If you’ve ever looked for a place where you can answer emails, sip a flat white, and actually want to stay long after, Paper & Pie has made that its entire pitch. Located in central Bengaluru, this café leans into the city’s co-working-while-sipping-coffee culture without feeling sterile or transactional.
The space is polished and bright, with plenty of seating for laptop workers, solo readers, and groups who’d rather hash out ideas over cappuccinos than in a boardroom. The interior is warm wood, open tables, and lighting that flatters both people and food. Unlike a lot of cafés where ‘work culture’ means fighting for a plug point, here, the set-up actually accommodates you.
The food menu is ambitious for a café, borrowing from bistro-style plates as much as from classic pastry counters. If you want something gourmet, the braised lamb crepe and the lamb shank with saffron risotto are surprisingly refined. For lighter bites, the spinach and ricotta quiche or the black bean and beetroot burger make sense as quick fillers. And yes, the pastry counter delivers too. Croissants, babkas, and banana-walnut cake are consistent crowd favourites, and they actually sell out quickly, which isn’t always the case in cafés that put display before flavour.
Coffee, thankfully, holds up its end. The usual espresso-based suspects alongside pour-overs and cold brews. It’s not trying to compete with hyper-specialty cafés, but the beans are well-roasted, and drinks come out very well balanced. Service is brisk without being pushy, which is a relief in a space that doubles as a workplace.
The atmosphere can lean busy, especially on weekends, when every corner is occupied by laptops and pastry plates, but that’s also its draw. Bengaluru’s younger crowd has made Paper & Pie a hub for caffeine and community. It works equally well if you want to spend an afternoon alone, or if you want to meet people without the formality of an office or the noise of a pub.
The Vibe
Smart, polished café energy with enough plugs, pastries, and plates to keep you there all day.
The Food
Croissants and babka at the counter, but also serious plates like lamb crepes and roast chicken.
The Drink
Coffees you can rely on, plus pour-overs for when you want to slow down.
Time Out Tip:
Save space for pastry. The almond croissant and cinnamon babka are worth planning around.
Nearest Metro: Cubbon Park