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Best restaurants and cafes in Hampi
With billions of travellers visiting every year, Hampi got to have plenty of verities of places to eat – Streetside carts to Five star hotels, local restaurants and cafes.
The town has a cool mix of cafes and super affordable and healthy local food joints catering to its diverse crowd.
This post shows you some of the best places to eat in Hampi – Restaurants, cafes and local food joints. You kind of can call us Hampi pros – I have been to Hampi thrice and Ashrith five times.
Some of these food joints remained common during all visits because they were so good. But during every visit to Hampi, we tried new places and new food.
Here goes the honest review of food places we tried in Hampi that can help you plan your food adventure in Hampi better.
Table of Contents
Check out our post “Complete Travel Guide to Plan Your Hampi Trip” to learn all the practical information, such as how to get around, where to stay, and when to visit Hampi in detail.
To discover the coolest sunset points in Hampi, check out our post “Six Best Viewpoints in Hampi to Watch Sunset and Sunrise.”
Wondering which all temples to visit in Hampi? Check our post “Ten Most Beautiful Temples to Visit in Hampi“
Want to see Hampi beyond temples? Have a look at our post “21 Unique Landmarks of Hampi to Explore“
A) What food is Hampi famous for?
Local to international Hampi is known for both. You do get non vegetarian food, but veggies dominate most parts of Hampi. Hampi local food scene leans heavily towards North Karnataka cuisine. Non vegetarian food is hard to find in most parts of Hampi.
So, when you hit up local joints for breakfast, expect the usual healthy and tasty suspects: Idli, Dosa, and Poori, just like you’d find in other parts of Karnataka. “Paddu,” those cute little dumplings ( My favourite and I make it every sunday) made from Dosa batter, are more popular than Dosa. And don’t be surprised to find joints serving up rice dishes like lemon rice with Chilli Bajjis even in the morning. Puliyogare is also a hit around the Hampi restaurants around Virupaksha temple.
In Hampi’s local restaurants, Jowar Roti meals take the spotlight. Alongside the usual South Indian thali options like rice, rasam, and sambar, Jowar roti with lentil and green curry, paired with Brinjal curry (Ennegayi) – a hallmark of North Karnataka cuisine – steals the show. And to complete the meal, a refreshing glass of buttermilk or some curds perfectly complements the banana leaf feast.
B) Best places to eat local food in Hampi
1. Yankappa & Laxmamma Chai point
As you stroll from Vijaya Vittala temple to Sugriva caves, you’ll stumble upon an open ground near Puranadara Dasara Mantapa. Here, you’ll find a few chai stalls and sugarcane juice shops. An old couple runs a chai shop with snacks at “Yankappa & Laxmamma Chai point” here, serving light breakfast at super affordable prices.
The snacks they serve are made of puffed rice, thin poha mixed with mixture, hint of garlic, and mild chilly powder. Known by several names across Karnataka, we call it “Khaara Mandakki”, while Yankappa and Laxmamma simply call it “Khaara”. Two of plates of this crispy, healthy snacks with two chai cost only 80 Rs. You can sit inside their shop on mud seating or outside under the tree. Plus, this food joint is located along the path frequented by local pilgrims who walk barefoot as part of their rituals, and a few hikers.
2. Taste of Brahmins
There’s this small and awesome food joint in Hampi near Virupaksha temple called “Taste of Brahmins”. It is run by a Brahmin family who’ve been in Hampi for 30 years, dishing out authentic South Indian breakfast delights like Dosa and Idli.
It’s hands down the best breakfast spot in all of Hampi. Being a South Indian myself, with Idli and Dosa as my brekkie staples, I can tell you, it’s the real deal. The idlis are soft, Dosas are crispy, coconut chutney is fresh wild mild spice and everything is super light and healthy. Their tea is fine, but not the best you can get. It is a hit among both domestic and foreign travellers and also pilgrims.
And he’s super chill and open, even sharing his batter recipe with anyone who asks like he did with me. Their place used to be a house but now it’s a hotel. There’s this cute little “Katte” outside with a shady overhang where you can chill while you wait for your grub, all while checking out the Gopuram of Virupaksha temple along with other pilgrims who is on their annual visit to the temple.
3. Shambhu Dosa Centre
Craving the crispiest and most delicious “Vada” in Hampi? Look no further than Shambhu Dosa Centre. Situated opposite Taste of Brahmins, Shambhu Dosa Centre offers a menu similar to that of Taste of Brahmins, but with their specialty being Vada – the savory fried snack that always pairs perfectly with Idli.
While their Dosa is good, their Vada is even better. It’s a small setup with a guest house above, and they’ve set up a few chairs outside their food joint for you to enjoy your snacks. A breakfast of two costs 100Rs.
4. Sagar Hotel Hampi
About 7 km from Kamalapur, near Malappangudi, you’ll come across “Sagar Hotel,” run by three women in their own house.
Their menu is wider compared to the other small hotels of Hampi. They make idli, dosa, paadu, poori, rice bath, vada, and chilli bajjis. Call us gourmands, Ashrith and I tasted each of these. Well, not that each of us took one plate of each. But this is that one place in Hampi where we ate the most! Because the food was super delicious, healthy, service was quick, menu had a variety, and the poori was least oily. And the ladies who cook the food and serve are smiling and make sure you eat to your stomach’s content.
The outside seating area may seem a bit dusty, being right by the highway. However, if you choose to dine inside, you’ll have a pleasant time enjoying local Hampi food. They open as early as 7 AM – we even had our breakfast at 7:30 AM before leaving Hampi. Most items at Sagar Hotel cost between 30 to 50 Rs per plate. So it is one of the most affordable places to eat in Hampi.
5. Sai Family Restaurant (Aunty Hotel):
Run by a lady and her family, Sai Family Restaurant is also called as Aunty Hotel. They are famous for serving delectable Jowar meals on banana leaves.
The pulse curry and vegetable palyas are served unlimited. Make sure to order extra buttermilk. For Hampi’s heat, their buttermilk with ground ginger and a sprinkle of coriander feels like ambrosia. They also offer a variety of North Indian dishes. The only problem here is, they don’t have power backup like many other hotels of Hampi. So if there is power cut in Hampi, it is too hot inside Sai Family restaurant without fan.
6. Hotel Malligi
When you leave Hampi by bus or train, chances are your journey will be at night and you’ll pass through Hospet. If you’re looking for a nice meal before boarding your train, Hospet has plenty of cool places to eat. If you’re in Hampi for an extended stay and want a different dining experience from the hut cafes, you can try Hotel Malligi.
I’ve stayed at Hotel Malligi many times, and it’s been one of my favorite places in Hampi to eat. They have multiple restaurants serving South Indian, North Indian, and even some Continental food. But my personal favorites are their Italian Bhel and Manchurians.
7. Hotel Abhiruchi
During my recent trip to Hampi, I tried t Abhiruchi restaurant in Hospet. and was I impressed! The vibes were great, and the food is even better. They’ve got both veg and non-veg options. I was all about their Stuffed Cheese Mushroom, and my buddy Ashrith couldn’t get enough of their chicken biryani. Their rice smells amazing. You’ve got to try their Andhra curry and Ragi Sangati too – they’re a hit. They’ve got some wild variety of desserts ones like Icecream Pakoda (I haven’t tried it yet), but their Mango Mastani was top notch.
C) Cafe Culture in Hampi
Hampi’s vibe, mixing traditional Indian feels with hippie vibes, is something else. North Hampi is home to hippies. So in remote villages of Sanapur and Hanumanahalli, you’ll find pizza joints and locals mastering dishes like Schnitzels in most unexpected places. The thatched roofs, low seating on comfy cotton mattresses, and dim lighting from tiny lamps made of fibres – Hampi cafes are a vibe. Chilling out, munching on schnitzel served on banana leaves, and grooving to a trippy version of Hanuman Chalisa alongside travellers from around the world felt pretty cool- Well, this coolness comes at a price.
But, when the bill arrives, it can hit around 1500 INR for two. Alternatively, a local Khaanavali in Kamalapur serves up a hearty Jowar roti meal for just 200 INR. So if you are upto feel the vibe, or escape heat until the sun goes down during hiking, Hampi cafes are a great place to chill out.
Best Cafes to try in Hampi
1. The Mango Tree Restaurant, Kamalpur
One of the oldest and most famous cafes in all of Hampi is Mango Tree restaurant. It used to be our go-to spot for Mango Lassi when they were located near Virupaksha temple, right on the banks of Tungabhadra. However, with the Hampi restoration and the demolition of commercial structures starting in 2018, Mango Tree restaurant shifted to Kamalapur.
They’ve got it all – South Indian meals, North meals, Museli Porridge, Pita with Hummus, different pastas – you name it, they’ve got it covered. And let me tell you, their Mango Lassi is still as delicious as ever.
Recently, I tried their “Bannoffee Pie” dessert – a cake with chocolates, nuts, and banana – and it was absolutely drool-worthy. Expect to spend around 1500 Rs for an afternoon meal for two here.
2. Laughing Buddha Restaurant
Laughing Buddha restaurant used to chill by the riverbank, with awesome views of the Virupaksha temple Gopuram. But now? It is moved to Basapur, about 5 km from Sanapur lake. You’ll find it right by the main road, surrounded by lush rice fields.
They whip up some tasty treats like Parathas, Falafels, and Pastas. But here’s the deal – they also serve Hawaiian pizza, you know, the one with pineapple. My advice? Skip it. We swung by Laughing Buddha after catching the twilight vibes at Sanapur lake. Their lighting setup is super cool – it’s kind of psychedelic with a mix of pink and bluish tints.
3. Wanderlust Hampi
Wanderlust Hampi is a local favorite, according to our buddy Santosh, who’s a Hampi resident. Their burgers and soups are seriously delicious. Plus, they offer cottages for accommodation. Eating in their cafe feels like you’re sitting right in the paddy fields – it’s a whole vibe.
4. Musical Stone Cafe and Restaurants
There are only a handful of cafes in and around Virupaksha, and due to religious reasons, most of them serve only vegetarian food. One of the rare cafes in this area is the Musical Stone Cafe and Restaurant. Their menu mainly consists of South Indian dishes with a few salads thrown in. I really enjoyed the cozy vibe and fresh juices they offer.
D) Is Alcohol available in Hampi?
Serving and consuming alcohol is strictly prohibited around religious areas, particularly in Southern Hampi. Only a few hotels in Kamalapur, far from any religious monuments, sell alcohol. However, on the Northern side, known as Hippie Island, many cafes offer alcohol on their menu. It can be tricky to know which places serve alcohol, so it’s best to check with your host as they often have the inside scoop. Alternatively, alcohol is readily available in abundance at Hospet.
It’s important to note that carrying alcohol while hiking on many of the trails in Hampi is prohibited. However, there are some secret parties held for foreigners in hidden boulder areas. Unfortunately, drug use is a significant issue in Hampi. Locals mention that drugs aren’t openly sold like they were 20 years ago, but they are still smuggled and sold to travelers on Hippie Island.
No form of drugs is safe for consumption, and losing consciousness due to them can expose you to endless risks. So, get high in Hampi with the sunset, hiking, food, and landscape, but steer clear of any substances.
Which are the best places to eat in Hampi? Do you prefer cafes or local food joints? Let us know in the comment section below.
