1. Eat & Drink
2. See & Do
3. Shop

Cochin as a whole does not have a long list of attractions; visitors should bear in mind that really Fort Cochin – the top section of the Cochin island – is where the interest, history and charm is, including sites like the fishing nets, Dutch Palace, Dutch Cemetery, Jew Town, handicraft stores and famous churches. Cochin is also the gateway to ‘Green Kerala’.

Most people will head straight for the Chinese fishing nets on the seafront. Amongst the chaos of the harbour and fishing nets, sit down and try to spot a dolphin bobbing its head in and out of the water. See a range of different sea vessels – from small sea fishing canoes to big container ships – traversing the waters. Gazing out to sea was actually one thing we did every day and never got bored.

Cochin does have some great food, and Fort Cochin in particular has a handful of cute and lovely cafes serving scrumptious cakes and small bites to eat; Kashi Café and the Teapot Café are probably the most famous.

There are all kinds of cuisine available but eating like a local is, at least once, a must. Stop at one of the street restaurants near Princess Street (Fort Cochin) and try a veg thali or some fresh fish caught at the nearby fishing nets.

There are some ayurvedic spas around Fort Cochin that are worth a visit, and for retail therapy head over to Mattancherry and Jew Town. Here you can see, smell and buy different spices and check out some really nice handcrafted wooden artefacts and furniture.

Eat & Drink

Teapot Café – Peter Celli Street, Fort Cochin
A lovely, quaint cafe that serves up some delightful desserts with a large selection of teas and coffees. This is a good place to just come in and rest or read a book over a cup of tea. There are also a handful of main course options, of which the fish and rice looked particularly delicious. The chocolate cake is awesome.

Kashi Café  – Burgar Street, Fort Cochin
Run by the owners of the excellent Old Harbour Hotel, this café doubles up as an art and sculpture gallery. Great breakfast options, with good coffee, tea with cinnamon cake and fresh fruits. Sandwiches and pasta dishes are also tasty but this place is really known for its freshly made cakes and the art, which, as subjective as it is, we thought was pretty cool. This is also a good place to meet other travellers.

Upstairs – Bastion Lane, Fort Cochin
A small Italian joint which overlooks the Santa Cruz basilica cathedral. You might have to look around a bit for the entrance to this 1^st floor pizzeria but the hunt is worth it. Vegetarians can try the four-cheese pizza, and meat eaters won’t be disappointed. The pasta aglio oglio was, surprisingly, not great, but the iced lemonade drink was fantastically refreshing in the heat and humidity of the monsoon. The server is a fun guy and will entertain you with a few of his stories. There’s an indoor and outdoor seating area; we recommend the outdoors as it overlooks the lane and basilica.

Dal Roti – Church Road, Fort Cochin
This place serves up some delicious north Indian food. It is near the St. Francis church, located on Church Road. Come here to try their different dals or the special chicken roll in Kerala paratha which was yummy and very filling. The interiors are not much to talk about but the chilled-out and warm (is that a contradiction!?), homely ambience is a great plus point. There are not many tables so get here early if you want one!

Street restaurants – Tower Road, Fort Cochin
Near the harbour and right opposite the David Hall School there is a row of street restaurants. All have similar menus, centered around fish with a few vegetarian options such as dal and rice. Also check out the Indian Chinese noodles and rice. Best of all though, we recommend that you buy fresh from the harbour and seashore, then walk here and ask them to cook your fish or prawns the way you like them, either with curry or just grilled.

Malabar House – Parade Road, Fort Cochin
A ‘must-try’ dining experience at the Malabar Junction restaurant which is part of this excellent hotel. The bright red walls and starched, white tablecloths add a touch of class plus there’s a lovely relaxed, outdoor seating area in the shady courtyard, complete with a nice Ganesha statue and small pool. The food is Malabari and Continental cuisine and there are many highlights, from the delicious thali to the seafood platter, from Italian options such as the fantastic gnocchi paired with rose wine to the wonderful chocolate samosas. More pricey, it is in a hotel after all, but definitely worth it. There is also a very good wine bar here called Divine which too serves food.

Old Harbour Hotel – Tower Road, Fort Cochin
The fish thali here comes highly recommended, as does the ambience which lends itself to a romantic dinner in the lovely garden restaurant. This is not exactly fine dining but it comes close. Nice Indian food and Keralan cuisine (fish), but we really loved the soup, salad and pasta.

Dosas and Pancakes – Greenix Village Complex, Kalvathy Road, Fort Kochi
Dosas & Pancakes is a cool venue providing food, a cultural museum, art gallery, and kathakali and various other traditional performances. The service is good and the food is mostly traditional, this is one of the best places to get dosas for lunch. Located close to the beach but very neat.

Pepper House Café – Kalvathy Road, Fort Kochi
The Pepper House Café is tucked away in a historic part of old Kochi. It is an absolute delight, and even though it is situated just off of the main street overlooking the river and lake, the menu is simple and sweet. The fish is great, the salads are bursting with flavour and the staff are charming and professional.