Pondicherry (also known as Puducherry) is a quaint town on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. A perfect travel destination with breathtaking architectural beauty, tropical climate and pristine beaches, Pondicherry attracts travellers from all over the world. Apart from its European, boho-chic vibe, the town also impresses us with its food! From South Indian to European, the culinary delights of Pondy will make you want to stay here forever. Or (at least) extend your trip for a little longer!
Top 16 Places To Eat In Pondicherry
Pondicherry cuisine is a rich mix of French, Portuguese and South Indian flavours that’ll hit all the right chords and satisfy your palate. But if you’re wondering where to head for all your gastronomic cravings, we’ve got you covered. From traditional, South Indian seafood and dosas to French quiches and croissants, these 16 eateries in Pondicherry are the top favourites among people.
1. Lighthouse Rooftop Grill
Source: TripAdvisor
Book a table at this seaside restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. The al fresco seating is perfect for a dinner date with your beau. Enjoy the seaside views as you have your sundowners here.
Address: 23, Goubert Avenue, White Town, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 222 7750
Must-try: Butter Garlic Prawns
Cost For Two: Rs 2,000
2. Hotel Surguru
Source: Instagram
Craving for some good ol’ idli-sambhar breakfast or a South Indian thali that reminds you of home? Well, Hotel Surguru is the answer to all your prayers! You can binge all you want as their serving quantities are always a little *extra* and their flavours, totally on point. You can also find a great variety of dosas such as
Ghee Roast Dosa or Soybean Dosai with coconut and tomato chutneys. Their budget-friendly prices keep them in popular demand and super crowded through the day.
Address: 104, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Near Aurobindo Ashram, Heritage Town, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 2339022, +91 0413 2227290
Website: Hotel Surguru
Must-try: Ghee Roast Dosa, Paper Dosa, and Pongal
Cost For Two: Rs 400
3. Carte Blanche, Hotel De L’Orient
Source: Instagram
Carte Blanche is all about French charm. Just pull up a chair and read a book while enjoying the lovely weather of the city. Order some filter coffee and choose from their mouth-watering range of ‘creole’ cuisine i.e. a fusion of French and South Indian flavours. Their Traditional Pondicherry White Chicken Curry and Sand Lobster are also highly recommended.
Address: 17, Romain Rolland Street, White Town, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 2349032, +91 413 2349033
Must-try: Tamarind Fish Curry, Sand Lobster, and Ratatouille
Cost For Two: Rs 800
4. Blue Line The Promenade
Source: Zomato
If a good seafood restaurant is always your first preference, then Blue Line The Promenade is what you are looking for. One of the most popular non-veg restaurants in Pondicherry, it is appreciated for its delicious food options (buffet spreads and a la carte available). When you’re here to grab a bite, you’ll enjoy the provided amenities like valet parking, full bar, smoking area and 24-hour services. It’s also a good choice if you wish to watch the Bay of Bengal from your seafront table.
Address: The Promenade, 23, Goubert Avenue, White Town, Puducherry- 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 2227757
Must-try: Chicken Biryani, Fish Curry, and Chicken Cordon Bleu
Cost For Two: Rs 1,1500
5. Villa Shanti
Source: Instagram
If you want to brunch with breathtaking garden views as your appetisers, then Villa Shanti will be perfect for you. This quaint restaurant offers a wide range of lip-smacking dishes with exotic flavours. Their most popular dishes include Tandoori Chicken, cooked with oranges, ginger and white wine and a Parsi, Patrani Lobster. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, their Orange And Almond Cake With Chocolate Mousse is also a must try!
Address: 14 Rue, Suffren Street, White Town, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 4200028
Website: Villa Shanti
Must-try: Ravioli, Stuffed Chicken, Chocolate & Almond Cake, and Pasta
Cost For Two: Rs 1,500
6. Appachi Chettinad
Source: Instagram
With its thatched roof and a rustic, southern ambience, this restaurant is considered ‘mini Tamil Nadu’. The restaurant serves authentic flavours of Chettinad dishes and their most loved dishes are Dum Biryani and Nethili Podi Varuval (a dish of buttery anchovies and spicy, dry-fried chicken served with chutney).
Address: 11, Ranga Pillai Street, MG Road Area, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 2220613, +91 413 2227419
Website: Appachi Chettinad
Must-try: Dhum Briyani, Sura Puttu, and Nethili Podi Varuval
Cost For Two: Rs 400 onwards
7. Cafe Des Arts
Source: Instagram
Want to discover the European heritage of the city? Head to this cafe for a bite of the continent. While its artsy decor and French interiors give you the much-needed charm of the colonial heritage, its in-house colourful apparel boutique, a bookshelf for bibliophiles and a collection of vintage cameras make the ambience even more inviting. Their delectable, Scrambled Eggs with Toast or Bacon and Cheese Crepe will certainly make your day.
Address: 10, Suffren Street, White Town, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 9994481914
Must-try: Gazpacho, Croque-Monsieur, and Fondant Au Chocolat
Cost For Two: Rs 300
8. Crepe In Touch
Source: Instagram
This cute little French cafe has been everyone’s favourite for years. While the quirky and colourful interiors are a delight for the eyes, their signature crepes, infused with French and Indian flavours will leave you wanting more. They serve sweet and savoury crepes with a delicious meat and cheese filling. Just one crispy crepe with a fruit smoothie is enough to satiate your palate. Depending on your mood, you could always come back for more! Dishes like the Chicken Masala Crepe, Smoked Fish Crepe and Buckwheat Savoury Crepe are always in popular demand along with the Ratatouille Cheese Quiche.
Address: 29, Needarajapayar Street, MG Road Area, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 9787810756
Must-try: Chicken Masala Crepe, Smoked Fish Crepe, Buckwheat Crepe, Ginger Lemon Honey Mint Juice, and Carantec Salad
Cost For Two: Rs 800
9. Baker Street
Source: Instagram
Baker Street is a heaven for anybody fond of desserts! Serving the most divine range of oven-fresh quiches, croissants, brioches, crepes and desserts, you will end up relishing French delicacies at budget-friendly prices. You must try the Baked Cheesecakes, Chocolate Escargots, Twister Chocolate Croissants, Eclair Cakes, Lemon Sorbets and Mille Feuilles (layered puff pastries with custard cream and fruit toppings) here.
Address: 123, Bussy Street, Near Clock Tower, MG Road Area, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 9944850001, +91 413 4901333
Must-try: Baked Cheesecakes, Chocolate Escargots, Twister Chocolate Croissants, Eclair Cakes, Lemon Sorbets and Mille Feuilles (layered puff pastries with custard cream and fruit toppings)
Cost For Two: Rs 400
10. A2B – Adyar Ananda Bhavan
Source : Swiggy
A fan of South Indian and Chinese food? Try Adyar Ananda Bhavan restaurant on your trip to Pondicherry to enjoy tasty vegetarian dishes. Order their dahi-puri, idiappam, chole bhature, basundi or masala dosa when you’re there. It has courteous wait-staff and minimalistic yet comfortable ambience. You can also buy some traditional south Indian sweets for your loved ones if you are on a trip.
Address: 11, Near Mankula Vinayagar Temple, Jawaharlal Nehru Street, White Town, Puducherry- 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 2223333
Website: A2B – Adyar Ananda Bhavan
Must-try: Onion Uthappam, Masala Dosa, and Pongal
Cost For Two: Rs 450 onwards
11. Madhuram
Source : Swiggy
Madhuram is a heaven for people who love spicy food. Their incredibly inexpensive menu is another attraction! If you’re a vegetarian, then Madhuram would make it easier for you while you are in Pondicherry. Visit this restaurant to taste some delicious authentic South Indian food with comfortable seats and adequately lit ambience. You’re welcome!
Address: Abirami Residency, 92, Anna Salai, Heritage Town, Puducherry- 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 222 9881
Must-try: Pineapple Sheera, Punjabi Veg Curry, Nellai Chilli idli, Crispy Medu Vadas, and North Indian Thali
Cost For Two: Rs 250 onwards
12. Satsanga
Source: Zomato
If you take fastidious care to include only organic food in your diet, then Satsanga is the right choice for you. This restaurant prepares its food with its own organic vegetables and serves fresh seafood. So, make the most of staying in the French town by dining at this restaurant.
Address: 54, Rue Labourdonnais, Beach Road, Near Law College & Public Works Department, White Town, Puducherry- 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 2225867, +91 9486746783
Must-try: Ratatouille, Beef Steak, and Moussaka
Cost For Two: Rs 1,000
13. La Villa Helena
Source: Zomato
From the best cheesecakes in town to fresh mojitos, La Villa Helena offers you the best dining experience. The exquisite villa setting with lights & mixed table setting is love at first sight! It is run by two French ladies and has a friendly wait-staff. This Italian restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Pondicherry and that’s why it’s usually full. So make your reservations in advance and get here to enjoy some tasty Continental and Italian food.
Address: 13, Rue de Bussy Street, White Town, Puducherry- 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 4210806
Website: La Villa Helena
Must-try: Chicken Caesar Salad, Pork Chops, and New York Cheesecake
Cost For Two: Rs 1,200
14. Le Club
Source : Zomato
The lively setting of this place under an artfully lit pandal in the garden of an old French villa makes it one of the most famous restaurants in Pondicherry. It’s also the very first restaurant to serve French cuisine in Pondicherry. You will definitely enjoy the tasty seafood, veg fritters and chocolate mousse of this place. The chirpy outdoorsy ambience makes it a hot spot for tourists.
Address: Hotel De Pondicherry, 38, Dumas Street, White Town, Puducherry- 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 421 0592
Website: Le Club
Must-try: Mushroom Soup, Caesar Salad, Veg Fritters, Chocolate Mousse, Seafood and Pasta
Cost For Two: Rs 1,400
15. Le Dupleix
Source: Instagram
Located in the heart of Pondicherry, Le Dupleix is one of the prettiest, most popular restaurants. It’s perfect for family lunches and romantic dates. Choose between their vintage-style decor with wood-panelled indoor seating or the lovely, courtyard seating under a canopy/mango tree. Their menu serves a wide range of Tamil-French cuisine and the must-try dishes include a warm and buttery, Prawn Risotto and Rasam Aux Crevettes, a coconut-based, shrimp soup with curry leaves and spices.
Address: 5, Caseme Street, White Town, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 413 2226999, +91 413 2226002
Must-try: Prawn Risotto and Chicken Biryani
Cost For Two: Rs 1,500
16. New Farm Fresh Pizzeria
Source: Instagram
New Farm Fresh Pizzeria is exactly how the name sounds – farm-fresh with authentic, Italian ingredients. As one of the most sought-after pizza places in town, it’s famous for its truckloads of delicious toppings and a generous amount of cheese. Every time you take a bite, you can hear the sound of its ‘crispy and crunchy’ crust with a burst of flavours in your mouth. Wondering what makes them so unique? Well, it’s their traditional, brick-oven method that makes them so undeniably, ‘pizza-licious’ all the time!
Address: 41, Saint Louis Street, White Town, Puducherry – 605001
Phone no.: +91 9791681299, +91 413 2220500
Must-try: Wood Fire Pizza and Pesto Chicken Pizza
Cost For Two: Rs 1,000
Drooling much? Plan your next trip to this spectacular French town already!
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