House' this for some me time?

Somewhere between tracing where youngsters are hanging out today and what they do, we found an interesting trend!

The number of cafes in namma ooru are on the rise and they have a pattern: Most of them are houses that are converted into cafes or they have some element of antiquity that interests millennials.

Gaining rapid fame, these cafes have turned out to be regular, favourite hang out spots for youngsters in the city. A place where they can casually interact with the staff, meet new people, play games or just hang around. This is a welcome change compared to the traditional restaurants which require a more formal approach, while dining there.

A model posing in an all black ensemble

We delve deeper to find out what about these cafes attract the attention of youngsters! Mahima Bijlani, a student from Bangalore Culinary Academy, believes that some cafes don’t restrict themselves to food but attract customers for their ambience and innovativeness. She says, “Cafes are my go to place whether I want to unwind or catch up with  friends. Most cafes in Bengaluru today have a cosy atmosphere. They are homes that are converted into cafes, and they retain that element of a home. Be it with their furniture or by adding decor that you would possibly find at your own place; that familiar painting or a rack of books by the corner! One cafe that I have visited and liked for its innovativeness is the 1980s Games Cafe in Basavanagudi. A place that is home to all the boardgames that ‘90s kids today would have grown up playing.”

In keeping with the popular notion that men are less social when compared to woman, Paul Thomas, a B.com graduate, says boardgames in cafes make socialising easier. “I am a foodie and I love visiting cafes and restaurants. Not just for the food but the ambience as well. Having  company is always better but what do I do when my company is a bunch of guy friends who don’t talk much? Boardgames are a life saver in that matter. Even if we aren’t having a conversation, we play these games to keep ourselves entertained. When I’m visiting places by myself, to clear my head, I prefer going to quaint neighbourhood cafes. They have the ambience that automatically makes me feel comfortable and relaxed.”

For some, visiting these cafes is the same as visiting home. The home they left behind to chase their dreams or to pursue higher studies. The place that lingers of childhood memories and smell! Tanya Manavalan, an MA student from St Joseph’s College,  says, “Dyu Cafe in Koramangala 5th Block is one place that I keep going back to. It looks like a Tharavadu (ancestral home) and reminds me a lot of my home, back in Kerala. It is a place which I feel is my comfort zone. I like the food here, a lot like the food I have back at home, and it is modestly priced too.” The popular assumption is that the concept of converting homes into cafes is on the rise due to a space constraints, but is it really so?

Gopee Krishnan, the owner of a cafe in Koramangala, Bearfoot, begs to differ. He says, “There is no shortage of space for cafes or restaurants in Bengaluru. I wanted my cafe to be the way it is because I loved the structure of the house. It is not like the regular houses today, it has a touch of antiquity which made it special for me. I have tried to retain some elements of a home in my cafe by ensuring that the customers/visitors leave their footwear outside before they come in. Most people who come here stick around for over five hours and they don’t stay put in one place. They go to the kitchen or the room inside, where they can play or the backyard to just be with in the open; just like how we do in our homes.”