The iconic Pereira Hotel, affectionately known as Inasaam’s Hotel, served its final meal on Saturday and closed permanently after a century of operation in Mangaluru. Established in 1921 by Ignatius Pereira, the hotel was renowned for its authentic Mangalurean Catholic cuisine, featuring homestyle dishes like fish curry and rice. It also provided budget-friendly accommodation for travelers.
Several factors led to the closure: the fourth generation showed no interest in continuing the legacy, parking issues deterred customers, and there was a shortage of skilled staff. Oliver Pereira, the third-generation owner, expressed his difficulty in making the decision. “The fourth generation is not keen to take it forward. Parking issues eat away 40% to 50% of our customers, and skilled kitchen staff are hard to find. I don’t want to relocate since I’m reaching my golden years,” he said. The final order served on July 27 was Pork Pepper Dry.
Initially located opposite the Milagres Church, the hotel moved to its current building in 1966, with the restaurant on the ground floor and lodging on the first. After Ignatius’s passing, his son William Pereira took over, followed by his grandson Oliver, who added continental dishes and converted the first-floor lodging into additional dining space post-Covid. Oliver also introduced successful catering services, which later ceased due to staffing issues.
While some have inquired about taking over, the future of the hotel remains uncertain. Regular patrons Hemanth Kumar and Prajwal Ukkuda expressed their sadness, describing it as “one of the fine restaurants with satiating food.”