Art Le Cafe
A guesthouse at the gate of Auroville, the City of Dawn
Auroville was founded on an idea of beginning again. Art Le Cafe is where you rest before you go find out what that means — rooms, dorms and group stays a short walk from the Visitor Centre, with breakfast, a cafe, and a small gallery of local art on-site.
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A day from here
Breakfast on-site — South Indian thali or continental — then a five-minute walk to the Visitor Centre before the day's heat sets in.
Cycle out along Auroville's 25km of forest paths, or spend the afternoon at the Matrimandir viewing point in the Peace Area.
Back at the cafe for dinner, or ride the extra distance to Auroville Beach, seven kilometres out, for the sunset.
Rooms & suites
Every room at Art Le Cafe is named for something bigger than a bed and a bathroom — the elements on the ground floor, mythic kingdoms on the first, and gods on the second.
Earth — heavy, solid, stable and rigid, the form and structure behind all creation.
Double bed with single sofa, table and stool, sink and worktop space, large bathroom with shower, western toilet and bathtub. Accessible from outside the building.
Water — smooth, flowing, cool and movable, transporting, connecting and nourishing.
Double bed, bunk beds, double sofa, sink and worktop space, large bathroom with shower, western toilet and bathtub. Accessible from outside the building.
Fire — hot, intense and transformative, driving digestion and cognition.
King-size bed, bunk beds, double sofa, lockers, sink and worktop space, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet.
Air — movable, light and dynamic, the motion behind ideas and goals.
Double bed with single sofa, table, sink and worktop space, TV, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet.
Space — expansive and without resistance, the source that holds all matter.
Bunk beds with single sofa, table, sink and worktop space, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet.
Multi-bed room for up to 6 guests, attached bathroom, air conditioning.
The legendary city said to lie in the Earth's core.
Double bed with double sofa, table, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
A vision of pastoralism and harmony with nature.
King-size bed and a set of bunk beds, table, sink and worktop space, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
The “lost” city, idealized as an advanced, utopian society.
King-size bed and a single bed, TV, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
The abode of Lord Brahma.
Double bed with single sofa, table and stool, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
The Tibetan Buddhist kingdom hidden in the Himalayas.
5 sets of bunk beds, double sofa, 2 large bathrooms with showers and western toilets, 2 balconies (one with an external sink).
The City of Gold.
Double bed, double sofa, table and stool, sink and worktop space, large bathroom with shower and bathtub, balcony. Shares a private lounge with Shangri-La (table, chairs, kitchen space, fridge). South-west facing — the auspicious direction for wealth and prosperity.
An imagined community with nearly perfect qualities.
Double bed with double sofa, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
A mystical, harmonious valley and earthly paradise.
King-size bed with double sofa, table and stool, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony. Shares a private lounge with El Dorado (table, chairs, kitchen space, fridge).
The God of the Sky, ruler and protector of gods and men.
Double bed, double sofa, kitchen, TV, table and stool, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
The Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Double bed, double sofa, TV, table and stool, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, 2 balconies.
The God of beginnings, remover of obstacles.
Two single beds with double sofa, TV, table and stool, sink and worktop space, large bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
God of fertility.
Double bed with single sofa, TV, table and stool, large bathroom with shower and western toilet, large balcony.
The Goddess of Marriage, Mothers and Families.
Two double beds with single sofa, table, sink and worktop space, TV, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
God of the Stars — the Pole Star.
Double bed, table and stool, large bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
The Lord of Wealth, Prosperity and Glory.
Double bed, table and stool, sink and worktop space, large bathroom with shower and western toilet, 2 balconies. South-west facing — the auspicious direction for wealth per Kubera.
The Goddess of good fortune, wealth and well-being.
Double bed, single bed, double sofa, table, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, balcony.
Sun God.
Two double beds with double sofa, table and stool, sink and worktop space, TV, large modern bathroom with shower and western toilet, 2 balconies.
We also host groups of up to 80 guests across the property for retreats and workshops — use our group booking form for rates and availability.
On-site cafe
A slow-paced kitchen with an Italian lean, built around whatever's fresh that morning. Breakfast comes with every room; lunch and dinner are open to walk-ins too.
Menu and prices shown here are placeholders — send the real kitchen menu and I'll fill these in.
Art gallery
A small gallery inside the guesthouse rotates pieces from local painters and craftspeople — worth a look even if you're not staying the night.
See the full galleryAdd-on packages
Add any of these on to your booking — just mention it when you message us on WhatsApp.
South Indian breakfast — idli, dosa, vada, sambar, chutney, with filter coffee, tea, or juice. Served 7:00–10:00 AM.
Traditional South Indian thali — rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal, curry, pickle, papad, curd, sweet. Served 12:30–2:30 PM.
Homestyle dinner — chapati or rice, dal or sambar, vegetable curry, poriyal, curd or raita, sweet. Served 7:30–9:30 PM.
A guided look at the Matrimandir, Visitor Centre, Auroville Beach, the Auroville Bakery, and other local spots. Half-day or full-day options, with a local guide included.
Hassle-free pickup and drop for Chennai or Puducherry airport.
A day's bicycle rental to explore Auroville at your own pace.
A day's scooter rental for exploring Auroville and beyond. Fuel extra; helmets included.
Wash and fold, quick turnaround, so you can travel light.
An extra mattress and bed linen in your room — useful for families or small groups.
All add-on prices are per the current rate card and may change — confirm the total with us on WhatsApp before you book.
Ask about add-ons on WhatsAppSwimming pool
Please use the pool only within these hours, and by the rules below — there is no lifeguard on duty, and children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
Free with a direct booking: book straight with us on WhatsApp and pool access is complimentary. Booked through an OTA or other booking engine instead? Pool access is ₹300 per guest, per day.
Important: there is no lifeguard on duty. Children must be supervised at all times.
Rated 4.7 from Google reviews. Guests come back to the same three things: the location, the room space, and the staff — read the reviews.
Getting here