New Delhi — Admit it: we all spent more money on iced lattes than auto rides this year. If 2025 taught us anything, it’s this—Delhi isn’t just about chhole bhature anymore. It’s about oat milk, banoffee pie, and open-mic Sundays. Travel + Leisure Asia just dropped their list of cafes that defined the capital in 2025… and for once, we kind of agree. Here’s the lowdown on the café-scape that made us all fall back in love with the city—one cortado at a time.
These Cafes Made Delhi Cooler Than Bombay (We Said What We Said)
So, what are these game-changing cafes Travel + Leisure Asia is raving about? Think less “posing with a frappé for Instagram” and more “spending hours building your startup while sipping a single-origin Ethiopian from Coorg.” The featured spots include Paper & Cup 2.0 near Adchini, the new outpost of Perch Wine & Coffee Bar in Chhatarpur (perfect for post-Mehrauli strolls), and Cafe Dori’s flagship in Dhanmill Compound continuing its reign over Delhi’s design-minded crowd. But the real surprise? The quirky, garage-style Roasted & Ground near Rajouri Garden that’s become West Delhi’s reply to Soho House.
Each of these cafes nails the holy trinity: good coffee, unpretentious ambiance, and fast WiFi. From pet-friendly patios to pop-up vinyl record sales, these aren’t just spots to refuel—they’re neighborhood institutions now. And it’s not just aesthetics. Most of these places have started grinding their own beans, using hydroponically grown herbs, collaborating with local artists, and even offering full-blown brunchus (that’s brunch + status updates, obv).
Your Daily Grind Just Got a Whole Lot Tastier
Okay, cool list. But why should you care beyond your next latte art selfie? Because these aren’t just coffee shops—they’re rewriting how young Delhi eats, works, and chills. Ever been stuck halfway between Saket and Nehru Place, looking for a client call-worthy spot? Enter Lila Cafe in Block M of GK-2, where you get gooseberry kombucha and charging ports at every table. For JNU researchers, Third Wave Coffee in SDA has basically become the new seminar hall.
Our Gen-Z cousins aren’t heading to Amity with tiffin in hand—they’re grabbing cold brew-fueled debates at Blue Tokai Saket. Remote workers from Cyber Hub are skipping Gurgaon’s glass towers for Hanna’s in Vasant Kunj. This is about convenience, yes, but it’s also about carving out identity in a city that changes faster than the price of paneer. These cafes are our new third spaces—between office and home, between tasks and dreams.
When Was the Last Time You Were Surprised by a Latte?
A little fun history—the bones of this coffee revolution have been brewing (pun intended) since 2014. Back then, Cafe Coffee Day was the peak, and locals hesitated to pay Rs. 200 for an Americano. Then came the Blue Tokais and Coffee Bond, tiny rebel spots in alleyways of Defence Colony and CR Park. By 2019, coworking spaces were doubling as cafes, and coffee tastings became the new wine tastings. The pandemic only accelerated things—more home brewing led to more appreciation for quality, leading these new cafes to step up their game in 2022 onwards.
And of course, there were casualties. Remember Diggin’s original spot opposite Gargi College? Gone. Now a fancy accessories store. But the evolution? Worth it.
📍 Spot Check: Near Adchini Metro Station, Dhanmill Compound (Chhatarpur Metro), Rajouri Garden Main Market, SDA Market, Block M – GK 2, Cyber Hub (DLF Phase 2), Vasant Kunj Sector D
The Final Word
Are these cafes overpriced? Probably. Addictive? Definitely. But they’re doing what Delhi has always done best—adapting, evolving, and sipping stubbornly while the world changes. They’ve become incubators, date venues, and safe spaces. So yes, maybe you’ll spend too much on your next flat white. But what you’re really buying is a moment of quiet in a chaotic city. Totally worth it.
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