Coffee roasters and microbreweries, Asian canteens, and hidden-away regional restaurants—these are the coolest spots in Koramangala to take you from an early morning caffeine fix to a late-night tipple.
Flying Squirrel Coffee Roasters – From a lush coffee estate in Coorg, small batches of carefully harvested Arabica and Robusta beans make their way to a cheery little coffee roastery in Koramangala. Overlooking a fiery red gulmohar tree in bloom, a strong aroma of coffee lingers in the air, as fresh roasts are brewed in a variety of styles. With pour-overs, cold brews, and the current global trend in the coffee world, nitro coffee, on their menu, Flying Squirrel lets you choose your brew and your bean. Tubs of organic Sattva, chocolate-and-caramel toned Parama, a chicory blend, and fruity-sweet Aromatique beans are on display and available for sale. Co-founders Ashish D’Abreo and Tej Thammaiah—a third-generation coffee estate owner—are in the business of serious brewing, and the new cafe is a natural progression of the three-year-old online coffee brand.
Marla’s Goan Kitchen – A mix of homesick, experimental, and curious diners flock to Koramangala’s 7th Block to the cluster of tiny, regional Indian restaurants known for their otherwise hard-to-find cuisine. Tucked away among these, Maria Fernandes dishes out the wonderfully piquant flavours of Goa at Maria’s Goan Kitchen. What started out as a food delivery service for hot, home-style meals gradually evolved into a fuss-free, blink-and-miss establishment with a rather expansive menu. With favourites such as pork vindaloo, beef xacuti, pomfret in ambotik curry, Goan chorizo, and squid chilli fry, it’s hard to believe you aren’t seated at a beach shack with a view of the sea and beer in hand. The real winner here is the wholesome thali, perfect for those days when you want to order everything off the menu. Fluffy sannas, cutlets, tangy solkadi, rice, a choice of seafood, meat, or veg, and a slice of gooey bebinca.. Who says you can’t have susegad-in Bengaluru?
Nasi and Mee – Sitting behind a cheery glass frontage on the busy 80 Feet Road, dressed in warm tones of wood and yellow lights, the Asian canteen was born out of Singaporean local Ravindran Nahappan’s vision to bring the food that he grew up with to the city. A fourth-generation Indian, Ravindran says, “Nasi and Mee, which means ‘rice and noodles’ in Malay, is truly what we eat in the Straits Belt. Our cuisine originates from the movement of people— it’s a mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences.” His sentiment translates into the menu, which features staples and specials from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand—the slow cooked, ceremonial Malaysian Rendang, the delicate Chinese Char Siew, Indonesian sambal prawns, and the elaborate spread of Nasi Lemak. The peanut laden, coconut milk doused flavours transport you straight to Singapore’s hawker centres or Bangkok’s street food stalls. Coupled with the summery, deceptively light kiwi and lychee-infused wine spritzers, it’s no surprise that Nasi and Mee is always abuzz.
