13 best places to visit in Bangalore and Mysore, Karnataka: a first-time traveler’s guide

Last July, I visited India for a week. I stayed in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, and six months before my trip, I had already created a saved folder on Instagram with all the places and food I wanted to try. I had everything saved, from restaurants to tourist spots, because that’s usually how I travel. My Singapore trip, for example, was planned in Notion with places to visit, what to eat, time stamps, and even budget allocations. India was supposed to be the same.

But one month before my trip, the people I was supposed to go with cancelled, so I stopped planning. My friend Sreenivas eventually took over and created my itinerary. My only request was that we visit Mysuru.

I don’t know if it’s a generation gap or what, but I ended up not visiting most of the places I had saved on Instagram. For the first time while traveling, I just let the vibes and the people decide where I should go. Little did I know, it was going to be one of the best trips I’ve ever had.

I landed at Kempegowda International Airport at 11:45 PM. My friends Sreenivas and Mallesh picked me up from the airport, and as we got on the road to my hotel, Sreeni said, “Welcome to India, Ms. Pinay.” They wanted to take me out for chai that night, but I thought it was already too late. After they dropped me off at The Zipp Le Opera in Rajajinagar, I told them we’d get chai the following day. And that’s how my week in Bangalore started.

1. Central Tiffin Room

Address

7th Cross Rd, Margosa Road, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003

Map

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My first morning in Bangalore, my friend didn’t wake me up early, but he still made sure I got to try one of the city’s most iconic breakfast spots. “You cannot say you’ve been to Bangalore without going to CTR,” he told me.

I took an Uber to Central Tiffin Room and arrived at around 10 AM. The place was packed with locals. It was a humble restaurant at the corner of a street, but you could immediately tell that this was one of those places where locals actually go. We sat at a corner table on the second floor and had a beautifully made, crispy dosa and my first Indian filter coffee. Not a bad way to start the trip.

2. Reid & Taylor (Bespoke Studio)

Address

West of Chord Road, Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560079

Map

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Site

bespokestudio.pages.dev

As I mentioned in my other blog, I was already planning to get a tailored suit in Vietnam since I was also going there. However, my friend told me he “knows a guy,” so after brunch at CTR, he brought me to Bespoke Studio in Chord Road, where they carry the heritage luxury menswear brand Reid & Taylor.

I wanted a suit for a special event, so I chose a light blue Egyptian linen with a cotton shirt. The guys at the shop knew exactly what they were doing and were very patient with me because, honestly, I wasn’t prepared. I had to pull out my Pinterest board of power suits that I had been saving for years just to figure out what I wanted.

We had my measurements taken on Friday and the first fitting on Sunday. I had a few iterations that I wanted to be done, so they made sure to have everything finished by Wednesday. And they did. Five days. From measurements to a finished tailored suit.

3. Chamundi Hills — Shree Chamundeshwari Devi Temple

Address

Chamundi Hill, Mysuru, Karnataka 570010

Map

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Like I mentioned earlier, my one request to my friend was to take me to Mysuru. Bangalore is huge, and I wanted to experience more of India beyond the city. Our first stop was Chamundi Hills, where we visited the Shree Chamundeshwari Devi Temple.

It was my first time visiting a Hindu temple, so I honestly didn’t know what to expect. One thing I immediately learned: I should have worn my Crocs instead of sneakers. We had to remove our shoes before entering the temple. Thankfully, there were restrooms where we could wash our feet afterwards, or, like what I did, wipes became my best friend.

We lined up for almost an hour to get inside the temple. While waiting, we heard this beautiful melody from people singing, accompanied by the bright rhythm of a small metal instrument called the manjira. They also gave us laddu, which was something I had never experienced before.

It was a very different experience from anything I had seen in the Philippines, and I’m glad my friend insisted that I visit. Also, if you’re visiting a Hindu temple for the first time, wear pants. Trust me.

4. Hotel Original Vinayaka Mylari

Address

Shop No. 79, Nazarbad Main Rd, Doora, Mysuru, Karnataka 570010

Map

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We finished at the temple around noon and realized we hadn’t had any breakfast. Naturally, we were starving. We went to Hotel Original Vinayaka Mylari, a legendary vegetarian breakfast spot in Mysuru famous for its soft, buttery, and almost spongy Mylari dosa.

Their coconut chutney was probably the best I’ve ever had. I cannot even describe it properly. The restaurant opened in 1938, and there’s clearly a reason people are still coming back almost 90 years later. I will definitely be one of them. I’m literally drooling as I type this blog.

5. Giri Coffee Works

Address

Nazarbad Main Rd, Mysuru, Karnataka — a few doors from Hotel Mylari

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After that very hearty meal at Hotel Mylari, we stopped by a neighboring coffee shop, Giri Coffee Works. They serve traditional coffees and teas and are known for their authentic Chikmagalur-style South Indian coffee. Naturally, that’s what we ordered. My friend and I both got two cups of coffee. We needed the caffeine to keep us alive for the long drive and the few more places we still had to visit.

6. Mysuru Silk Udyog & Cauvery Handicrafts

Address

Sayyaji Rao Rd, Devaraja Mohalla, Mysuru, Karnataka 570001

Map

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After lunch, we wanted to visit Mysuru Palace. While walking there, two uncles stopped us and offered us a tonga or tanga ride, basically the Indian version of our kalesa. At first, I didn’t want to ride because it felt too touristy, even for me. I don’t even ride the kalesa in Intramuros and have probably only done it once in Vigan. But they managed to convince us. They said they would drop us at the south entrance of the palace, where visitors could enter for the tour, but first, we had to stop by Mysuru Silk Udyog.

Here, the staff showed me different Mysuru silk sarees, with prices ranging from around ₹5,000 to ₹55,000. I had already decided that I wanted to buy at least one saree during my India trip, but I wasn’t sure if this was the right time to splurge. Honestly, I also wanted a cotton one. While looking around, I learned about an Indian woman’s saree-shopping strategy: “same color, different pattern” or “same pattern, different color.”

I also checked a few more things. Cashmere scarves. Sandalwood products. More sarees. I ended up buying sandalwood soaps, which I still use today. That’s definitely something I’ll stock up on the next time I visit India.

7. Mysuru Palace

Address

Sayyaji Rao Rd, Agrahara, Chamrajpura, Mysuru, Karnataka 570001

Map

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When I saw how long the line was and how expensive the foreigner ticket was, I told my friend that we could just look at the palace from the outside his pushiness changed my mind. Ten minutes later, I found myself falling in line to deposit my shoes again because, yes, we had to remove our shoes before entering the palace.

We also hired one of the staff members to give us a tour in English for only ₹500. If you’re going to Mysuru Palace, I highly recommend getting a guide. It’s worth it. What I love about getting a guide is that they don’t just explain what you’re looking at. They also know where to take you for the best views and photos, and they can help you get a better look at the different rooms and details of the palace.

By the middle of the tour, all I could say was, “Wow.” Seriously. It was the only word I knew.

8. St. Joseph’s Cathedral (St. Philomena’s)

Address

Lourdes Nagar, Ashoka Rd, Lashkar Mohalla, Mysuru, Karnataka 570001

Map

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If there’s one thing I cannot miss when I travel, it’s visiting at least one Catholic church. Partly because of that superstition that when you visit a new Catholic church, you can make a wish and it will come true.

I’ve always wanted to visit St. Thomas Cathedral in Chennai, but luckily, Mysuru had another grand cathedral waiting for me. We didn’t get to attend Mass, but we were able to pay our respects and say a few prayers before getting back on the road to Bangalore.

On the way back, we stopped at another jam-packed historical restaurant, Maddur Tiffanys in Mysore, for dinner. That’s where I got to try Maddur vada and, of course, the infamous jalebi. No complaints there.

9. Nandhana Palace

Address

No. 15, 5th Main, Shivanagar, opposite Power House, West of Chord Road, 3rd Block, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560010

Map

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The following days went by like a blur because we had grad school classes and some work we had to catch up on. But somehow, we still managed to eat our way through Bangalore and try restaurants that serve not only delicious food but also tradition and history.

One of them was Nandhana Palace, an Andhra-style restaurant in Rajajinagar. The way they serve the food reminded me of a Filipino boodle fight, except fancier. I was told that this type of meal is usually served during special celebrations such as weddings. This was also the spiciest food I had during my seven days in India, which, from what I’ve read, is something Andhra cuisine is known for. And yes, I survived.

10. Brik Oven — Palace Road

Address

Prestige Trade Towers, Palace Rd, High Grounds, Sampangi Rama Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

Map

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A few days before I left, I decided that I wanted to finally visit some of the places I had originally saved on Instagram. You know, the places Gen Zs actually visit. So I met up with our intern at Brik Oven on Palace Road for a quick catch-up.

I initially wanted to visit their Church Street branch because I wanted to go shopping afterwards, and honestly, the aesthetics looked amazing in the photos I saw on the In Your District app. But it seemed too far from where my intern was, so we settled for the Palace Road branch instead. The Burrata & Fig Salad was to die for.

11. Mysore Saree Udyog LLP

Address

294, 1st Floor, K. Kamaraj Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001 (opposite Commercial Street)

Map

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After our quick catch-up, I mentioned that the Mysore silk sarees had been keeping me awake for nights and that I really wanted to buy one. So our intern brought me to Mysore Saree Udyog. Once again, I was shocked by the number of women inside the store and the sheer amount of sarees stacked in every corner.

I showed her what I wanted, and we were guided to the appropriate sections based on my inspiration photos. After a few minutes, I couldn’t seem to find the perfect saree for me, so I asked if they had something different. I explained that since I was from the Philippines, I wanted to try a cotton saree instead.

We were guided to another section, and I almost didn’t get out of there. First, the cotton sarees were beautiful. I realized that the saree videos I had been saving on Instagram weren’t actually about Mysore silk. They were about mul cotton sarees. Second, they had so many cute designs that felt perfect for the younger generation. And third, the staff were incredibly helpful. One of them even taught me how to drape a saree and tried a couple of them on me so I could see which one looked best.

When they asked me what the occasion was, I said none. I don’t know enough Indian people to have celebrations with. And yet I still left the store with two sarees instead of one.

12. Commercial Street

Address

Commercial St, Tasker Town, Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

Map

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Of course, after saree shopping, we had to buy the jewelry. My mom specifically told me to buy bangles because, being the fashionista that she is, she loves bangles. I also had to buy jhumkas and other accessories and pasalubongs for my niece and sister.

I thought I just needed to buy bangles and that would be it. Apparently not. My intern pointed out that some of the jewelry I picked didn’t actually match my saree. I didn’t know that even a sparkly gold bangle could be a no-no, or that when buying jhumkas, you should double-check that you’re actually getting the right pair.

This is also where I bought most of my pasalubongs, including kurtas and other accessories. At this point, my luggage was already becoming a problem.

13. BurnZone Gym

Address

No. 431, 1st Main Rd, 1st N Block, Dr Rajkumar Rd, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560010

Map

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I only visited BurnZone Gym and didn’t actually work out because our itinerary was too busy, but I still think it’s worth mentioning. If you’re around Rajajinagar or Malleshwaram and looking for a gym in Bangalore with certified personal trainers, check them out.

They offer free sessions and consultations with their trainers so you can figure out where and how to start your fitness journey. I didn’t get to train there, but I did get a glimpse of the place and thought it was worth sharing.

What I actually learned

While traveling to India, I had saved hundreds of Instagram reels and posts of places I wanted to visit. I probably didn’t even set foot in most of them. And you know what? I’m completely fine with that.

For the first time, I didn’t feel like I had to follow a list just because I spent months making one. I let my friends decide where to take me, and because of that, I ended up visiting places I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.

Most importantly, I didn’t feel like a tourist. My friends brought me to places where locals actually eat, shop, drink coffee, pray, and spend their weekends. I got to experience Bangalore and Mysuru not just through the places that show up on Instagram, but through the people who actually live there.

When my friends in the Philippines asked me how my trip was, I always told them it was great. But I think “great” doesn’t really explain it. It was different from the way I usually travel. And maybe that’s exactly why I enjoyed it so much.

Filed

September 2026

Fieldwork

July 2026

Related

The India note

Status

Complete — 13 places, addresses checked

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