19 Most Amazing Cafes & Restaurants in Varkala

Varkala is a popular tourist destination in Kerala, attracting travelers from all over the world. It is known for its stunning beaches, cliffside views, and laid-back vibes. Besides this, Varkala is also famous for cozy cafes overlooking picturesque cliffs and trendy restaurants serving delicious local cuisine.

Having spent a month in Varkala across two visits and trying almost every other cafe and restaurant, I have curated this list of the best places to eat in Varkala. 

The first 3 cafes were my fav, but there are different cafes to serve everyone’s needs.

Best Cafes and Restaurants in Varkala

1. Sun Francisco

The Sun Francisco Cafe has to be my favorite cafe in Varkala. It had the best sea views, the staff was always friendly and the food was top-notch. Do not ignore the starred items on the menu; I tried most of them, and they were delicious. You can also work from the cafe whilst watching some of the best sunset views.

Price for two: ₹600 -₹ 800

Location: Northcliff, Varkala, Kerala

Things to try at Sun Francisco: Snickers shake, thali, bowls, roasted egg with Dosa, Chicken 65

Timings: 7:30 am – 11 pm

2. True Thomas

True Thomas is just behind Sun Francisco in the list of best cafes in Varkala, because it doesn’t have a sea view and is a little away from the cliff. The food here is amazing and you can find both North Indian and South Indian dishes. Their thali is very delicious too and is way too much quantity for one person. They have some really good juices and shakes. The place also has a nice ambiance and is work-friendly. The best part is the Jhol Momo ie. Momos dipped in soup. I haven’t had a Soup momo that delicious anywhere else. 

They also made use of old sewing machines to make the tables which was a very unique concept. Another unique point was they had employees that are deaf and dumb. 

PS: They always run out of Jhol Momo or the chef rarely prepares them.

Price for two: ₹400 – ₹ 600

Location: 1/144A Ambalathumvila Kurakkanni – Odayam road, Desom, Varkala

Things to try at True Thomas: Thali, dosa, jhol momo

Timings: 8 am – 11 pm

3. Little Tibet

Little Tibet, just as their name suggests is famous for its Tibetan cuisine like the momo, thukpa, thenthuk, and a variety of other dishes. They have the best momo in Varkala, which you can not miss. They have an amazing view and during the weekends you’ll need to get there sooner because all the tables get occupied quickly.

Price for two: ₹400 -₹ 600

Location: Northcliff, Varkala

Things to try at Little Tibet: Momos, thukpa, thenthuk

Timings: 11 am – 11 pm

4. Abba Restaurant

Abba is one of the few restaurants where you can not go wrong with the food! The place has a variety of food options and an amazing view of the sea. And because of these reasons, it’s very tough to find a table here. Since the place is always crowded you will find a delay in service and at times remind the server multiple times about your order.

Price for two: ₹600 -₹ 800

Location: Cliff Top Varkala Cliff, Varkala

Things to try at Abba Restaurant: Israeli food, hello to the Queen, lasagna, and indian food.

Timings: 8 am – 11 pm

5. Aum Cafe

The Aum cafe has to be one of those hidden spots I’m glad to discover. As soon as I saw Vietnamese coffee on their menu I knew I had to try it and now this will be my coffee spot for all my future trips. I haven’t tasted such amazing Vietnamese coffee in Varkala anywhere. Some other things to try there are salad and vegetarian food in general. 

They have an amazing ambiance and one of the best sea views. The servers are also very good with their service and the music they play.

Price for two: ₹600 -₹ 800

Location: Cliff Top Varkala Cliff, Varkala

Things to try at Aum Cafe: Vietnamese coffee, chickpea salad, smoothie bowl

Timings: 8 am – 11 pm

6. Inda Cafe

Inda Cafe is one of the most famous cafes in Varkala all for the right reasons. If you want to have the best pizza in Varkala, you have to try it at Inda Cafe. The place also offers some amazing breakfast and is a great spot to work from. The only things I didn’t like about the place are the indoor seating which gets way too hot during the summer and the cats. I mean in general it’s nice to have cats around but when they jump onto your plate and try to eat from there, I’m sure not everyone will like that.

Price for two: ₹600 -₹ 800

Location: 1/153a, Kurakkanni, Inda Hotel, Varkala

Things to try at Inda Cafe: Pizza(any), banana pancakes,  omelette

Timings: 8:30 am – 10 pm

7. Cafe Del Mar

This was my favorite spot on my first Varkala trip. They have some amazing breakfast options to try, but my fav is the cold coffee and the carrot or banana cake which you should not miss. Del Mar also offers some amazing sunset views from their rooftop.

Price for two: ₹500 -₹ 700

Location: N Cliff Rd, near helipad, Varkala

Things to try at Cafe Del Mar: English breakfast, iced latte, banana/carrot cake

Timings: 8 am – 11 pm

8. Rabbit Cafe

Rabbit Cafe is famous for its juices and drinks. You will also find Akash, who is the most funniest server in Varkala. The place is a great spot to work from and plays some amazing music. One other thing that you should try is the dessert here, especially “Hello to the Queen”

Price for two: ₹500 -₹ 700

Location: 45, Varkala Cliff

Things to try at Rabbit Cafe: Fresh juice and smoothies, Hello to the Queen

Timings: 8 am – 10 pm

9. God’s Own Country Kitchen

God’s country kitchen has to be the best spot for seafood in Varkala. They have a variety of fresh seafood items to choose from and you can not miss garlic prawns. They also have live music every night which makes the place even more lively.

Price for two: ₹500 -₹ 700

Location: North Cliff, Varkala

Things to try at God’s Own Country Kitchen: Biryani, Seafood(Any)

Timings: 8 am – 10:30 pm

10. Trip is Life

If you’ve seen a few reels around Varkala, you might have seen a cafe with infinite sea views. That’s Cafe Trip is Life for you! They have a great ambiance and views of the sea. The food is quite good there too and if you want to see the sunset, go an hour earlier to catch your spot. 

They are one of the best cafes on the south cliff of Varkala.

Price for two: ₹800 -₹ 1000

Location: South Cliff, Perumkulam Aaliyirakkam Road, Varkala

Things to try at Trip is Life: Chicken and cheese sandwich, nachos jalapeno, frappe

Timings: 7 am – 10 pm

11. Lumuma

Lumuma is the only Vegan cafe on the north cliff in Varkala. The place is very ambient and reflects the green colors. Mostly famous among tourists since the price is on the upper side but you can not miss the coffee and bowls here. Instead of sitting down, you should try the view from the first floor. This has to be one of my top spots to view the sunset from in Varkala. 

Price for two: ₹600 -₹ 800

Location: Lumŭma, Thiruvambadi Rd, beside North Cliff Road, Varkala

Things to try at Lumuma: Bowls and coffee

Timings: 7 am – 10 pm

12. Claffouti Restaurant

Claffouti is one of the best family restaurants in Varkala with some amazing sea views. They serve all sorts of cuisine and the price is also very reasonable. The quantity that they serve and their service too is really good. If you want to have a great time with your family without spending a lot, Claffouti is the place you have to visit.

Price for two: ₹500 -₹ 700

Location: Varkala Kallambalam Rd, Varkala

Things to try at Claffouti Restaurant: Indian food(any) and pasta 

Timings: 8:30 am – 10:30 pm

13. Darjeeling Cafe

Are you shocked that Darjeeling Cafe is so low on this list? Well, I will tell you about that too, but let’s start with why you should visit Darjeeling Cafe. They have one of the best sea views in Varkala, when I last visited Darjeeling Cafe in 2022, it was still a small place and had hippie vibes. With their new building, they have lost the authenticity that Darjeeling Cafe had earlier. Another thing I noticed was they had asked us to make a minimum bill of 2000 if we wanted to sit there, which was quite absurd. 

I loved the views, but would I go there again? Maybe not.

Price for two: ₹600 -₹ 800

Location: N Cliff Rd, Varkala

Things to try at Darjeeling Cafe: Coffee, omelet, indian food

Timings: 7am – 11pm(On weekends open until 2-3am)

14. Cafe Italiano

Cafe Italiano is one of the best cafes in Varkala with great ambiance, especially their lighting at night is enough to make you want to visit! The place offers some amazing food with really nice sea views. I was unhappy with their service because I was a solo traveler and they catered to my orders very late.

Price for two: ₹700 -₹ 900

Location: North Cliff, Varkala

Things to try at Cafe Italiano: Pasta and  lasagna

Timings: 10:30 am – 11 pm

15. Soul Food Cafe

One thing that the south cliff has is unobstructed sea views. Soul Cafe is another cafe on the South Cliff that offers some delicious food and has some very chill vibes. You can just relax and soak in the views at the cafe. Don’t forget to try the pineapple ginger juice here, it was my favorite. They do have limited items on the menu.

Price for two: ₹800 -₹ 1000

Location: South Cliff, Perumkulam Aaliyirakkam Road, Varkala

Things to try at Soul Food Cafe: Mezze Platter, Quesadilla, Pineapple and Ginger Juice

Timings: 8 am – 9 pm

16. Juicy Cafe

If you’re staying in Varkala for a longer duration you can not always have food from the cafe, it is just not economical. That’s where Juicy Cafe comes to the rescue, you will find the most authentic Kerala-style food here and the price too is very reasonable. From breakfast to kadla curry, everything is delicious here.

Price for two: ₹100 -₹ 300

Location: Bureau Junction, North Middle Cliff, near Kuttikattu temple, Varkala

Things to try at Juicy Cafe: Anything and everything, especially their dosa for breakfast

Timings: 6 am – 9 pm

17. Sandy Bay Cafe

Sandy Bay Cafe is the only cafe at the famous Black Beach of Varkala. While their food is great they are majorly known for hosting the best night parties in Varkala. If you want to enjoy the best nightlife in Varkala you have to come here. 

Price for two: ₹500 -₹ 700

Location: Near Odayam Juma Masjid Edava

Things to try at Sandy Bay: Pasta and starters

Timings: 8am – 11:30pm(When hosting a party until 12:30am)

18. Tickety Boo

I was lucky to come across this unique cafe/restaurant, they have two outlets one on the north cliff and the other one closer to Inda Cafe. They serve some amazing breakfasts for a more reasonable price. The uniqueness was they also employed people with disabilities. 

Price for two: ₹100 -₹ 300

Location 1: 1/144A Ambalathumvila, Kurakkanni – Odayam Rd, Desom, Varkala

Location 2: Varkala, Kerala

Things to try at Tickety Boo: Idli, egg dosa, omelette, coffee

Timings: 7 am – 11 am & 4 pm – 11 pm

19. Bindu’s Cafe

Back in 2022 during my first trip, Bindu’s cafe was just starting, and not many people knew about it. Now in 2024, everyone knows of this coffee spot. They offer some amazing coffee and sunset views. Even in the morning you can come and have your first coffee while enjoying the sea views.

Price for two: ₹200 -₹ 400

Location: Black Beach, Thiruvambadi Rd, Varkala

Things to try at Bindu’s Cafe: Coffee(Any)

Timings: 7 am – 9 pm

Here are a few more cafes you might want to consider if you run out of this list

1. Trattorias
2. Cafe Sarwaa(South Cliff)
3. Jairam Cafe
4. Coffee shop in front of Krishnatheeram Beach resort

Best cafes and restaurants with a view in Varkala

• Trip is Life
• Sun Francisco
• Darjeeling Cafe
• Aum Cafe
• Lumuma
• Cafe Del Mar
• Soul Food Cafe
• Bindu’s cafe

Best cafes in Varkala to work from

• Sun Francisco
• True Thomas
• Lumuma
• Inda Cafe
• Aum Cafe
• Rabbit Cafe
• Trip is Life
• Cafe Del Mar

Hope this guide helps with your cravings and you get to try the best food in Varkala. If you have any questions regarding Varkala  you can drop them in the comments or DM me at stories.of.raku