Walking through the art venues at the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2025 at Fort Kochi can be tiring, especially in humid weather. Here’s a guide to cafes and eateries around the galleries where you can grab a glass of something cold and comforting to quench your thirst and find a nice dish to go with it. From sandwiches and pastas to traditional Kerala flavours, there is a selection to choose from.
Toast and omelette at Qissa Cafe
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Qissa Cafe
If you are not in the mood for a full meal, try the sandwiches here. These tuna, cheese, egg and chicken sandwiches are surprisingly light, yet filling. Served with two crunchy slices of watermelon, they are ideal for a quick lunch. Salads are on the menu, too. The drinks include tea and coffee, both hot and iced, and a variety of seasonal fruit juices. While at Qissa, check out the works on display as part of the Art Pavilion 2025, a showcase of paintings by various artists taking place alongside the biennale. Opened in 2015, the cafe’s breakfast offerings, including avacado special toast, are especially popular.
Order this: Pineapple cheese sandwich and ginger lemon soda
On KB Jacob Road, opposite the Police Station, Fort Kochi.
₹580 for two
Chocolate cake at Kashi Art Cafe
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Kashi Art Cafe
The chocolate cake at Kashi Art Cafe has always been and still is its biggest draw. It is a large portion of warm cake, moistened with chocolate sauce and can be easily shared by two people. If your are around during breakfast, try the appam and stew. Or choose from a selection of whole wheat sandwiches or omelettes available through the day. It has a fully vegan and gluten free menu in addition to the main menu. Opened in 1997, Kashi is one of Kochi’s earliest art cafes, featuring the works of some of Kerala’s well-known artists, including Riyas Komu. Formerly an old Dutch House, with a courtyard, which is now the central space of the cafe, with lots of greenery, Kashi can be easily accessed on foot (about a two-minute walk) from one of the main biennale venues, The Aspinwall House.
Order this: Chocolate cake, cold coffee with ice cream, all meat lover’s omelette.
On Burgher Street, Fort Kochi.
₹800 for two
Meals at Solar cafe
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Solar Cafe
Open only during the Kozhi Muziris Biennale, this cafe with its bright yellow walls and shelves lined with books and vintage tables and chairs is buzzing with energy in the middle of the day. Take the wooden flight of stairs to find your spot. A satisfying traditional Kerala meal, complete with fish curry and fry, pappadam and buttermilk gives you an experience of the local flavours. Salads and sandwiches are available too, in addition to tea, coffee and fruit juices.
Order this: Fish curry meals and lime soda
Opposite Customs Jetty.
Calvathy Road, Kunnumpuram, Fort Kochi
₹400 for two
Cocobay mint at Pepper House Cafe
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Pepper House Cafe
Coffee and coconut blend perfectly well in Cocobay Mint, a speciality drink at Pepper House Cafe. Managed by Rakkaudella Chocolates, a Kerala-based single origin chocolate brand, the cafe serves a limited but tasty selection of sandwiches, salads, cold drinks and desserts. A chocolate experience centre, set to open soon, will feature 32 varieties of the brand’s chocolates. The experience centre will function even after the biennale. What enhances the experience is the partly-open air seating and Pepper House’s heritage vibe. One of the main venues of the beinnale, the galleries on the first floor showcase the works of artists including Monica Correya and Nityan Unnikrishnan.
Order this: Chocolate cake and Cocobay Mint
Near Hotel Seagull, Fort Kochi.
₹800 for two
Spicy potato sandwich at Mocha Art Cafe
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Mocha Art Cafe
A full tomato cheese sandwich is filling, but eating it in a cafe housed in a 16th century Dutch mansion speaks directly to the soul. The busy little cafe is at one of the narrow passageways within the mansion, which has various rooms converted into antique and clothing stores. The menu includes salads, soups, steak, sandwiches, a selection of omelettes, pasta and pancakes. Tea, coffee and seasonal fruit juices form a chunk of the menu. While you wait for the food, you could take a look at a collateral show of the biennale, The Lightness of Being, a collection of abstract paintings by Shobha Broota, curated by Ina Puri.
Order this: Spicy potato sandwich and cold coffee with ice cream
Opposite the Jewish Synagogue, Jew Town, Mattancherry.
₹600 for two
Published – December 18, 2025 04:25 pm IST
