"What¡¯s in a name?", said William Shakespeare. A lot apparently, if you own a bakery and name it German Bakery. The name 'German Bakery' has become a brand in itself, which is why you will find a lot of food joints christened German Bakery at various places in India.?
According to an article in The Hindu, the first German Bakery was set up in 1985 at Anjuna beach in Goa by a German named Klaus Goodzet and Ram Gopal Karkee. Later, they set up India¡¯s second German Bakery at Koregaon Park, near Osho Ashram, Pune. That was the last branch of German Bakery - they never expanded their operations to any other city. Hence the fact that the various German Bakery outlets in India are not even remotely related to each other.
But don't get disheartened. Even if they aren't related to each other, all the German Bakery outlets in India are standouts in their own way and live up to the name created by the first two German Bakeries. Take a look at 9 of the best German bakeries in India.
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This German Bakery is also known as the original German Bakery as it was the first German bakery in India. It is a must-visit if you are in Goa and globetrotters swear by it. Tucked away in a secluded corner of Anjuna, German Bakery, Goa, is a quintessential example of Goa's susegad hippie culture.
Surrounded by trees, this place is like a secret garden offering organically grown food and fresh juices. It's also popular for live music and performance art, especially on Wednesdays.
Must haves: The pasta with prawns, Penne Alla Tirisina in seafood tomato and ?Avocado Prawn Pasta Cocktail, "Black Forest cherry-torte" aka German Black Forest cake. avocado sandwich teamed up with tiramisu and lemon cheese cake
Word of caution for first time visitors: Try not to rely on Google maps to find this place, It's better you ask the locals for the address. (Like we said, 'secret garden')
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Located in the plush neighborhood of Koregaon Park near Osho gardens, German Bakery Pune left its infamous blast incident far behind and came out in an all new avatar in 2013. The management of the bakery changed from the previous owner to Mr. Kunal Udane. "For me, just starting the bakery again after the blast was the main aim," says Udane. He has also opened new branches of the bakery at Law College Road and Lonavala. This place is a common hangout for students due to a lot of colleges in the area including Film and Television Institute of India.
Must haves: Fish and chips, kheema pav
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Located on the old Mumbai-Pune highway, opposite Kumar Resort, this one's a perfect place for tourists from Pune and Mumbai who end up at Lonavala for a quick outing.
"The idea was to cater to our patrons in Mumbai. Lonavala gets a lot of visitors from Mumbai and Pune, so we thought the location was perfect," shares Udane, who opened this bakery on 14th February 2015. He adds, "The blast in Pune happened on 13th February, so the idea to open another branch on 14th February was to send a message across of love and positive spirit."
Udane is also planning to expand to other cities, so keep your fingers crossed, guys - you might have the original German Bakery in your city soon!
The menu here is similar to German Bakery Pune, but the only addition here is that there is alcohol available.?
Must haves: Moongilicious - a cocktail made with coffee, chili garlic fish
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This one is also known as the Moon Dance Cafe due to the cafe connected to it. The cafe and bakery have a lot of Israeli food items; Kasol is also known as mini-Israel as most hotels, restaurants and local business banners and boards are in Hebrew, and almost all locals can speak the language. It is a common sight to see Israelis roaming the streets all year long. Moon Dance, just west of the bridge, stands tall among the many traveler restaurants serving similar 'three Is' (Italian/Israeli/Indian) menus for its great baked goods, strong coffee and excellent value breakfasts in the sunny courtyard.
They have both indoor and outdoor seating with great music, making the place a perfect trippers' paradise.
Must haves: Au gratin, hummus, French toast, cinnamon roll, apple crumble pie, crepes, falafel and shakshuka.?
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This one was started in 1992 by Mr. Singh and a German named Norman. Mr. Norman taught bread making to Singh's head chef and went his way leaving Singh to run the cafe. Since then, Mr. Singh has been running the bakery and it has managed to gain a lot of popularity among locals and tourists in Leh.
The bakery gets its name Pumpernickel from a type of rye bread which is the specialty of this bakery. It is heavy and slightly sweet and takes three days to bake. Since it¡¯s very nutritious and remains fresh for days, people going on hikes and treks take this bread with them.
The only sad part about this bakery is that it only opens from the June through to mid September when the tourist season is on.
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This one is the most underrated among the other German Bakeries in the country. Set up from a small shop in the crowded market street at Sector 15, it is quite popular for its takeaways. Don't judge the bakery by its humble appearance - although the bakery has no frills, it stands out for its taste and pricing.
German Bakery, Panchkula, is right adjacent to two schools, so students make for the majority of customers here. This is another reason why German Bakery has played smart with its pricing and menu. Almost all the snacks here range between Rs 10 - Rs 50. No wonder it's a popular joint for students to pig out at. Although there isn¡¯t any seating area, they have put high round tables outside the shop where you can stand and eat.
Must haves: Aloo Patties, Pizzas, Paneer Kulcha, Grilled Sandwiches, Choco-Chip and Truffle Puddings, dry cakes and muffins.?
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Located in the busy market place of Paharganj near Delhi railway station, this one is a home away from home for Delhites. It's a favorite among locals and tourists who stay in the hotels in the vicinity of the bakery. Thus, just like other bakeries around the country, you'll see a lot of foreigners hanging around.?
They not only serve exquisite dishes and bakery products but have also kept in mind the local taste and have a typical North Indian lunch and dinner menu as well.
This makes for a perfect place to devour your butter chicken followed by tasty desserts.?
Another reason this place stands out is high speed wifi - yes, that's very important nowadays. So one can just sit with their laptop sipping on Honey Ginger Lemon Tea (the most popular item here) and spend some quite time.
Must haves: Honey Ginger Lemon Tea, Chicken carbona, Chicken steam momo, Mexican Lasagna, Dutch truffle.
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Located in the quaint little town of Mahabalipuram, this one's your secret portal from the south to Nepal. The moment you step into Namaste Restaurant and German Bakery, you'll be transported to the snow-clad mountains of Nepal due to its ambience. There are statues of Nepali gods, the Nepal flag hangs, paintings, and a Nepalese staff, which gives you the feeling that you are in a cafe in Nepal.?
The bakery is located very close to the roads but due to barely any traffic, the honks don't really bother you when your gorging on your delicacies.?
Must haves: Apple Strudel, Lemon Cake, Cinnamon Roll and Masala Chai.
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Located at the Laxman Jhula, you can see the scenic view of the holy Ganges and the Rishikesh temple from here. The bakery is a part of ?a cafe called Devraj Coffee Corner which is often filled with pilgrims and foreigners enjoying their treats.?
It's a haven for all those who cannot adjust with the local food - you get all the food items here which make you miss home a little less. Apart from that, the bakery is one of the few places where locals sneak in to feast on the sinful pastries.
Must haves: Iced coffee, Lasagna, avocado salad and crepes.