Things to do in Bengaluru this weekend
A few picks for each part of the weekend, from a dosa queue in Basavanagudi to a play in JP Nagar. Plus a plan for rain.
Saturday morning
Masala dosa at Vidyarthi Bhavan
open since 1943
Crisp dosas, filter coffee and fast waiters. Weekend queues move fast; go early.
Basavanagudi
Lalbagh Botanical Garden
cool before 10 am
A huge old garden with a glass house, a lake and a rock that is 3 billion years old. Walk in from the Basavanagudi side.
Lalbagh
Cubbon Park
shade in the city centre
Bamboo groves and wide paths between the High Court and the library. Quietest early, before the city wakes up.
Central Bengaluru
Saturday afternoon
Museum of Art & Photography
two hours indoors
Indian art, photography and textiles in a new building. The café and the shop are good too.
Kasturba Road
Blossom Book House
floors of second-hand books
Narrow stairs, stacked shelves and fair prices. Then walk Church Street for a coffee.
Church Street
Saturday evening
A play at Ranga Shankara
shows most evenings
A theatre with plays in Kannada, English, Hindi and more. The café downstairs does a good akki roti.
JP Nagar
A brewery in Indiranagar
busy after 8 pm
The city is known for its microbreweries, and 100 Feet Road has many. Book a table for a weekend night.
Indiranagar
Sunday, with kids
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
hands-on, good for under 12s
Engines, a dinosaur gallery and science you can touch. Next door to Cubbon Park for a walk after.
Kasturba Road
Breakfast at CTR
benne masala dosa
Central Tiffin Room’s butter dosa is the reason people queue on Sunday mornings. Walk the Malleshwaram market after.
Malleshwaram
If it rains
MAP, then filter coffee
indoors, it’s raining
The Museum of Art & Photography and the Visvesvaraya museum are a few minutes apart. Both are good for a wet afternoon.
Kasturba Road
Short answers
What is free to do in Bengaluru this weekend?
Cubbon Park is free, and so is walking Church Street and Malleshwaram market. Lalbagh has a small entry fee.
What can I do in Bengaluru when it rains?
Go to the Museum of Art & Photography on Kasturba Road, or the Visvesvaraya museum next door. Or a play at Ranga Shankara.
What can I do with kids in Bengaluru on a weekend?
The Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum has hands-on science and a dinosaur gallery. Pair it with Cubbon Park.
Is After This available in Bengaluru?
Yes. It works wherever you are and picks things near you for your moment: food, places, events, films and stays. Android early access is live; iPhone has a waitlist.