The Explorers - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Joining & Signing Up

How do I join The Explorers community?

It’s simple! Just join our WhatsApp announcement group – that’s where we share details of all upcoming meet-ups and the sign-up links.

CLICK HERE to Join The Explorers Community on WhatsApp

How do I sign up for a meet-up?

When a new event is announced, fill out the form completely before spots run out. Once your payment is verified, you’ll get a confirmation message on the number you registered with.

Can I reserve a spot in advance?

Not yet. Spots are first-come-first-served based on when you fill the form. To give you an idea, recent meet-ups filled up in 90 minutes, 20 minutes, and sometimes as fast as 12 minutes!

What if I miss filling the form?

If the form closes, it means the meet-up is full. But don’t worry, we host events regularly, and the next one is never too far away. We usually drop reminders and teasers so you can be ready to grab your spot.

2. Payments & Cancellations

Do I have to pay to attend? Why is there a charge?

Yes, our meet-ups aren’t free. We charge a small fee to cover organizing costs. Sometimes food is included in the fee (like in Thindi Walks), and other times, you just pay for what you eat at the restaurant. The form for each event will clearly mention the costs and what’s included.

Is food always included in the fee?

Not always. For Thindi Walks, food is usually included since the group shares dishes and ordering is done centrally. For other events, your booking fee secures your spot, and you can order (and pay for) what you like. The details about what’s included and not included will be mentioned on the sign up form, so you can decide accordingly.

What if I sign up but can’t make it?

You can transfer your slot to a friend. Just let us know their details in advance. Unfortunately, we don’t issue refunds or allow shifting your booking to another meet-up. Refunds are only issued in case I am unable to run the event at the specified date and time.

Can I book more than 2 slots at once?

Most of our forms only allow booking a maximum of 2 slots. This is to avoid slot-hoarding and to encourage people to mingle with the larger group instead of their own large group. That said, If you need more slots, you can try filling the form again (before it fills up).

3. Attending a Meet-Up

How many people usually attend?

The limit on attendees usually depends on the capacity of the venue(s) we visit. Group sizes usually range between 10 to 30 people. Some, more exclusive / intimate dining experiences like chef-tasting menus, might be even lower than that.

Are meet-ups only on weekends?

Nope! We do both weekday and weekend events. Weekdays are usually breakfast or dinner meet-ups, while weekends can be anytime.

Are all meet-ups in the morning?

Not at all! While our Thindi Walks are mostly breakfast-based (since many of those spots close by afternoon), events like Burger Wars or Pizza Wars are often for lunch or dinner.

How much walking is there in a Thindi Walk?

The Thindi walks are more about the food than fitness! Expect 1.5 to 3 km of walking, with 4–5 stops in between. The approximate distance for each walk will be mentioned during sign up. Because of the stops, the walking doesn’t feel tiring, but comfy shoes are recommended.

Where do the meet-ups happen?

All over the city! We’ve been to Basavanagudi, Jayanagar, Indiranagar, Malleshwaram, Ashok Nagar, Sarjapur Road, JP Nagar, so far. The next venue depends on community demand (your likes, comments, and suggestions).

4. Food & Preferences

Are the meet-ups veg or non-veg?

We welcome everyone! Vegetarians, vegans, eggitarians, and non-vegetarians. Since I (Rohit) am vegetarian, we always make sure there are plenty of veg options at every event.

How do you choose restaurants?

Mostly from community suggestions. We have a list of 150+ recommendations across categories (dosa, pizza, burgers, hot chocolate, kulcha, and more!). We try to balance variety, so a meet-up usually includes different kinds of dishes, not just repeats.

Can we request a specific restaurant or café?

Yes! Drop your suggestions in the comments or replies. We can’t cover everything at once, but your picks definitely influence the next event lineup.

Can I know which restaurants we’ll be visiting during the Walk?

We don’t share the complete walk details publicly because we don’t want people that haven’t signed up to show up at any point of the journey. As soon as your complete the sign up process and your payment is verified, you’ll receive the complete event details.

I own/manage a restaurant can I host The Explorers?

Absolutely! If you’d like to host us, send me a message, and we’ll see how it fits in with the community’s interests.

5. Community & Experience

Why can’t I write messages in the WhatsApp Group?

The Explorers Community is currently just an announcement group where the group admins can share updates about upcoming meet-ups and other group related information. The lack of two-way conversation is a conscious decision taken to avoid the relentless spam that I’m sure we’ve all observed in many open WhatsApp groups. The annoucement group does allow some two way communication

Why do you limit the number of attendees?

Mainly because restaurants have seating and capacity limits. Time management is also a concern. Serving 50 people takes a lot more time than preparing food for a group of 20. Smaller groups (10 - 30 people) also make it easier to connect with each other and share food comfortably.

What if I come with a big group of friends?

We love that, but large groups often stick to themselves. We want folks to also connect with new people, so come with one or two friends, but be ready to meet new ones too!

How do you decide the next theme (Pizza, Burger, Thindi, etc.)?

By listening to you! Your comments, votes, and requests drive what we explore next. Sometimes, restaurants also invite us, and we decide if it makes sense for the group.

Do I need to know anyone before attending?

Nope! Many people join solo. In fact, our meet-ups are a great way to meet new foodie friends. At some events we also carry out ice breaker activities to help the group connect and bond.

Is this community only for Bangalore?

I am based in Bangalore, hence most of our meet-ups happen across Bangalore, but I am planning to host some meet-ups in Mumbai later in the year and who knows, The Explorers may expand and go national in the future!

Can kids join?

Some meet-ups (like Thindi Walks) are kid-friendly, but others (like late-night events) may not be ideal. We’ll specify in the form if there are age restrictions.