Most of the best cafes in Kochi are in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, the old port quarter, where warehouses and colonial bungalows have become art cafes, tea rooms and bookish hangouts. Several double as galleries during the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Ernakulam, across the water, has newer neighbourhood cafes.
Here are 11 cafes in Kochi grouped by area, with the cost for two and hours recent guides reported.
- Cafes listed
- 11
- Typical cost for two
- Rs 400 to 1,400 (reported, 2024 sources)
- Main cafe area
- Fort Kochi and Mattancherry
- Best for
- Art cafes, breakfast, seafood plates
Cafes in Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is walkable, and most cafes are within a few lanes of Princess Street and Burgher Street.
Kashi Art Cafe
The original Fort Kochi art cafe, in a traditional bungalow that hosts rotating exhibitions. Known for breakfast and roast chicken.
- Area: Burgher Street, Fort Kochi
- Reported cost: about Rs 400 to 1,200 for two (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
- Reported hours: 8:30 am to 10 pm (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
Qissa Cafe
The cafe of the No 18 Hotel, with upcycled furniture and dishes such as French toast, banoffee pie and lemon-pesto pasta.
- Area: KB Jacob Road, opposite the Police Station
- Reported cost: Rs 600 for two (Outlook Traveller, Jan 2024)
- Reported hours: 11 am to 11 pm (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
Loafers Corner Cafe
A bookshelf-lined cafe in an old building on a busy corner, with continental and vegan-friendly dishes.
- Area: Princess Street, Fort Nagar
- Reported hours: 9:30 am to 10 pm (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
Teapot Cafe
A tea room filled with antique teapots and plants, for teas, cheesecake and English breakfast.
- Area: Peter Celli Street, Fort Nagar
- Reported cost: Rs 500 for two (Outlook Traveller, Jan 2024)
Pepper House Cafe
A former pepper warehouse with a garden, library, boutique and harbour views; a Biennale venue.
- Area: Calvathy Road, near Hotel Seagull
- Reported cost: Rs 800 for two (Outlook Traveller, Jan 2024)
- Reported hours: 11 am to 7 pm (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
East India Street Cafe
In a former East India Company warehouse, serving organic breakfast combos, waffles and quesadillas.
- Area: Bazaar Road, Calvathy
Cafes in Mattancherry and Jew Town
Mocha Art Cafe
A heritage building with a vertical garden and vintage art, serving saffron tea, mocha, seafood and pancakes.
- Area: Synagogue Lane, Jew Town
- Reported cost: about Rs 1,000 for two (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
- Reported hours: 10 am to 8:30 pm (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
Kayees Ramathulla Cafe
Not a coffee cafe but a classic Mattancherry eatery for Kerala-style biryani and mutton chops with puttu.
- Area: Mattancherry (Outlook Traveller, 2023)
Cafes in Ernakulam and Aluva
Cafe Papaya
A Panampilly Nagar cafe with live music and a book library, known for pazham pori and beef curry.
- Area: Yuvajana Samajam Road, Panampilly Nagar
- Reported cost: Rs 700 for two (Outlook Traveller, Jan 2024)
Nosh Haus
A cosy cafe with couches, board games and books; worth a stop if you are near the airport side.
- Area: Companypadi, Aluva, opposite Metro Pillar 106
- Reported cost: Rs 1,000 for two (Outlook Traveller, Jan 2024)
- Reported hours: 6 am to 10 pm (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
Cocoa Tree
Continental and Italian food, seafood and English breakfast.
- Area: MG Road, Ernakulam
- Reported hours: 11 am to 11 pm (The Hosteller blog, Jul 2024)
Kochi cafes by type
- Art and gallery cafes: Kashi Art Cafe, Pepper House Cafe and Mocha Art Cafe, all busiest during the Biennale.
- Breakfast: Kashi Art Cafe, Qissa Cafe, Teapot Cafe and East India Street Cafe.
- Books and quiet work: Loafers Corner, Pepper House Cafe (library) and Nosh Haus.
- Kerala food: Kayees Ramathulla Cafe for biryani, Cafe Papaya for pazham pori and beef curry.
Getting there, best time and booking
- From Ernakulam, the ferry to Fort Kochi is a scenic option; then walk between cafes.
- Biennale months bring crowds; expect waits at Kashi and Pepper House.
- Several Fort Kochi cafes close by early evening; plan lunch rather than dinner.
- Parking in Fort Kochi lanes is limited; use autos.
How we picked these cafes
This is an independent list. No cafe paid to be included and none of the links are sponsored. We shortlisted cafes that appear in recent food and travel guides or dining app listings, opened those sources, and only kept places that were not marked closed.
Costs and hours are as reported by the sources named, change often, and should be checked with the cafe or a dining app before you go.
Questions and answers
What are the best cafes in Kochi?
Kashi Art Cafe, Qissa Cafe, Loafers Corner, Teapot Cafe and Pepper House Cafe in Fort Kochi are the most often recommended.
Where are most cafes in Kochi?
Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, the old port quarter, have the highest concentration of cafes.
Are there good cafes in Ernakulam?
Yes. Cafe Papaya in Panampilly Nagar and Cocoa Tree on MG Road are two sourced options.
How much does a cafe in Kochi cost?
Guides from 2024 reported about Rs 500 to 1,000 for two at most cafes here. Check current prices.
Sources
Last checked: 14 October 2026