5 Worth Visiting Restaurants To Visit In Kochi

Both rich and colorful, Kerala cuisine is flavored with the spices from its fertile land. Layers of turmeric, pepper, cardamom and ginger are paired with Kerala’s abundance of fish. Kochi’s role in Kerala’s production of spice has always been significant, which together with its now burgeoning foodie culture, has transformed the famous port city into a modern culinary attraction. We explore the top 5 places to dine in Kochi.

* Arca Nova Restaurant

If you wish to overlook the Arabian sea, inhale the fresh salty breeze and eat the freshest fish, then Arca Nova Restaurant is the place for you. Situated in the family run Fort House Hotel and specialising in Kerala Latin-Christian cuisine, Arca Nova is the perfect spot in which to relax and enjoy Indian fine-dining. The food is flavourful yet not overwhelming, with the blended spices perfectly balanced to avoid an assault on the senses. Enjoy an unrivalled selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes or indulge in the Tuna Pepper, best eaten with appams a fluffy fermented rice pancake to taste a local Kerala delicacy that will leave you wanting more.

* Dal Roti

Whilst traditional South Indian fare is both flavourful and diverse, every now and again the call for an element of regional variety arises. Dal Roti provides the palate with a variety of Northern Indian delights. The owner, Ramesh Menon, ensures that every customer receives attention and impeccable service. The kathi rolls are a consistent favourite and not to be missed. Whilst Kerala’s food, with its wonderful of flavours, is enticing in its own right, an occasional switch to North Indian cuisine provides a stimulating change.

* Ginger House Restaurant

The Ginger House specialises in serving delicious food accompanied by a slice of history. As India’s only restaurant located within a museum, the restaurant makes the most of its evocative location. Tucked behind an antique warehouse, everything in Ginger House tells a tale from history. True to its name, the restaurant specialises in ginger-based dishes, offering everything from ginger prawns, ginger ice cream and ginger lassi to ginger milkshakes and the zingy ginger tea. The waterfront view, coupled with Kochi’s old world charm, makes Ginger House a perfect place to relax and watch the boats sail by.

* Kashi Art Cafe

Kashi Art Café is a Zen-like oasis of calm in an otherwise bustling city. The space also doubles as an art gallery and artist residency space and for this reason, artists and art enthusiasts alike flock to rest their weary feet at this one-of-a-kind venue. The café serves all-day breakfasts, thick soups and uniquely flavoured sandwiches in addition to brewed tea and coffee. To complement a cup of Indian coffee, Kashi Art Café also serves homemade cakes and pies, which are prepared daily to ensure ultimate freshness. Its signature dish, Kashi’s French toast, has attracted its fair share of devoted fans, who frequently return to begin the day with this Kochi sweet treat.

* The Rice Boat– Vivanta

Whilst in Kerala, do what the locals do. If abiding by this mantra, sampling seafood is top of the list. The Vivanta is housed on a stationary ‘kettuvalam’ or rice boat and boasts the juiciest seafood in Kerala. The fresh daily catch is enhanced by the spectacular waterfront view of Fort Cochin, complementing the rustic décor aboard the boat. The signature dishes such as tiger prawns in coconut oil, white snapper in banana leaf and soft-shelled crab with tartar sauce come to life with the flavor of local spices, especially the fragrant turmeric and coconut. The restaurant also caters to the pared-down palette of the visiting Westerner, serving lobster bisque, crab au gratin and crepe suzette.