallen in love with mine. There is really no better place to workout than at Cubbon Park. It’s greener than the greenest thing you can think of. And way lovelier and bigger than the title ‘park’ suggests. It’s a sanctuary. An escape from all things urban, from all things manmade and manipulated. Parts of it actually come close to a jungle. However, pretty squirrels and some birds [whose names I don’t know] are the only ones from the animal kingdom.

And of course Cubbon Park is also perfect for exercising the mind or gaining some perspective. Pick a bench at one of the many, many quiet corners and ponder over life, love, the bucket-list and the to-do list. Whatever you choose to do with your time here, Cubbon Park will do you good.