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International Coffee Day

Guide To India’s 7 Iconic Coffee Houses

Step onto any lane in any major metro or even tier 2 and tier 3 cities, and you’ll see cafes serving coffee. Some are part of global chains; others are quaint little spaces where whimsy is served on the side. And then there is the third kind – the iconic coffee houses, established decades ago but still standing tall, carrying with them the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and a hint of nostalgia. If you love history and coffee, then hop onto this guide to India’s iconic coffee houses.

Situated at Connaught Place (among other locations), Delhi, the United Coffee House was established in 1942 and is among India’s oldest cafes and restaurants. Running for eight decades, the cafe has preserved a part of India’s history in its menu, serving a mix of Regional Indian, British Colonial, Continental, and Oriental cuisines. Even its interiors are a reflection of the Victorian era. UCH’s legacy isn’t just in its architecture or menu, though; it’s in how this has been a hotspot for artists, lawyers, journalists, businessmen, politicians, locals, and tourists throughout the years. You’ll find UCH mentioned in novels, movies, TV shows, and everything else in between. And they do serve a mean cup of coffee! 

Long before the “Starbucks, Third Waves, CCDs, and Blue Tokais” opened up, there was the Indian Coffee House and its many locations across the nation. Started in the 1930s under British rule, the venue was initially a place where Indians, barred from European venues in India, could gather. Soon it became a place for The chain started in the 1930s under British rule, initially offering a space for intellectual debates, political revolutions, and informal social gatherings. And it’s still the same. Today, it has around 500 cooperative-run locations across India, with Kolkata being the oldest. Other locations include Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh, and many more. Even before Independence, the chain had spread to about 50 outlets across India.

Koshy’s, a family-run restaurant that has been around since the 1940s, is woven into the city’s fabric. The cafe, known for its filter coffee and Danish pastries, among other fare, has served many legendary personalities over the years, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Queen Elizabeth II. In a city where tech and traffic constantly compete for attention, Koshy’s, with its creaky chairs, old decor, and Cantonment-style charms, serves as the unofficial living room, bridging the gap between the old and new.

One of the oldest establishments on the list, the Leopold Cafe is as iconic to the city that never sleeps as Marine Drive. Built in 1871 and situated on the Colaba Causeway in Mumbai, Leopold remains a reminder of the city’s Iranian history; it’s also one of the few Irani cafes to still be running, even as others fade away into extinction. However, in recent history, the cafe became a symbol of the city’s spirit when it reopened just four days after being under attack from terrorists during the trafic 2008 Mumbai Terror Attack. Today, it finds foreigners and locals among its clients, is mentioned in books and shows, and is a must-visit for most first-time Mumbai visitors. 

For over 40 decades, the Canara Coffee House has been brewing its signature serves. At the time of its establishment, it was the city’s first “modern cafe”. Today, it’s a popular venue where history and culture combine, as well as different cuisines. It’s particularly famous for blending Maharashtrian and regional tastes, most notably introducing the city to its signature dish—Puna Misal (steamed green gram/lentils with chiwda, topped with cool yoghurt and sev) alongside filter coffee and dosas. 

Chennai’s oldest restaurant chain, founded in 1948, the Ratna Cafe is known for its filter coffee and sambar idli. The cafe states that it serves “legacy on a platter”, and it’s a well-founded claim indeed, considering it pioneered the tradition of serving unlimited, distinctively spiced sambar poured generously from mini-buckets directly over idlis. Reports claim the cafe serves as many as 4,000 idlis in a day, immediately followed by a steaming, frothy cup of the traditional chicory-blended filter coffee. 

Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, better known as MTR, has been a Bengaluru institution since 1924. It began as a small eatery founded by the Maiya brothers on Lalbagh Fort Road, serving coffee and simple South Indian food. It was later renamed Mavalli Tiffin Rooms and became famous for dishes like rava idli, masala dosa, and bisibele bath. The restaurant also has a fascinating wartime story: when rice became scarce during World War II, the kitchen experimented with semolina and created its now-iconic rava idli.

This is, by no means, a complete list. You have Flury’s, Kolkata’s iconic tearoom, or Delhi’s Triveni Terrace Cafe, commonly frequented by theatre artists. Then there are the many Irani cafes of Mumbai, and of course, the sprawling chains of modern-day coffee cafes that have become the go-to spot for dates, meetings, catch-ups, and everything else in between. But these are the cafes that first introduced tea-loving India to the bitter brew. And there was no turning back!