Coffee House

KHAM COFFEE HOUSE

By Prakriti Bhat

Forever on the lookout for quiet places to relax and unwind, I can say this with confidence that Majnu Ka Tila fits the bill to perfection. As a city, Delhi is known for its glitz and glamour, swanky malls and polished restaurants. But the Tibetian colony in Majnu Ka Tila breathes a life of its own. Every time I visit this place, I am struck by the serenity of the atmosphere, rhythmic pace of activity and the kind smiles of monks that you are sure to cross paths with.

One is overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of the area. It is a treat for the senses. On one of my solitary walks from the monastery in vicinity, I stumbled across Kham Coffee House. Nestled in one of the narrow alleyways that Majnu Ka Tila is famous for, it is a quaint and cozy little café. The décor is quite similar to that of AMA Café, one of the more popular cafes in this area, though it is not as spacious. Bare brick walls, tree stump tables and upholstery with Tibetian motifs constitute the interiors. As with other cafes in the area, there are well stocked bookshelves which you can raid while sipping your daily cuppa. The café exudes warmth and comfort.

The menu is quite expansive ranging from teas, coffees and mocktails to fresh bakery items like muffins, cakes and pies. They also have all-day breakfast options like pancakes, omlettes, Tibetian bread and a complete American breakfast platter. I went for a Cappuccino and Pancakes. The coffee was good, nothing exceptional. The Pancakes served here were unlike any that I’ve had till date. They were extremely fluffy (almost the breadth of your index finger!). It was divided into four triangular pieces and served with Maple syrup. Two triangles down and I already felt full. The surface resembled that of an omlette and in fact it even smelt like one.

My only problem was that the cutlery felt a bit unclean. The forks, knives and spoons felt sticky and this dampened my experience a bit. Though the cooking and washing area wasn’t unhygienic, the washing was being done in a hurry which perhaps caused the problem.

A place perfect for all occasions, Kham Coffee House deserves a visit. Atleast go for their Pancakes and ambience!

Cost for two- Rs. 300-400

Address- Ga-Kyegu Hotel, Majnu Ka Tila

Contact No.- 01123815196, 8860608389

Anubhav Sapra

Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com

By Prakriti Bhat

Hidden in the bylanes of the colourful Tibetian colony, Majnu Ka Tila is ‘Coffee House’. It is 15-20 minutes away from the students’ hub-North Campus. Tucked away from the rest of the market, it is a cozy little underground café frequently thronged by students and adults alike. One can also spot monks coming here for a quiet cup of tea or coffee. Since its not very far from the north campus of Delhi University, 90% of the crowd will be students coming in to have a cup of coffee or a muffin before they head back to be grilled in their lectures at college. The moment you enter the place, the aroma of fresh cakes will grip you to the place till you try atleast one o them.

They have a simple menu consisting of different variants of teas, coffees, mocktails and scrumptious cakes to choose from. Their cakes and muffins are freshly baked and served hot. Their Mud Cake is the most frequently ordered dish. It is a soft and spongy chocolate cake served with a generous topping of chocolate syrup. Also, the rates are very pocket friendly. Their generous helping of marble cake is best when combined with Iced Mocha. They also serve delicious choco chip muffins and choco walnut brownies. Summers become more tolerable with a glass of green apple mojito or lemonade. The place also caters to conventional tastes by offering fresh lime soda, ice tea and canned drinks. For hot beverages, they have several drinks to choose from ranging from their special tibetian tea- bhoe ja to the more usual black coffee, herbal tea, etc..

Coffee House offers a blend of Tibetian and the traditional café culture. Breakfast becomes a delight with a sumptuous combo of cheese omlette, porridge and bread along with tea. Also, one could go for their speciality-tibetan bread. The staff is very kind and friendly. When you enter the café, they hand over a piece of paper and pen to write your order on which they come and collect from your table. Every member of the staff serves you with a big smile. The ambience is extremely warm and welcoming. You can sit there for as long as you want, nobody will disturb you. Good music plays in the background. The volume is just perfect, neither very loud nor very low. The walls are painted a subtle yellow and are adorned with beautiful posters. This is the perfect place to run away from the humdrum daily city life and just relax.

Address-39, Basement, Majnu Ka Tila

Timings- 8 AM-10 PM.

Cost for two- 200 (approx)

Anubhav Sapra

http://www.delhifoodwalks.com