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In a city where every bylane has a new coffee shop, coffee-themed restaurants may seem run-of-the-mill, but not Kico. It encapsulates the drive of Bangalore, the caffeine-fueled hustle served with a side of community, creativity, and cocktails that carry you seamlessly from morning meetings to midnight music.
In conversation with the team at Kico
We spoke with Mr Nishanth, the F&B Manager at Kico, who spoke to us about the philosophy of Kico.
Kiko seems to shift identities through the day. Is it a coffee bar, a co-working hub, or a cocktail destination?
Nishanth: Kiko transforms with time. In the morning, we’re a coffee and matcha bar with breakfast. By afternoon, we become more of a co-working, community-led space. In the evening, we turn into a proper cocktail bar, and later at night, we bring in music. The energy builds as the day progresses. It’s designed to evolve from day to night.
In a city like Bangalore where coffee culture is everywhere, what makes Kiko distinct?
Nishanth: We collaborate with Nandan Coffee from Chikmagalur, so we focus on local sourcing. But what truly sets us apart is that we don’t dictate what guests should drink. Whether it’s coffee, matcha, cocktails or mocktails, it depends on their mood and personality. Everything is made in-house, and our cocktail program, designed by our bar manager Kaustubh, highlights local ingredients.
You describe Kiko as community-led. What does community actually mean here?
Nishanth: It means inclusivity. Someone can come in for cocktails with friends while another prefers coffee or a non-alcoholic drink. From 9 AM to 12 AM, there’s something for everyone. That openness defines us.
Caffeine kicks, and matcha madi, Kico is for all Bangaloreans
And what better cocktail to start? Paired with a delicious Bangalore snack, podi lotus stem, we started with a bolt, ‘No Sleep Club’- if you’re feeling the afternoon sloths, this is the drink for you. Bitter in the first sip, the coffee really grows on you. A bite of the caramel coffee candy, and you begin to savour the drink. And to test any bartender, you order a classic Whiskey Sour, and they do basics so well, you know their cocktail program is going to be good. The Skinny Affair, a selection from their low-cal cocktail menu, is just the refreshing gin pick-me-up you need on a hot Bangalore afternoon. We paired that with the juicy, pillowy Ajwaini fish tikkas, and we were off to a great start.
If you are the latest victim of the all-encompassing matcha culture, the Matcha Madi cocktail will make your inner Matcha girlie happy. A cocktail that elevates the floral accents of the Six Brothers Mahura liquor, this cocktail will transport you to a verdant garden, with a plumage of flavours that’ll leave you reaching for seconds.
Getting you back to Kico comes the volt of the Raw Voltage cocktail with its punchy raw mango-infused tequila, and a bite of the fruit, and you're back to your childhood, having an elevated version of your favourite raw mango snack. An insider tip? Pair that with podi lotus stem for the ultimate (sucker) punch flavour!
The truffle naansters and mutton Bhuna parathas arrive shortly after. The truffle naanster is exactly the kind of indulgence our palette needs after the Raw Voltage cocktail. It is a delectable balance of spice and the decadence of cheese. The flaky parathas with the mutton bhuna were another meaty, indulgent dish that went very well with the clean and refreshing Lean And Mean cocktail. A watermelon-forward cocktail, made with house-made watermelon wine, it’s the perfect way to welcome Bangalore summers! The blueberry cheesecake arrived with a biscuit crumble and house-made vanilla ice cream, and it was the perfect way to end the meal. Light, tart, and a perfect way to end the meal.
Throughout my time at Kico, something about it being community-focused stood out to me. The service is personal. My server, Najib, made sure to tailor my experience to the mood we got in, and that’s the Kico experience you walk into. From cocktails to food, everything here is intentional and designed for you to have the best time.
Last bite..
Need a new place for a coffee run that goes beyond the usual latte? Kico is the place to be, it is the perfect place to ease your mornings into cocktail hours, keep the caffeine kick going with ingenious coffee-based cocktails. Come for coffee, stay for community!