ARAKU Coffee — Restaurant in Bengaluru

Araku has been one of my all-time fave places to grab a quick cuppa on 12th Main, Indiranagar. But heads up - Araku isn't your regular "I'll have a cold coffee" or "is there pasta with white sauce here" kind of place.

Araku is all about pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, learning more about the flavors and tones of coffee, and trying food that you're probably not familiar with, but trust me, it's worth it. The gorgeous space with a mod bar captivates you the second you enter, with two floors of comfortable seating and pleasant music. My most recent visit is from a table where I tried a bunch of their new menu launches, and here's how it went.

~If you're here for a quick coffee run, I'd recommend trying the Nutty Irishman with tones of Caramel and whipped cream in it, or the Honey vanilla latte. They also have an interesting range of cold brews and iced lattes to pick from: if you're confused, I'd also suggest asking your barista for options that would suit your liking, so you're not surprised with what arrives.

~If you're here for a meal: To start off with, we dug into some freshly baked Sourdough Wheat Bread with house-made sauerkraut - easy on the tummy and the perfect appetizer. This was served with spring onion & Pistachio butter [which was my personal fave] and another side of Sautéed Okinawa spinach with homemade butter. The lemon that was preserved for 120 days and then immersed in olive oil, blew my mind!

~If you're looking for something light and fruity to begin your meal instead, they also have Summer Melons : Quick-pickled seasonal melons (musk, watermelon & honeydew) sure pave the way for a heavy meal to follow.

~If you're vegan, don't forget to try the Celeriac Pil-Pil - which is basically pan-fried celeriac from Ooty, topped with Basque pil pil sauce. You definitely wouldn't think something like this could taste so good! 11/10 recommend. Or if you're looking for another option, the Roasted sunchokes served with sesame paste deserve a special mention too.

~If you're in the mood for eggs, their Scotch Eggs: wrapped in Housemade Chicken Forcemeat will fill you up! The Onigiri Chicken served with Ambemohar rice is also a great option if you're looking for something a little more filling.

Their dessert menu is equally innovative, try their damask rose tart with five rose ingredients: fresh petals, pickled rose cream, rose custard, rose powder, and rose water in oatmeal crust; their tomato cake served with mascarpone cream, or stick to the good old Chocolate Squared.

The beauty of Araku is that everything is produced in-house, roasted fresh, and organic. It's surprising how light you'd feel after an intense 5-course meal here as well. Definitely recommend a visit if you haven't been here already: for coffee enthusiasts, for someone looking to experiment and try out new food, and for those just looking for a quiet time with friends and family. Cost for...

Weekend Rituals at Araku – A Place Close to Our Hearts

Araku Coffee has become more than just a café for us—it’s a cherished part of our weekend routine. Every weekend, without fail, my wife and I find ourselves walking into Araku, greeted by the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the calm, aesthetic atmosphere that sets the perfect tone for a slow, meaningful morning.

There’s one particular coffee I always come back for. While I’ve tried a few other offerings on the menu out of curiosity, I inevitably return to this favourite. It’s perfectly balanced—aromatic, rich in flavour, and has just the right strength to wake me up gently. There's a comforting consistency in how it’s brewed each time, and I appreciate that level of care. The baristas seem to know their craft well, and there's something almost meditative about the way they prepare each cup.

Araku doesn’t feel like just another coffee shop. There’s a soul to the space. The minimalist interiors, soft music, and open layout create a relaxed environment that invites you to linger. Whether it’s the morning sun streaming through the glass or the gentle buzz of conversations around, the ambience always feels just right—neither too loud, nor too quiet.

What makes it even more special is that it’s our little tradition. My wife and I have made it a point to go every weekend, no matter how busy the week has been. It’s become our time to unwind, reconnect, and simply be. Sometimes we sit in silence, sometimes we talk endlessly. Often, she brings a book, and I just sip on my coffee and watch the world pass by. It’s these small rituals that anchor us through the chaos of the workweek.

Over time, we’ve even come to recognise a few familiar faces—both staff and fellow regulars. There’s a sense of quiet community, of being part of something unspoken yet shared. The staff are always warm and attentive, and even during rush hours, they maintain a calm composure that keeps the vibe easy and enjoyable.

Araku's emphasis on sustainable, organic coffee from the Araku Valley adds a meaningful layer to the experience. It’s satisfying to know that the cup of coffee I enjoy is also part of a larger, ethical ecosystem that supports local farmers.

If you're someone who appreciates good coffee and thoughtful spaces, I would highly recommend giving Araku a visit. But for us, it’s not just about the coffee anymore—it’s about the memories we’re quietly building, one weekend at a time.

In a world that’s always rushing, Araku gives us the...

One of the best cafés in Bengaluru possibly. Elegant ambience, unique foods, and a good variety of brews make the place worth visiting!

Food, Coffee, and Alcohol: We ordered Scotch Eggs (similar to Dimer Devil), Sepia Rice (Rice with Squid Ink and Lemon), Alkaline Shrimp Noodles (which was comforting). I was very much excited to try a dish with Squid Ink for the first time and there's nothing to worry about Squid Ink as it is quite neutral and doesn't impart any bad flavours to the dish.

We also ordered some mead and rosé wine (Miraval). As it was my first time trying mead, it tasted very much between beer and wine. To me, it felt slightly closer to beer than wine. Rosé wine on the other hand was as expected.

And coming to coffee, I ordered a cold brew with rosemary. Unfortunately, I couldn't sense the rosemary as the smell of coffee was just too strong to let rosemary shine. I believe stronger flavours such as lemon with cold brew would be better. The coffee itself was not bad but I do not think it justifies the price tag. I guess I could have better appreciated their lattes such as Turkish Latte. Will be trying those the next time I visit.

I also feel they could try and develop more fruity and floral milk-based coffees. Most of their fruity or floral options exist only with black coffee. This is one area of research/improvement in my humble opinion!

For desserts, we ordered two cruffins (a cross between croissants and muffins), one being licorice cruffin and the other being hemp cruffin. Both tasted really fresh. The licorice cream in the first one tasted quite sweet and satisfying. The hemp cream in the second one seemed to taste a bit earthy, very slightly sour/bitter. It is very hard to even describe the flavour. Hemp is essentially cannabis sativa (marijuana's scientific name) with lower levels of THC and CBD and hence was quite excited to try it! We also had a Roasted Squash and Dark Chocolate Tart that was well-balanced and delicious.

We couldn't get many other desserts as they weren't available such as the Damask Rose Five Ways or the Rhubarb and Roselle Cakes. Hope to try them sometime!

Service: Polite and knowledgeable staff. They are good at giving you recommendations if you are in need of it.

Ambience: Clean, elegant, and beautiful. There's no need to describe further!

Overall, a gourmet café that is definitely worth visiting, be it for the coffee, desserts, foods, or even...