Bhubaneswar has always been known for its temples and traditions, but lately, it’s been carving out a new identity one that smells of freshly brewed coffee, sizzling street food, and comfort brunches. The city’s food culture is changing, and it’s fascinating to watch how pakhala and pancakes now exist in the same conversation.
I’ve been watching the city change. The same streets I once walked to buy chaat now have cafés with fairy lights, playlists, and cappuccinos that arrive prettier than any postcard. And I love that because Bhubaneswar isn’t choosing between the old and the new. It’s learning to keep both.
So let’s see how Bhubaneswar is mixing old flavors with new vibes and doing it so effortlessly.
Table Of Content
- The Classic Comforts: Where It All Began
- The Streets Still Have My Heart
- Cafés, Coffee, and Conversations
- When You Want to Dine Fancy
- A World of Flavors, the Odia Way
- Where the City Eats Together
- The Final Bite
The Classic Comforts: Where It All Began
For most Odias including me, comfort food starts at home a plate of pakhala bhata, dalma served with steamed rice on a summer afternoon, or bara aloo chop on a rainy evening. These flavors hold stories, not recipes. They remind us of slow afternoons, family meals, and festivals that revolve around the kitchen. No matter how many cafés I visit, there’s something grounding about a simple Odia meal.
A plate of pakhala on a hot afternoon feels like therapy that quiet comfort that only home-cooked food can bring. Dalma, with its soft lentils and vegetables, has been on my plate since childhood, and somehow it tastes like calm. Food here isn’t just flavor. It’s memory and Bhubaneswar carries it beautifully, like a recipe that never fades.
The Streets Still Have My Heart
If you really want to taste Bhubaneswar, hit the streets. The aroma of dahi bara–aloo dum or the crunch of a freshly filled gupchup (yes, it’s not pani puri here!) instantly feels like home. And if you walk around Unit 4 Market or Ram Mandir Square in the evening, you’ll find yourself lost between sizzling tawa sounds and the happy chaos of people sharing plates and laughter. Street food here isn’t just about eating, it’s about belonging.
Street food in Bhubaneswar has a rhythm of its own. Chhena poda, ghuguni chaat, bara ghuguni, they’re not just snacks; they’re experiences. You eat, you talk, you feel alive.
Cafés, Coffee, and Conversations
These days, weekends feel incomplete without a café visit. Sometimes I start my mornings at Café 16 in Satya Nagar, their hot chocolate feels like a hug, especially on slow days.
Then there’s Big Cup Café, where I’ve spent countless evenings watching people work, read, laugh, and just exist. The smell of coffee mixes with conversation, and suddenly, the world feels softer.
Places like Oberai Bakers & Cafe or CCD Lounge are crowd favorites, but the list keeps growing. Many cafés even host open mics, art pop-ups, and live gigs adding a creative, youthful vibe to the city’s evenings.
When You Want to Dine Fancy
There are evenings when I just want to dress up, put on a nice pair of heels, and go somewhere that feels a little special, the kind of place where you sit back, take your time, and actually enjoy the food instead of just eating it. And honestly, Bhubaneswar has some stunning dining spots for nights like that.
One of my all-time favorites is Nakli Dhaba at Mayfair Lagoon, a place that never disappoints. The moment you walk in, you’re wrapped in the aroma of rich curries and tandoor smoke. The decor has that old-world charm, colorful lamps, and an atmosphere that instantly makes you slow down and savor the moment.
If you’re in the mood to try something new, Bocca Café & Bistro offers an impressive fine-dining experience with a global twist. Their wood-fired pizzas and pastas have that perfect balance of flavor and finesse. The ambiance, the presentation, the playlist everything feels thoughtfully done.
What I love about Bhubaneswar’s fine-dining scene is that it’s grown without losing its warmth. Each restaurant has its own personality, some are cozy and soulful, others sleek and modern but all of them make you feel like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
A World of Flavors, the Odia Way
What I find most exciting about Bhubaneswar’s food journey is how local chefs are having fun with flavors. It’s not just about serving fancy international dishes, it’s about giving them a little Odia twist. You’ll come across sushi rolls that have a hint of mustard seeds, pizzas topped with paneer tikka, or even pasta tossed in spices that remind you of your maa’s kitchen.
I still remember ordering butter chicken momos and trust me, I was skeptical at first. But one bite in, and I was genuinely surprised. I thought, it shouldn’t have worked, yet it did. That’s what I love about Bhubaneswar, it’s unafraid to experiment, to mix tradition with trend, and somehow make the combination feel effortless.
Where the City Eats Together
Food festivals have honestly become one of my favorite things about Bhubaneswar. There’s something so lively and heartwarming about them, the smell of fresh kababs in the air, the sound of live music in the background, and people everywhere just happy to eat.
I still remember my first Bhubaneswar Street Food Festival where I went with my friends just to look around, and ended up spending hours hopping from one stall to another. One minute I was trying perfectly crispy chicken momos, and the next I was digging into chocolate rasagulla (yes, that’s real!).
Then there’s Ekamra Utsav’s Food Zone, which feels more like a celebration of Odisha itself. The traditional pithas and odia dishes that remind you how rich our food culture really is. What I love the most is that moment when you pause, look around, and realize how food brings everyone together. No matter where you’re from, everyone speaks the same language here, the language of food and happiness. And that’s the Bhubaneswar I love, warm, welcoming, and always serving a little extra joy on the side.
The Final Bite
What I adore about Bhubaneswar’s food journey is how beautifully it’s evolving without ever forgetting where it came from. We’ve gone from humble pakhala to fancy pancakes, from roadside gupchup stalls to rooftop fine dining — yet the soul of the city, that warmth in every bite, hasn’t changed a bit.
So the next time you’re here, skip the usual fast-food chains. Go for that crowded stall at Unit 4, that tucked-away restaurant your friend swears by, or that new place everyone’s whispering about on Instagram. Because in Bhubaneswar, every plate comes with a story — and trust me, it’s one you’ll want to savor till the very last bite.
