Touristic & Continental Restaurants in India … They’re Pretty Much the Best Ever!

Relaxing at the Green Cafe in Bahgsu, McLeod Ganj, India
Maxin and Relaxin after a filling meal at the Green Cafe in Bhagsu, McLeod Ganj, India

If it were socially acceptable, I would lay down before, during and after every meal.

In many of India’s popular backpacker and hippie hangout spots, this is possible.

From Hampi to Rishikesh, Bhagsu, Goa and beyond, travelers sit knee to knee sipping chai all day.

Quite often, my wife Carrie and I are among them.

 

Shin-High Tables & Thin Mattresses

Truly, that’s all a restaurant needs to succeed in the Indian backpacker market; a phenomenon that I haven’t seen elsewhere in the world.

“Comfort” is attained by sitting on a thin mattress, similar to those found in many $3/night guesthouses. Back support comes from pillows and the occasion wall of debatable sturdiness.

A 6’3” guy like myself spends spend much of the meal shifting around. Sometimes I’m cross-legged. If not, then my legs are stretched under the table. This has been known to cause a round of unintended footsie with whoever is across from me. Hopefully, it’s my wife.

And yet I spend hours a day in these places and love every minute of it.

 

Tourists relax and eat inside the Munchies Cafe in Bahgsu, India
Tourists relax and eat inside the Munchies Cafe in Bahgsu, India

 

The Third-Eye Cafe in Rishikesh was on the top floor of a hotel and boasted sweeping views of the town, Ganges River and Himalayan foothills
The Third-Eye Cafe in Rishikesh was on the top floor of a hotel and boasted sweeping views of the town, Ganges River and Himalayan foothills

 

The Office, in Rishikesh, had the best fruit salad with curd and granola that I've ever eaten!
The Office, in Rishikesh, had the best fruit salad with curd and granola that I’ve ever eaten!

Tired of Indian Food? Have Something Else!

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Indian food. Eating a thali a day was one of the main reasons I was most excited to return to India. But sometimes, you just need a break from curry, rice and naan.

Imagine going to a restaurant at home and seeing pizza, falafel, omelets, chow mien, sandwiches, ziti, soup, shwarma, paneer, yogurt and fresh fruit smoothies on the same menu. It just doesn’t happen!

Yet somehow, these touristic and hippie-friendly restaurants in India have mastered the art of a full continental menu. Sure, they may not do everything well; sometimes they don’t do anything well. But the choices! So many choices.

 

Singh Corner in Bhagsu, McLeod Ganj, had both low-sitting tables and ones with regular chairs. They also had really good chai tea!
Singh Corner in Bhagsu, McLeod Ganj, had both low-sitting tables and ones with regular chairs. They also had really good chai tea!

 

Hail to the King and Hail to the Queen - a desert in Bahgsu, India
Hail to the Queen is one of the most amazing deserts ever. It consists of honey graham cookie crumbs, fresh banana pieces, hot fudge and vanilla ice cream. banana cooked lightly in a little butter and sugar covered with crushed biscuit and topped with vanilla ice cream and then smothered in hot chocolate sauce.

 

Egg curry and rice at a tourist "Continental" restaurant in Bahgsu, McLeod Ganj, India
Egg curry and rice at a tourist “Continental” restaurant in Bahgsu, McLeod Ganj, India

 

An "Israeli Breakfast" consists of hummus, french fries, salad and pita ... which is basically a piece of folded naan
An “Israeli Breakfast” consists of hummus, french fries, salad and pita … which is basically a piece of folded naan

Day Becomes Night @ the Same Table

People – especially my Mom – often ask what Carrie and I do all day when “relaxing in one place for a month.”

Some days, we hike around, see the sights, take a class or do something else touristic.

Other days, our activities consist of sitting at one or more of these restaurants, eating a variety of meals and drinking copious amounts of chai milk teas with a few lassies and ginger lemon honies mixed in.

Dreadlocks, backpacks, journals and laptops sit down at the tables nearby. Conversations are had. Plans are (sometimes) made. Days are recapped. After a while, it feels like we’re a part of a community: because we are.

 

Tourists at the Oasis Cafe in Rishikesh, India
The gang from Yog Peeth – Carrie’s yoga training school – at Oasis on Lauren’s 30th birthday

 

The Thai Restaurant down the stairs from our guesthouse in Bhagsu, McLeod Ganj
The Thai Restaurant down the stairs from our guesthouse in Bhagsu, McLeod Ganj

Musical Jam Sessions

Whenever a musical instrument enters the restaurant, Carrie and I get especially excited. You just never know when a jam session will break at the next table over…. Like this one, at the Green Café on our first night in Bhagsu, India.

 

A jam session on our first night in Bhagsu at the Green Cafe
A jam session on our first night in Bhagsu at the Green Cafe

 

A jam session on our first night in Bhagsu at the Green Cafe
A jam session on our first night in Bhagsu at the Green Cafe

What do you think? Have you been to India and eaten at one of these types of restaurants? Did you like it? Why can’t we have them back home?