Sri Mangalambika Vilas Coffee Hotel (Since 1914) — Restaurant in Tamil Nadu

Veg-Traditional food lovers must have to visit here. “Sri Mangalambika Vilas” is located at Kumbeswarar temple, Sannathi St, (same name “Mangalambiga Coffee and Tiffin Center” is located in no 41, Valayapettai Agraharam st that is counterfeit.) I use Google map for finding location it slightly tweaked me, take extra 10 minutes to reach here. I reached here by around 9.PM., due to closing time, I don’t have hope would get the dinner at this pandemic situation. 1st I have ordered idli, they have served 4 idli with sambar, coconut chutney and pudina chutney. Sambar is delicious tasty is perfect no comments on that. Chutney is nice. This Restaurant is famous for Rava dosa . But I ordered Adai & Aviyal. They took few minutes to delivery, worth for waiting Adai appealing as olden days look there is no compromised. Adai and Aviyal is tempting to eat so I missed to take the photo. It’s yummy and full of flavor, Even night 9PM they served fresh Aviyal tasty divine no words to say. And they have served another side dish jaggery it awesome for Adai. Adai is delicious, spicy and flavor nothing dominating each other everything in blend in correct ratio. Now my stomach is full, Now I have ordered the Filter coffee. They have served by Hot copper tumbler, its’s Traditional flitter coffee taste, Coffee lover must have to visit one time to taste Sri Mangalambika Vilas Filter coffee. It’s tempting to taste but this time I have taken the coffee picture consciously. Bottom line - Vegetarian Traditional foodies like Sri Mangalambika Vilas food taste, they freezes the Traditional taste...

This is a nice, traditional, authentic South Indian Restaurant. This place is situation inside the temple street and both sides of this street are lined with lots of small shops that sell locally made wares. We bought lots of Golu items here.

This restaurant serves very good quality food that has home made feel to it. We have had snacks like Idli, Vada, Dosa and other varities that are not available in ordinary place; also has full meals and the quality is consistently good.

This is also one of the oldest, if not the oldest, restaurant/hotel/business establishment in the town of Kumbakonam. This was established in 1914 if am not wrong ( and traces its origin even longer than that). And a new restaurant manager was hired for a few years who ran it till end of 2018. This restaurant manager incidentally was hired because they ran another restaurant in Kumbakonam by similar name.

This restaurant is now renovated by the original owner and reopened. Do not get confused by similar names as this place has no branch. Check reviews for accuracy, FB links before you go to the right one!

A unique feature of this place is sweets like halva, janggery and so on. Chutneys are very nice here and of course, the famous Filter coffee that originated in this town. This place has also won several awards and featured in various publications. If you want authentic, original and unique experience, then this place is a no-miss! Thanks for reading...

Pluses

As you enter the premises of this 106 year old restaurant, located within the outer limits of an iconic temple, you get the feeling you are traveling back to the past. A past that was much slower in pace than today, much more contended with much lesser means, when food played a major role in everyday life. A past that also had vegetarian restaurants where only brahmins were allowed, gradually expanding to more upper castes, and yet having an exclusive brahmin eating space inside - later outlawed by a progressive DMK government.

Food is really good, prices are reasonable (with an exception to be covered in the minus section below), customer service is much above average. Except for a dour faced young man at the cash counter. But maybe he had a bad start that day, who knows?

Location - heart of historic Kumbakonam, inside temple precincts. Lots of knick knack shops all around.

Minuses

During this Corona age, stifling crowds, total lack of personal space (before entering the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, it is well spaced).

Parking of any kind of vehicle is a night mare. Walk to this place, after parking your vehicle somewhere far away.

Outrageous "degree coffee" price, when compared to similar rated hotels! They have two types of coffee - normal and degree. This degree is ₹35 per serving, not justified by any rationale! Taste is good, but similar tasting coffee is ₹20 at...