Tapri Central

Tapri began in 2010 as the idea of two friends, Ankit Bohra and Sorabh Bapna, who took the humble roadside chai stall, the tapri of Indian street corners, and turned it into a relaxed sit-down café. The concept started life as an MBA project that did not impress their professors, but it has done far better with the public. The first outlet opened in Lal Kothi, and the business has since grown to four branches in Jaipur and two in Udaipur. Tapri Central, on Prithviraj Road overlooking Central Park, is the one most visitors know.

Tea is the centre of the menu, served alongside fresh juices. Food is vegetarian and deliberately simple, with recipes close to home cooking and snacks that go well with a glass of chai. The founders keep recipes straightforward so that the taste is consistent and service quick across their outlets. Prices are modest, and the café draws a mix of local regulars and visitors.

Part of the appeal is the setting. The café looks out over Central Park, one of the largest green spaces in Jaipur, and the atmosphere, music and buzz of conversation matter as much to the founders as the tea itself. Upstairs, a small shop called LADU, short for Life Around Daily Utilities, sells products made by small businesses, and a compact counter known as Tapri Chotu sits alongside it.

Tapri is also known for its inclusive approach to hiring. Around one in ten members of the team have hearing or speech impairments and work front of house serving customers, and some staff have been with the business since its early days. It is a business that has grown largely by word of mouth rather than advertising.

Visit in the late afternoon or early evening, when the light over the park is softer and the café is at its liveliest; weekends can be busy. Tapri Central is a short ride from MI Road and the Albert Hall Museum, and it makes an easy pause between sights in the newer part of the city. A walk in Central Park before or after your tea is a pleasant way to round off the visit.