Our First Evening at Varkala North Cliff

Since our first day of the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Trip was mostly spent travelling, we couldn’t see much. The very first place that we explored after reaching Varkala was North Cliff, probably the most happening place in Varkala.

North Cliff is not a sightseeing destination in the traditional sense. It is more of a place where people come to relax, shop, enjoy good food, and spend the evening while watching the sunset. Although it overlooks the beach, it is actually located on top of a cliff, so you get beautiful views of the sea and the waves crashing against the shore from above.

Reaching North Cliff

Our resort was approximately 850 metres to 1 kilometre from North Cliff. Although it was within walking distance, we were already tired after a full day of travelling, so we decided to take an auto.

The auto dropped us at the parking area. From there, you have to walk through the entire North Cliff stretch, which is roughly one to one-and-a-half kilometres long.

The entire pathway is lined with cafés, restaurants, souvenir shops, guest houses, hostels and hotels. Even if you don’t plan to shop or eat, simply walking through the street is an experience in itself.

What Makes North Cliff Special?

If you ask me what there is to actually see at North Cliff, my answer would be—honestly, not much.

There are restaurants, cafés, a few bars and souvenir shops, but there aren’t many attractions that you would specifically stop to see.

What you really come here for is the vibe.

The sea breeze, the atmosphere, the people walking around, the cafés overlooking the sea and the overall ambience make this place special. In the evening, when the cafés are full and music starts playing, it almost feels as if you are not in India anymore. It feels like you’re spending an evening in some other part of the world.

The closest comparison I could make is that it feels like a Goan experience on a cliff.

The Best Time to Visit North Cliff

If you really want to enjoy North Cliff, I would recommend visiting around sunset.

Watch the sunset first, then find a café overlooking the sea. Spend a couple of hours there, enjoy the sea breeze, listen to live music if it’s playing, have your dinner and then take a relaxed walk along the pathway before returning to your hotel.

That, according to me, is the best way to experience North Cliff.

Should You Stay at North Cliff?

There are plenty of hotels, guest houses and hostels available on North Cliff itself.

However, I personally wouldn’t recommend staying there if you’re travelling with family.

The main reason is that vehicles are not allowed inside the walking street. You’ll have to carry your luggage from the parking area to your hotel. The road is paved with bricks, many of which are now broken and uneven, making it inconvenient to drag heavy suitcases.

Staying a little away from North Cliff and taking an auto for the evening felt like a much better option for us.

Where to Eat at North Cliff

There are plenty of cafés and restaurants throughout North Cliff.

Among all the places we saw, two stood out because of their overall look and feel.

The first was God’s Own Country. It had live music, looked lively, and from what we observed, it seemed to be a popular place for seafood.

The second was Cafe de Mar. Compared to many other cafés, it looked less crowded, cleaner and had a much calmer ambience.

Since we are pure vegetarians, our options were naturally limited.

There is a vegetarian restaurant near the beginning of the street, but personally I wouldn’t recommend it. If you don’t mind eating outside the North Cliff area, you’ll find much better South Indian vegetarian restaurants in the nearby market, including Arya Udupi Bhavan and Saravana Bhavan.

However, if your plan is to spend the entire evening at North Cliff and have dinner there itself, then Punjabi Dhaba, located near the beginning of the street, is one of the few practical options available for pure vegetarians.

Our Take

North Cliff isn’t a place where you’ll spend your time ticking off attractions one after another.

It’s a place where you slow down.

Walk along the pathway, sit at a café, enjoy the sea breeze, watch the sunset, listen to live music and simply absorb the atmosphere.

That is what North Cliff is all about, and that’s exactly why it became our favourite experience on the first day of our Kerala and Tamil Nadu Trip.