Eating on Kovalam Beach - local Kovalam restaurants

Fusion (0091 471 2484153) on a breezy terrace on Lighthouse beach, offers a good choice of Keralan and European dishes. Main courses from £1.30.

For vegetarian food try the family-run Lonely Planet (0091 471 2481240). The owner also organises cookery demonstrations and traditional music evenings. Main courses from 50p.

Two favourites from the 2006 season are the Coconut Grove and Rock Cafe both on the Lighthouse beach.

The Lobster Pot which is 5-10 minutes North from the Leela. Follow the beach road past the temple and scramble up some rocks and there is the restaurant. The owner meets you at night with a huge torch to guide you through the rocks. You can have a great meal out every night at a cost of £10-£12 for two even including a few beers. The drinks bill is often more than the food bill! The tandoori fish in all the restaurants is excellent.

The Taj Green Cove Resort  has two restaurants: Jasmine Bay offers an international menu, while Curries specialises in dishes from across India.

You can pick up from displays of fresh fish such as blue marlin, sea salmon, barracuda and delicious seer fish as well as tiger prawns and crabs. They are fgrilled or cooked in a tandoor( traditional clay oven) and served with rice, salad or chips.

For breakfasts you can choose from any number of cafes offering teh usual brown bread, fruit salad and pan cakes or try a traditional Kerala breakfast at the local tea shops. Sample the freshly cooked delicious Kerala appam and egg masala.

Beer and spirits are offered in most cafes though discreetly due to the tight liquor restrictions.

During your stay in Kovalam, you may be offered marijuana but do remember that cannabis is illegal in all parts of India including Kerala.

1. Getting to Kovalam
2. Kovalam Hotels Map
3. Things to see and do on Kovalam
4. Where to stay on Kovalam
5. Vizhinjam Village
6. Chowara
7. Thiruvallom
8. Vellayani Lake
9. Valliathura Pier
10. Enjoying the water on the beach
11. Eating at Kovalam
12. Shopping on Kovalam Beach
13. Around Kovalam