The Cafe By Oakwood

This place is tucked away on Vittal Mallya Road, near Dr N C Jawale Marg. It’s a busy part of town but somehow it stays a bit quieter inside here. We open up early and the first thing we do is check the machines and get the tables wiped down. There are a lot of windows, so you can watch the cars and people going by while you sit. The staff usually gets here around seven. We don't really have a big team, just a few of us who know how the regulars like their drinks. The morning sun comes in quite strong, so we have to adjust the blinds a lot. It’s not like those big chains where everything looks the same. Our chairs are a bit heavy and sometimes the floor creaks when you walk across the back section. We spend a lot of time just refilling napkins and making sure the sugar bowls aren't empty. It gets loud around noon because of the traffic outside, but the walls are thick enough to keep most of the noise out. People come here to work on their laptops or just wait for someone. We don't bother them much. Sometimes we run out of certain items by the evening, especially if it was a busy weekend. It’s just how it goes. We try to keep things clean and the atmosphere is pretty relaxed for being in the middle of the city.