Cafe Central

Review and recommendations

Café is a misnomer for this truly iconic bakery and one of Panjim’s oldest institutions. In a previous incarnation, Café Central was born in 1932 near the municipal garden in Panjim. The founder, Atamaran Gaitonde set up operations without any formal training. Serving cakes, patties, and a signature plate of bhaji puri, Café Central became an important third space attracting all sections of society – Portuguese officials, elites, intellectuals, and the working class. Its current incarnation as a bakery store on Dr. Pissurlekar Road took place in 1971. Sans the hot plate of bhaji puri and a seating area, they continued serving freshly made sweets and savouries that sell fast.

Always crowded for their consistency in quality, the bakery draws queues of people hoping to buy their favourites before they run out. Generations of families know the eggless chocolate cake, excellent Goan pao, mushroom cheese samosas, batata vada and date, walnut cake. They have a huge variety of biscuits – Shrewsbury, Bournvita, wine, onion, fruit, and cashew to name a few. Indian mithai such as their milk pedas and besan ladoos are known to melt in your mouth.