Best Bites
Where: Ground Floor, Western Breeze Building, Colaba Causeway, Mumbai
Contact: 022-65254827/65265947
Open: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
The Bill: Rs 400-450 for two
Must Try: The Chef’s Salad, Tuscan Verde Sandwich along with a cup of Latte Macchiatto.
The Chill Factor
Wich Latte, the new sandwich, salads and coffee bar in Colaba, is a place to head for a bite and exotic coffees after some serious shopping along the Causeway. It’s a small but nicely done-up place. One side of the wall depicts a painting on Mumbai. Settle into a bar stool around the tall tables and order a steaming cup of macchiato or a shot of espresso. If you are game for a few risks, try the exotic sounding Tuscan Verde sandwich (a marinated chicken sandwich with home-made pesto, cheddar, spinach and sliced tomato on a Rosemary Foccacio bread).
The choice is wide and Clinton’s Wich, Cascadilla Crisp, Renwick Reuben are popular. The curly fries (Rs 45) are simply brilliant. The Chef’s Salad (iceberg lettuce, chicken sausage, black and green olives, sundried tomatoes, mayonnaise dressing, chopped parsley and fresh parmesan shavings) is highly recommended.
The coffee here is good. Stop over after a shopping spree in Colaba, order a double shot of espresso, or if you would rather experiment, ask for a Latte Macchiatto.
Anusha Subramanian
Where: 564 Anna Salai, Chennai
Contact: 044-66764000
Open: 24x7
The Bill: Rs 650 for two.
Must Try: Ristretto, Café Latte, Homemade Cookies, Triple Chocolate Slice.
The Chill Factor
Muffin Tree, the 24-hour coffee shop at the Marriott’s Courtyard, is a hit with the hip set in Chennai. The central location makes it an obvious choice. But not everyone knows that you can get 28 varieties of bread at 24 hours notice here. The most popular breads like Multigrain, German Sour, Rye Walnut, French Bread and Focaccia are available off the shelves.
For those with a sweet tooth, the signature dessert is the Triple Chocolate Slice. We recommend Café Latte among the coffees. The place is also Wi-Fi-enabled for those who want to mix coffee with business.
Nitya Varadarajan
Where: Gateway Hotel on Residency Road, Bangalore.
Contact: 080-66604545
Open: 24x7
The Bill: Rs 1,000 for two
Must Try: Tulsi Prawn Tikka, Norwegian Salmon Steaks, Roasted Beet Salad, South Indian Coffee
The Chill Factor
This latest addition, to a rather staid list of cafes in Bangalore, springs a few surprises. Stir, at the Gateway, is a coffee shop with attitude. Spread over 3,000 sq. ft on the ground floor of the hotel, this café is designed by Mumbai’s ASA and it has kept the elements simple.
Airy, with plenty of natural light, the walls have motifs, which highlight the white and brown fixtures and intriguing ceiling features. With Bangalore enjoying the rains this season, the outdoor seating under a pergola is a great way to enjoy a steaming cuppa with a choice of snacks, including chicken frankies and bagels. Besides this selection, there’s an interesting menu for the calorie-conscious, including beet salad and Fisherman’s Stew as well as dessert options like vanilla yoghurt with apricots and fruit balls with ginger and honey.
Besides the usual set-up, there is another unique addition to Stir: a bar at one end of the café, serving a selection of spirits and cocktails, just in case you feel like a mid-day beer. And yes, you do get a great selection of coffees here.
Rahul Sachitanand
Where: Select City Walk, Saket, New Delhi
Contact: 011-40597571
Open: 9 a.m. -11p.m
The Bill: Rs 600-800 for two
Must Try: German Cheesecake and Iceblended Must Try:
Drinks, Cherry Green Tea
Spread over an area of around 2,000 sq. ft, and with a seating capacity of more than 150, it’s hard to miss The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, the buzzing threemonth-old cafe at Select City Walk, Saket. What makes it distinct from the usual suspects is an all-day “breakfast”menu and its range of tea lattes and ice-blended drinks.
The chain, of course, is well known to jet-setters, especially those who have been to Beverly Hills. The choice of beverages here include Moroccan mint tea and tropical passion as well as a wide variety of salads, pastas, sandwiches and pies. The Bean, as it is callled by regulars, claims to bring rare coffees from the best plantations, including the rare Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Bean, and also offers some specialty teas that range from the customary Earl Gray to the exotic Japanese Cherry Green Tea.
Do try out its ice-blended drinks like Mocha and Caramel. It's just the place to go to after some serious retail therapy.
Anumeha Chaturvedi
