Sun Francisco Café & Resto — Restaurant in Kerala

By far the BEST place I've been to in Varkala. The staff were ALWAYS so welcoming, loving, kind and helpful to me. Let me introduce you to them 😊

The wonderful waiters : Sundar & Tependar always recognised me and made me feel just at home. They catered to my special requests and were ever so patient, kind and loving to me. THANK YOU for everything, and @everyone, please ask for them. I'm sure they will take care of all your needs.

The amazing Chef : Devendra is the most unique head chef i have ever come across. Whenever he would send the food out, he would ask the waiter which table the food is going to, observe how they are enjoying it and always cater to their requests. I myself have had his food many times and he even went so far as to create new dishes for me !!!! 😊 This is a true honour. He never declared he's the chef, and he goes around as a waiter as well, ever so humble. I gave him a long hug before I left because the food cooked by his hands was something i could fully digest and enjoy. He is an artist with food, true Kalaakar.

And finally.. my champ friend Anthony. Anthony Bhai is a multi talented, super friendly person who waited on me many times. He also managed the place and made sure every guest felt welcome. Please note that he is one of the RARE people I've come across in my stays in many villages in India who treats Indians and foreigners EXACTLY the same. With the same respect, love, kindness and humour. Even when he's having a tough day he always makes sure to have a smile on his face ! We spoke at length about life and I learnt a lot from him as well as the others there. He was there for me at tough times too, and I'm forever grateful to him. Anthony my brother, please know that you're a gem. Tum heere ho.

Anyways, please ask for the above staff and enjoy the beautiful view that dear Sun Francisco has to offer. I'm coming back sooner than soon. Best cafe in Varkala according...

location- nice, right at the north cliff road.

Ambience - good. Very open, airy, quite bright, just the cafe you would want to sit in and read/work

Crowd- mostly foreign guests with a few locals and indians.

Service- very poor and slow. Extremely slow. And this is a unique trait to all restaurants in varkala.

My experience. We went and sat down in the restaurant. Usually the servers turn up immediately with the menu cards. However here and at many other places around varkala, they turn up mostly when you call them. And even to that aspect, an eye contact with them to indicate them to come is so so tough. They usually don’t see their incoming guests and more often than not the guest himself /herself is getting up to get the menu cards.

Once the menu card had arrived, it again took us forever to again call the guy to take our food preferences. It is the same experience while clearing the cheque.

I would have understood the wait time had it been some occasion like some festival/weekend/or some special occasion like new years. However, it was a weekday and thus the kind of wait time was insane.

Similarly, later during our dine-in, I had ordered a tea which never came up to me but for once was added to the bill. Had i not been attentive, it would have been added.

I feel worse to say that the guests from foreign land visiting the same restaurant alongside you are treated way way better than you.

Anyone visiting the restaurants in and around varkala are advised to be patient with food serving times. It can take anywhere between...

Sun Francisco in Varkala is an absolute gem! Settled in the cliff with stunning sea views, it’s become one of our favorite spots. We’ve visited at least four times and tried a variety of dishes from their menu – everything was fantastic.

The pizza was impressively close to Italian quality, the pasta was delicious and nearly al dente , and the masala dosa is a treat you won’t want to miss. They even offer unique options like a salt lassi, which isn’t something i did not find on many menus.

We were also pleasantly surprised by their range of plant-based milks – a thoughtful touch that caters to everyone. The vibe is laid-back, with cool music playing at just the right volume. There’s also artwork on the walls, including a vibrant Frida Kahlo piece that adds to the atmosphere.

One thing to note: the seats near the bar or kitchen can sometimes have a bit of a smell, depending on what’s cooking and how strong the fans are, so it’s usually better to sit in the front area, where it’s breezy and airy. Speaking of improvements, the menu cards are a little worn out and falling apart, but I imagine they’ll update them soon.

Despite these minor details, Sun Francisco is truly a top location. The staff here are friendly, professional, and knowledgeable about the menu. While it seems to be an all-male team, they make you feel welcome and are super helpful, speaking excellent English.

We’ll definitely keep coming back for the amazing food and relaxing vibe. Highly recommend Sun Francisco if...