Location: Kovalam
Top Restaurants in Kovalam
Kovalam Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Kovalam
A beach town on the Arabian Sea in southern India, Kovalam features three spectacular crescent beaches. The most popular and largest beach is Lighthouse Beach, aptly named for its 30-meter lighthouse, which features a stunning site - the Vizhinjam mosque. For a less crowded beach, visit Samudra Beach, with ample coconut trees and great views of the local fishermen at work.
Things to do in Kovalam
1. Kingfisher
Overall Ratings
4 based on 167 reviews
Reviewed By Gurubhushan - Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
This restaurant on the Lighthouse beach, Kovalam is an excellent place to have non veg food especially sea food. The fact that it is on the beach and you can have lunch with the sound and sight of the sea tides makes the experience heavenly. The person incharge is very friendly and helpful.
Most restaurants on Lighthouse beach have the same menu-both in terms of variety and cost. We tried three other restaurants at the beach and found this one way better than others.
Highly recommended.
2. Sanjeevini Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 316 reviews
Reviewed By Vicki B - London, United Kingdom
We enjoyed our evening at Sanjeevini. The location is great as we sat outside and watched the sun go down over Samudra Beach. Staff were welcoming and helpful, recommended dishes. We had the fish masala which was super tasty. One curry, rice & bread between us with beer cost approx. RUP.
3. Swiss Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 200 reviews
Reviewed By Michael1052 - Armidale, Australia
I would normally give this restaurant only four stars, but there is something especially nice about the atmosphere in Swiss Cafe. The food is, as others have already said, excellent, but what makes this place extra special is the ambience. Every meal we have had here has been delicious, so it's food quality is top notch.
4. Fusion Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 246 reviews
Fusion can happen when two different things come together .Here east meets west, In many ways one of them is Fusion Food Which draws inspiration from the cuisines of the east and fuses them with elements from the west. We also serve original and traditional dishes from the east and the west.
Reviewed By David B - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
We ate breakfast here as an alternative to the breakfast offered in our nearby hotel. The dining area overlooks the beach and the breakfast service at least was attentive. There is little outside noise to buffet diners at either breakfast or lunch; however, I doubt that you could avoid the loud music from the beach at night which is very lively
5. Bait
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 460 reviews
Restaurant is functional for Lunch 1230 - 1500 hours/ Dinner 1930-2230 hours.
Reviewed By tripamam - Bengaluru, India
Had lunch on three occasions. The food is really class in its own. Fresh Sea food, tasty, prepared with authentic local spices. Mouth watering sea food dishes. Cool breeze from the sea. Hot food. Cool breeze from sea. A good cocktail made the lunch in a heavenly restaurant. Ideal place to spend time. Very nice location. No vehicular movement. Tranquil, quiet and breezy. Blissful place. Can see the horizon on the sea. Affable service from the restaurant chef and servers. Must visit place for tourists.
6. 3rd Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 340 reviews
Reviewed By TonyJulieElliott - Manchester, United Kingdom
The perfect romantic setting, on the beach front, own tables, personal service and to top it all it has great food
Tikka dishes speciality and Sarge the main man is a wonderful chap who provides excellent service
Could do with WiFi but I guess good food and service comes at a small price
7. Crab Club
Overall Ratings
4 based on 153 reviews
Reviewed By jacqui3744 - Cheshunt, United Kingdom
Rooftop dining or just look out to see from ground floor.
Wad large group (16) so some aspects suffered e.g. food could have been hotter when it arrived, cracking implements & dipping sauce arrived when I'd nearly finished. Meals arrived different times.
I had fish basket which was pricey R1500 but there was lots of it. Wasn't easy to see what meat there was on crab as lighting on roof is ambient. Was far too much for one. Could have had half amount of everything and it would have been perfect. So felt it was a bit of a waste but it tasted lovely. Did have upset tummy at night but not blaming restaurant.
8. Malabar Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 484 reviews
The hotel has been moving from current location to 200 meeter neat to light house July 1st onwards
Reviewed By AandA_8 - Glasgow, United Kingdom
We’ve ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in Malabar and have never been disappointed. The service is quick and staff are pleasant. It’s also in a nice location on the strip looking out to the sea. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
9. Suprabhatam
Overall Ratings
4 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By shekhar67 - New Delhi, India
We wanted to try a vegetarian food basically kerala thali, however after long walk and enquiry we reached this place. Its hidden is side lanes so not easily accessible. Ambiance is ok, we ordered the veg food since thali was not available. the food was good but the quantity was less vis a vie the price. Overall average veg food joint.
10. Lonely Planet
Overall Ratings
4 based on 185 reviews
Reviewed By Michael1052 - Armidale, Australia
We have eaten here quite often now, and in general the food is excellent quality, although unfortunately we did have a rather unpleasant beetroot thoran one day. This must have been a one-off slip up, as on another occasion we had a great thoran.
There are a few problems with the restaurant however. The service can be very slow when they are busy, so I recommend you get there early for lunch or dinner. Then there is a Seating problem. If you sit in the inside section, the roof design (which slants down at the pond side) creates a slightly oppressive feeling.
If you sit on the outer pond side, the edge row of tables can only take two chairs, and are very pleasant, except most are in the sun around lunch time. The second row are set lower, and it is difficult to squeeze your legs under the cement tables - also the walk way between the rows is slanted, so not for infirm people.
I think this place could do with a complete redesign. They have already done that, as it is quite different since the Lonely Planet restaurant of many years ago.
The conversion of the paddy fields into a pond has been a great idea, and with that, the atmosphere is rather special. Just that they somehow have failed to capitalise on their potential. Nonetheless, this remains a very good restaurant, and I can certainly recommend it's food. I particularly enjoyed their Veg Kadai.
