How It All Began

It all started when a couple, in the second innings of their life, left behind Pune and made Bir their new home.

A quiet Himalayan village, far from the life they knew. But it felt just right.

They didn’t have a big plan. Just a deep love for their food, trust in their son, and the courage to do things a little differently.

Serving South Indian food in a North Indian mountain town wasn’t just uncommon, it was unheard of.

Bir was better known for its paragliders than its podis. But somehow, it felt like the right place to begin again. Give life a new direction.

In 2017, their son visited Bir. Suraj imagined a space where the family’s food and warmth could find new ground.
With his mother,

Avva, as he fondly calls her, meaning ‘mother’ in colloquial Telugu,

at the heart of the kitchen, and Papa always smiling wide at the reception counter, the idea started to take shape.

In 2018, AVVAs Café opened.

A 90 sq. ft. kitchen. Five tables. Two helpers. And a lot of quiet hope.

Every South Indian dish told a story. Of where the family came from. Of home, of heritage, and of heart.

Since then, AVVAs has grown. Into more spaces. More flavours. More ways to share what they love.

But the feeling stays the same.
Familiar. Welcoming. Friendly.
And rooted in the belief that

wherever you are, home can be made.

Meet the Fam!

Sunanda

Chef-in-Command

Anil

Captain-in-Command

Suraj

mind behind the mood

Jyotsna

comfort curator

Priyanka

Freshness-in-charge

At the heart of AVVAs is the family who brought it to life, one meal, one decision, one leap at a time.
Sunanda, the Chef-in-Command, brought the flavours. Anil, the Captain-in-Command, brought courage and stability. At a stage in life where most slow down, they chose to begin again – trading city life for something simpler, but far from easy.
Their journey was powered by instinct and determination. With just a handful of recipes and a lot of heart, they created a space where people felt something more than just full.
Their son Suraj, who designs the spaces, menus, and experience, moved to Bir during the pandemic to help shape AVVAs’ future. Jyotsna, now his wife, had long been drawn to AVVAs Café for its food and the homelike comfort it offered. Today, she leads all things AVVAs Stays with heart and hustle.
Priyanka, their daughter, now lives in Thane with the love of her life. She recently started a cloud kitchen offering freshly made South Indian variety in an ecosystem where freshness is a rarity.

Together, the five of them continue to shape AVVAs, one story and one space at a time. It began with family. And it still is.

The Heart Behind AVVAs

OUR VISION

To represent South Indian culture in ever-evolving settings, far from where it began but always rooted in where it comes from.

OUR MISSION

To offer experiences that celebrate legacy, embrace differences, and gently reimagine what traditions will be.

Our Journey So Far

AVVAs Café

2018

AVVAs Homemade

2020

The Jungalow by AVVAs Stays

2022

The Attic Library by AVVAs Stays

2022

AVVAs Desam

2023

AVVAs Cherry

2024

The Winter Courtyard by AVVAs Stays

2025

What started with five tables has grown since then not just in places and experiences, but in spirit.
It’s grown through the love people brought in, and the hands that shaped it: a close-knit, hard-working team, and a family that keeps showing up with heart.
Each chapter marks more than a milestone. It’s a memory built with care, shaped by community, and always rooted in where we began.