Of delicious crepes and great coffee. Of fresh baguettes and sinful pain au chocolat. We were excited to try out the French cafes and restaurants in White Town. Here’s my pick of the places you shouldn’t miss:

1. Cafe des Arts: Love, love, love this place. I think it captures the essence of Pondicherry. Graffiti adorns the exterior mustard walls, and you enter an old house converted into a cafe. From book shelves to a rusty old scooter, from tea crockery to an old gramophone, it has a homely and relaxed vibe. The cherry on the cake is Rajnikanth’s poster cut out reinforcing their love for the demi-god. The food here is just fantastic.

The Tartines with olives and pesto went well with the crunchy and fresh baguette. The cinnamon coffee was just right, not too sweet with a subtle hint of cinnamon. The Nutella and banana crepes were absolutely yummy. The Nutella was very unlike what I had tasted and when I checked with the owner, it turned out she imports it from Europe. Shopaholics can shop for clothes and accessories after a sumptuous meal! An extra thumbs-up for the free Wi-Fi 🙂

Where? 10, Suffren Street, White Town, Pondicherry

Damages? Rs 750* for two people

2. La Villa: I was really upset that I found out about this lovely place towards the end of the trip. But better late than never. We had our last meal here and it marked the perfect end to our culinary journey in Pondi. We were not too hungry and we had just ordered for a salad and an appetizer. I feel very few places get their salads right, and I really appreciate those places. The Greek Salad we ordered was perfect. And, the egg plant and feta dish tasted superb with the balsamic dressing and crunchy olive crumbs. We visited this place for lunch but the ambience is great for a romantic dinner.

Where? 11, Surcouf Street, White Town, Puducherry

Damages? Rs. 1200* for two people

3. Carte Blanche, Hotel De L’Orient: Take your pick between the gorgeous courtyard setting and the charming indoor seating with them vintage table linen and old world maps. The restaurant serves some delicious Tamil and French fusion cuisine along with the traditional French dishes. The mushroom and cheese crepes were delicious and melted in my mouth. We came here again for these lip-smacking beauties. I loved the way all the flavours came together in the ratatouille. The pasta was very average. The fusion legumes curry was spicy and coconutty. Lovely food coupled with a warm and relaxed ambience.

Where? Hotel De L’Orient, 17, Rue Romain Rolland, White Town, Puducherry

Damages? Rs. 1000* for two people

4. Le Dupliex: Home to the former mayor of Pondicherry, Le Dupliex stands tall and majestic with its pristine white walls. Now restored to a contemporary hotel, it strikes a balance between the French old world charm and modernity. It would be the ideal place for a fine-dining dinner with some wine and cheese. Unfortunately, the cheese platter was not available on the day I went, so I had to just make do with wine. The mushroom and thyme soup is one of the best I have had. The sundried tomato risotto was fresh and flavourful. The mushroom ravioli was a little too cheesy for my liking.

Where? 5, Rue De La Caserne, White Town, Puducherry

Damages? Rs. 1300* for two

5. New Farm Fresh Pizza: The open kitchen with the wood-fired ovens and the smell of fresh bread builds your appetite for a scrumptious pizza. We tried the Deluxe Veggie which pretty much had all the toppings and was satiating. There’s a Farm Fresh in Auroville as well, but we tried out the one in White Town. The mood of the place is very casual and no-frills. You can even pick up some organic coffee and spreads on your way out.

Where? 41, Saint Louis Street, White Town, Puducherry

Damages? Rs. 800* for two

Which are your favourite restaurants in Pondicherry?

*Prices are indicative and exclusive of taxes

Also read: Pondicherry, Je t’aime!