MTR, Vegetarian restaurant in Bangalore, India
MTR is a vegetarian restaurant in Bangalore serving classic South Indian dishes such as dosas, idlis, vadas, and filter coffee. The dining hall is large and simply decorated, with table service that moves at a steady pace to keep up with a constant flow of guests.
The restaurant opened in 1924 as a small coffee club in the Lalbagh area of Bangalore. Over the decades it grew into one of the city's most recognized names for South Indian food.
The restaurant maintains the tradition of serving meals on banana leaves, a practice deeply rooted in South Indian dining customs. This approach connects each meal with a sense of authenticity and respect for local traditions.
The restaurant sits in the Lalbagh neighborhood and is easy to reach on foot or by car from central Bangalore. Breakfast and lunch hours tend to draw the largest crowds, so arriving early helps avoid a long wait.
When rice became scarce during World War II, the kitchen invented rava idli, a version made from semolina that could be prepared without it. That dish is still served today and is now considered one of the most recognized contributions the restaurant has made to South Indian cooking.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
