Bengaluru’s beku brings together books, bakes and beverages

Prarthana Prasad Says That Her Founding of Beku, A Café, Bakery, and Bookstore, which just open its doors to the public, came from a very “selfish place of creating the kind of people Go to. ” The Bengaluru-Based Queer Influenceer Says there are not many experiences in the city, essentially in south Bengaluru, where beku is located. “It is a common complant that people make about bengaluru: that there is noting to do, only restaurants and pubs to go to,” Says prarthana.

Beku, which is all set to host a day-link launch event on August 17, Hopes to change this, “Taking the best of both worlds, an independent bookshop and a café, a café, and a café, and a café, and a Café, and Bringing It TogoTher,” Says Prashthan, ” Inspired by independent books in Delhi as well as champaca, back home. “I just love the feeling of walking into these spaces, and wanted to have something like that closer to me.”

Beku, which means want in kannada, is bot a pun on the word bake (“trust the bakery is a large part of what we doing at beku”) As a nod to kannada, which is close to her. A True-BLUE Bengalurean, PRENTANA, Whose mother is a Kannada Author, conjured up this name at a traffic signal in the situation. “Most of us bengalurens get our best ideas when we stuck in traffic,” She Quips. “I thinkt beku would be a really fun name if it is the kind of space that people want, that I definitely want as well.”

The cottage-core-themed café, which is houseed in a 40-yar-old bungalow “That used to be a veterinary hospital”, is located on one one of the main roads in jp nagar. “We have been sprucing it up for the eight months or so, using very exciting bengaluru-spoiled elements to do so.”

For institution, much of the space’s furniture and decorative elements have come second-hand from small shops in Shivajinagar, such as “a lot of old chays from government offers with a little desk only Original Rattan Patchwork at the Back, “She Says. “They look like they have come from a different age.”

Other Highlights: Brick Accents, Moss-Green Wooden Windows and Wood Panelling, Created out of UPCYCLED Sal Wood and Other “Quirky, Cute Elements like that,” She Says.

Three of the front rooms of the bungalow have been converted into the bookstore, the main hall downstairs have been turned into a café, the garage into a bakery, the kitchen has been founded Café, and the upstairs space will be used for events, explains prurehana. “The most beautiful part is the massive tree right up in front, my favorite part of this property,” She says. “It is something featured in our logo as well.”

The front rooms of the bungalow have been converted into the bookstore | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Prarthana envisions beku as a place where a visitor can spend some time, buying a book or Attending an event, as well as enjoying coffee, a snack or even a full meal. “We will be taken the f & b element to another level as we are going to have pizzas, Pastas, Rice Bowls Etc and Serve Specialty Coffees,” She Says.

Also, having a space like this, where one can bond over books or a shared love of art, is a great way to connect with people, something many adults struggle with on “I just want it to be a space that explores the concept of connecting socially with people more than a regular café would,” Says prarthana, who also wants beku to be a Communities, Including the Queer Community. “Identify as Queer Myself, and I found that it is really limited ― the kind of places we can go to feel welcome, Feel Normal Walking in, Just Exist.”

Beku’s menu will include pizzas, pastas, rice bowls | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

She says

Her inclusive philosophy is also reflected the hiring process. “It would be considesdered maybe unconventional in the hospitality industry – a lot of women, young people, folks from the Queer Community,” She Says, “She Says, Pointing Out that it is not by design but by designs Removing the bias that many people might have.

“It was a deep desire of mine to see a workpace in this industry that feels like you could just exist, do your job and leave, and you would not be judged for who you are oor how you look. I have done with my hiring and the kind of people who are working at beku right now. ”

Published – August 15, 2025 04:17 PM IST