Guide
Famous Sweet Shops in Varanasi (Banaras): Where to Buy Mithai
Varanasi's famous sweet shops cluster in the old city: Thatheri Bazar and Chowk near Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sonarpura near the ghats, and the BHU side of town. These are the shops locals and food writers name most, what each is known for, and where to find them. We're one of them, so we've put ourselves first; the rest are in no particular order.
At a glance
| Shop | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar | Thatheri Bazar, near Kashi Vishwanath | Malai Gilori, Lal Peda, Till Barfi, Rasbhari; khoya and chhena sweets |
| The Ram Bhandar | Thatheri Bazar | Kachori, sabzi and jalebi breakfast |
| Rasvanti | Sugga Gali, Thatheri Bazar | Lal Peda, Parwal mithai, Chamcham, Malai Gilori |
| Shri Rajbandhu | Chowk and Kamachha | Ghewar, Malai Gilori |
| Ksheer Sagar | Sonarpura and Sigra | Chhena sweets: rasgulla, cham cham, rasmalai |
| Bengal Sweet House | BHU–DLW Road | Rasgulla, badam halwa, mango kalakand |
| New Rajshree Sweets | Several outlets | Motichoor laddu |
| Madhur Jalpan | Old city | Jalebi, Lal Peda |
Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar
Thatheri Bazar, near Kashi Vishwanath. Known for malai Gilori, Lal Peda, Till Barfi, Rasbhari; khoya and chhena sweets. Family-run since 1984. That's us..
The Ram Bhandar
Thatheri Bazar. Known for kachori, sabzi and jalebi breakfast. Serving since 1887 by its own account.
Source: therambhandar.in
Rasvanti
Sugga Gali, Thatheri Bazar. Known for lal Peda, Parwal mithai, Chamcham, Malai Gilori. Often described as one of the oldest shops in the city.
Source: exploreanddine.com
Shri Rajbandhu
Chowk and Kamachha. Known for ghewar, Malai Gilori. Listed as "since 1887" in Varanasi sweet-shop guides.
Source: banarastrip.com
Ksheer Sagar
Sonarpura and Sigra. Known for chhena sweets: rasgulla, cham cham, rasmalai. A long-standing name for Bengali-style sweets.
Source: taleof2backpackers.com
Bengal Sweet House
BHU–DLW Road. Known for rasgulla, badam halwa, mango kalakand. Popular with students and families on the BHU side.
Source: cadburydessertscorner.com
New Rajshree Sweets
Several outlets. Known for motichoor laddu. Frequently recommended by locals online.
Source: banarastrip.com
Madhur Jalpan
Old city. Known for jalebi, Lal Peda. Named in several Varanasi food guides.
Source: vacaywork.com
Three shops, one lane: Thatheri Bazar
If you're near Kashi Vishwanath Temple or Dashashwamedh Ghat, Thatheri Bazar puts three of these shops within a few minutes of each other: breakfast at The Ram Bhandar, Lal Peda at Rasvanti, and Malai Gilori and Rasbhari at our counter. The lanes are narrow, so walk in from Godowlia or Chowk.
What to buy, and when
- All year: Lal Peda, Malai Gilori, Tiranga Barfi, chhena sweets. "Banaras Lal Peda" and "Banaras Tirangi Barfi" are both registered GIs.
- Winter mornings (about November to February): Malaiyo, sold by vendors in the old city lanes (we don't make it)
- Makar Sankranti (January): Till Barfi and other sesame sweets
- Holi: Gujiya
For the full story of each sweet, read our guide to the famous sweets of Varanasi.
Questions
Which is the most famous sweet shop in Varanasi?
There isn't one answer: locals name different shops for different sweets. The Ram Bhandar is known for kachori and jalebi, Ksheer Sagar and Bengal Sweet House for chhena sweets, and New Rajshree Sweets for motichoor laddu. In Thatheri Bazar, Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar is known for Malai Gilori, Lal Peda and Rasbhari.
Which is the best sweet shop near Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
Thatheri Bazar, about 800 m from the temple, has several old sweet shops within a few minutes' walk of each other, including Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar, Rasvanti and The Ram Bhandar.
Is there a famous sweet shop near Dashashwamedh Ghat?
Yes. Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar in Thatheri Bazar is about 500 m from Dashashwamedh Ghat, open every day, 8 AM – 9 PM.
Which famous sweet shops are near Godowlia?
Thatheri Bazar is a short walk from Godowlia crossing. Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar, Rasvanti and The Ram Bhandar are all in its lanes.
Are Varanasi, Banaras and Kashi the same place?
Yes. Varanasi, Banaras (also spelled Benares) and Kashi are names for the same city, so a famous sweet shop in Banaras is a famous sweet shop in Varanasi.
What sweets should I buy in Banaras to take home?
Lal Peda travels best. Malai Gilori and Tiranga Barfi are Banaras favourites too. In winter, have Malaiyo from the morning vendors in the old city lanes and take Till Barfi home.
Stop by in Thatheri Bazar
Sri Narayan Misthan Bhandar is about 500 m from Dashashwamedh Ghat and about 800 m from Kashi Vishwanath Temple, open every day, 8 AM – 9 PM.