Wine & Dine
Indore shows its love for food through its night markets, street-side stalls, and interesting cafes and restaurants.
Street Treats
14 Chappan Dukan, a marketplace with 56 shops, specialises in local street food. 15 Vijay Chaat House serves the city’s best dal bafla (baked dough ball stuffed with green or white peas and served with a side of zesty dal), kopra patties (potato patties with a filling of grated coconut and dry fruits) and kachoris (Shop 6-8, Chappan Dukan, New Palasia). 16 Madhuram Sweets is well known for its unique shikanji or lemonade made with a blend of milk and yogurt, topped with nuts and dried fruits ( madhuramsweets. com). The most famous dish of Indore remains the staple breakfast of poha-jalebi; locals believe Vijay Chat House makes the best version.
Night Market
17 Sarafa Bazaar is a jewellery market by the day that turns into a lively food street after 6pm. The 300-metre stretch with numerous stalls is known for variety of interesting dishes. Bhutte ka kees, a snack made with fresh grated corn cooked in milk, and served with condiments, is a speciality here. Garadu (deep-fried cubes of yam tossed in spicy masala) is a trademark, and sabudana khichdi (one-pot dish of tapioca pearls and vegetables), a staple. Joshi Dahi Vada House is known as much for its dahi badas (lentil dumplings soaked in yogurt and served with chutney) as it is for the performance art of the owner who tosses the bowl in the air at every step of assembling it (24, Bada Sarafa, Sarafa Bazar). Sweets like malpua (fried pancakes in sugar syrup) and jalebis help offset the heat, and frothing sodas from Jai Bhole Soda are the perfect way to wash them all down.
Fine Dine
18 Not So Desi is a colourful new-age restaurant serving interesting fusion food and cocktails (78, Part II, Vijay Nagar). Mediterra, a rooftop bar at Sayaji Hotel, offers excellent Mediterranean and Italian cuisine with a side of the splendid panorama of the city ( sayajihotels.com). 19 Little Monk serves innovative food and drinks at private cabanas in an al fresco setting and is a local favourite ( tgihotels. com). 20 Mr. Beans, a French bistro-style cafe with a seating capacity of over 100, serves the best coffee in Indore ( mrbeans.in).