Namma Ashram

I really enjoyed the Bhukhi Khichdi and Baja at Namma Ashram Cafe when I visited on Sunday. Umesh recommended Khichdi Baja as their best dish, and he was so gentle, soft-spoken, and always smiling. The service was great, and I enjoyed chatting with him. Ask Umesh if you need any information about Namma Ashram, he’ll tell you everything. It also seems like a great place to work during the week. Thanks!

The books and reading material around Namma Ashram were a nice touch. It feels like somewhere you could settle in for a couple of hours to read, work, or catch up with friends. Friendly, welcoming staff added to the experience, and the outdoor café seating has covered areas and a relaxed, creative feel. The place is tucked off Nallurhalli Road near the HCL area in Whitefield, in what looks like an old villa turned into a community space, with cultural activities, handicraft shops, and a café. The café seems to sit in the villa’s former garden. Its menu has local food, snacks, bakery items, coffee, and tea. The coffee was decent, though not memorable. The donut was fresh, soft, and well made, but it was heated so much that it was almost too hot to eat. Mosquitoes were noticeable, even though incense sticks had been placed around the seating area to help. More fans in some sections would also be welcome on especially hot days. It feels more like a community spot than a typical commercial café. If you like independent local places with character and can put up with some mosquitoes, it’s a pleasant place to spend time in Whitefield.

Weekdays are the time to come if you can. Weekends get so packed there’s barely room to breathe, and even with a Sunday table booking we struggled to find seats. We’ve been visiting Namma Ashram Cafe as a family for 3 to 4 months, and keep returning for the hospitality and ambience as well as the food. My kids especially enjoy the brain exercise games and the big range of books in the library. They’re always drawn to the garden by the entrance, the swing, and all the greenery. If you’re health-conscious, it’s a good place for home-cooked meals made with healthy ingredients. And thanks to the host, Mr. Umesh Biswa, for making our visits so pleasant.

I arrived expecting the Krishna Room I’d booked for Feb 22-23, after calling specifically to check availability. I’d requested that room because of a previous stay, and they clearly assured me it was booked. Instead, I was told on arrival that it had been given to someone else. With only two rooms at the property, this kind of booking failure is inexcusable and shows serious mismanagement. The response was just as disappointing: no accountability, genuine apology, or serious effort to deal with the problem professionally. Staff seemed unconcerned about the inconvenience. I can’t rely on a place with such problems in organisation, reliability, and customer service. Strongly not recommended.