Shopping makes up a favorite time pass and a way to explore real Varkala. The main bazaar and markets are located on the beachside which appears more resilient in the evening with merrier crowd emerging from all sides. Colour filled stalls of all sizes, selling an abundance of handicrafts, align the beach expanse. There are souvenir shops, old bookstalls and handloom products in all colors. Painted with hues of setting sun, the beach emerges even more beautiful with shops and eating joints on scaled all along. The beach and its shops provide a resplendent sight for tourists.
Specialty: Varkala is one place to fill your bags with local traditional handicrafts, artifacts, beach crafts, trinkets, and knick knackers. Don’t forget to pick up the conch shells, interiors and souvenirs. A specialty of the beachside shops are horn-carved decorative piece that can be found in the whole of Kerala. As the beach is quite popular for coconut trees, coconut shell items can be found in abundance. Another item of purchase is utilities made of coir. Besides the regular items of purchase, one can shop from Tibetian shops, traditional attire and local jewelry. Artificial ornaments and jewelry from Rajasthan and Kashmir sweep the jewelry stall.
Moving ahead toward the city market you can lay your hand on of aromatic spices, tea or coffee.
Shopping Tips at Varkala
Varkala is not a place to look for brands.
Bargaining is allowed but depends on the individual.
Fetch and try your hand more at seaside restaurants and shops.
It is always better to buy local goods and handicrafts.
Language can be a problem to converse with the locals, so better is to give in sign language.
Trying out local dishes is always a traveller’s uncharted itinerary, inescapably. Moreover, eating your heart out fits the bill when touring southern cities of India. And why not, you wake up to the world’s best breakfast!!! Varkala being a foodies’ paradise, serves excellent sea side (vegetarian and non-vegetarian) food such as s marlin, teamed or coconut-curried freshly caught shark, fresh fish thali plates or butterfish, as well as pasta, pizza and. Many and most of the restaurants in Varkala are located on North Cliff; few good ones can be spotted on the South Cliff too. As a speciality, all the restaurants are sea-facing and serve South Indian, though scarce, Italian, French and Continental. Gauge your pick from the list of restaurants and hotels to gorge on the most delicious food you ever had.
Budget Vegetarian Restaurants
JA Tourist Hotel: The restaurant is famous for rooftop location and serves excellent food, including Chinese and Italian.
Cafe Italiano: Masters Italian food: pizza, spaghetti and bread. Mama Chompos Pizzeria specializes in pizza, pasta and breads, alongside local gourmet.
Oottupura Vegetarian Restaurant is a decent enough place for mouth-watering vegetarian food. It serves breakfast (puttu), dinner and lunch.
Anandan Tourist Home, just across the railway terminal has an excellent variety of South Indian delicacy.
Shri Padman, situated next to the temple tank, it has too good food and comparatively cheap food. Juice Shack: Pocket-sized juice bar which has all kinds of juices.
Non-Vegetarian Restaurants
Sea Rock Cafe (Non-Budget Class): Serves both, Kerala and Italian Food.
Kerala Coffee House offers scrumptious Italian Sea Food; Cocktails; Pizzas.
Seaview Beach Resort serves all kinds of decent Chinese, Kerala and Italian cuisine.
Trattoria: A Tibetian Restaurant which well-prepares western food.
Cape Comorin Restaurant (Taj Garden Retreat)
A fabulous restaurant, it is only the stylish restaurant in Varkala proffering an excellent view from the top of the hotel which gives an added edge to the hotel. Highlights constitute of local Kerala dishes from drumstick theeyal to beef ullarthiyathu; ‘Bar’ – Snacks and Refreshments; ‘Sunken Bar’ – Cocktail bar with great views; ‘Sunset Lounge’ – Snacks and drinks bar by the sea-side.
Note: Sample out the seafood in Varkala, taste and try the South Indian Cuisine, hunting for north Indian delicacies chances to be rare. Cafe Restaurants near beach are opened till midnight; catch it during the pricking silence of the night.
