Best Dishes, Restaurants and Hot Spots To Eat And Drink In Shimla
Situated in
Himachal Pradesh, India, Shimla is the perfect spot for a high-spirited holiday
or even some work. This article will help you find the best shops, eateries and
local hot spots to experience!
Eateries in Shimla
Himachali Rasoi-
As funny as it may
sound, being in Shimla and finding local cuisine can be a very tough ask for a
traveler. With the popularization and promotion of international themed cafes
in Shimla, the local food took the back seat and slowly vanished from the
visible area.
This makes the effort
of a revival of the Himachali cuisine all the more necessary and impressive
made by the Himachali Rasoi. A welcome change for travelers who have probably
seen enough of cafes in Shimla that carry an international taste palate.
Ashiana
Located in a
fanciful circular building, with its majestic interiors will remind you of The
British Era. The ambiance is great with a stunning view of the Ridge. There is
also an open terrace, where you can enjoy your meal while basking in the
afternoon sun. The food is absolutely delicious especially the Indian cuisine.
Indian Coffee House
This place has been
in Shimla for decades and is quite popular especially among the locals. The
ambience of this restaurant is truly one of kind in Shimla. The chattering
people and old rustic seats will take back to your city life. The food is great
and it’s by far the cheapest place to eat in Shimla.
Baljee’s
Baljee’s is one the
oldest and most reputed places in town. This place is famous for its Indian
Cuisine and Desserts and it never fails to delight you. It’s a wonderful family
restaurant with quick service and welcoming interiors.
Wake & Bake
It’s a quaint little place located right opposite the Town Hall. The place is quite lively and you’ll find a lot of youngsters around. This place is quite famous for its Coffee and Pizzas.
Hideout Cafe
Situated in the heart of Shimla, this cafe has become one the best in town. The ambience is great and the food is tasty and flavoursome. You’ll mostly see a lot of youngsters in here with a couple of foreign tourists as well.
Cafe
Simla Times
It is
impossible to skip this place, if you are headed to Shimla. Cafe Simla Times is
one of the most loved cafes in Shimla, not only for its quirky ambience, good
food and beverages but also for its enticing valley view, which makes this
place a must visit. From decadent Tiramisu to tasteful wood fire pizzas to
continental and Indian platters, the multi-cuisine menu has something for every
palate. The live performances and artistic ambience and the vibrant Ambassador
car makes this cafe the soul of Shimla.
Café Sol
When there's too
many of you Ponder over what to order under the cheerful ambience of an orange
and yellow semi-circular ceiling that casts a warm glow on everything. This is
the place to head to when you are in a group with different tastes–the menu at
the city's most popular café has something for everyone!
We do hope that you all know an incredibly
exciting way to explore this little gem of a town, so mouse around and book some
Shimla Manali tour packages for yourself
What
To Eat In Shimla
Popular vegetarian dishes of Shimla include kaddu ka khatta, guchhi
matter and sepu vadi. You should definitely try the traditional vegetarian
dessert prepared with sweet rice is mittha.
The other mid day meal during festive season is Dham, served on leaf
plates or Epattalsi. As far as the menu of this concerned, it includes rice, a
curd based dish, curry, mustard based raita, pulses and sweets.
The famous recipes of Shimla are Indra (made of urad
dal),Baadi/Ghaunda, and Bada/Poldu.
Specialities you should try:
Kangri
Cuisine: Khatta with rice, Madra with rice. At religious places, called dhams
and at the homes of locals you will get this.
Mash daal(commonly
known as askali daal) is
made with split black lentils. This special heart-warming daal is
made after soaking the legumes overnight, pressure-cooking it and then
simmering it in a heavy-bottomed pan along with a saute of fine onions, ginger,
garlic shallow fried in warm mustard oil. Sounds lovely? You can try out this
special dish with naan or sidu.
Sidu is
the popular fresh Shimla bread made of yeast-kneaded wheat, mashed boiled green
peas, roasted nuts, and paneer. It is a mouth-watering bread variety and is an
out-and-out Himachal dish. Sidu is usually paired with Mash daal,
ghee, and pudina/dhania chutney.
Madra is a traditional delicacy from the Chamba district of
Himachal Pradesh. This dish is rich in nutritional and cultural values and is a
part of every festive event in Shimla. Madras made of soaked chickpeas or veggies, prepared in
warm oil and different seasonings such as cloves, cinnamon, cumin, and
coriander powder.
Babru is
another tasty delicacy of Shimla and is a Himachal version of the popular North
Indian kachoris. Babruis made by stuffing soaked and
groundeddaal paste to kneaded dough patties, which are then rolled and
deep-fried. These hot deep fried kachoris are then served with tamarind
chutney. Do not miss the street-version of Babru at the Mall Road.
Dhaam is
a complete meal that comes with a wholesome promise of taste and nutrition. In
Shimla, this traditional spread consists of dal, rajma, rice, curd, boor kiKadiand
is complemented with home-madegur (jaggery). With every plate, Dhaam promises
a variety of tastes and is a must-serve for celebrations and festivals in
Shimla. During special occasions, Dhaam is prepared by special chefs
known as botis.
After
all these vegetarian delicacies, let us focus a bit on the non-vegetarian
wonders of Shimla food.
Thupka is
a noodle soup of Tibetan origin and is prepared with a variety of fresh vegetables
such as tomato, onions, spring onions, string beans, carrot, and chopped
cabbage, with steamed meat pieces. Boiled noodles are also added to this meal
which is prepared hot with ginger garlic paste, chili, and regional sauces. And
interestingly, Thupka without meat is served as veg Thupka.
ChhaGosht is a must-have for mutton or lamb meat lovers. This dish
is made with seasoned lamb meat marinated and prepared in a sauce of gram
flour, yogurt, and spices.
Where
to Drink In Shimla
Sixteen 69 Lounge Bar
This is the most happening bar in Shimla. An in-house bar
of the Marina Hotel, situated on Mall Road, this bar is a perfect place for
party animals with celebrity DJs. Along with awesome songs, they also offer the
finest liquor with the ambiance. For an ideal nightlife in Shimla, head over to
Sixteen 69 Lounge Bar and let this place enthrall your vacation!
Location: Hotel Marina, Mall Rd, Bemloi, Shimla
Timings: Closes 11 PM
Himani Bar &
Restaurant
Another lovely place to explore the nightlife of Shimla is
the Himani Bar. Besides having amazing music, it also serves a wide array of
drinks with amazing tasty meals from Mughlai and Indian cuisines. The Himani
bar promises you a peaceful yet lively evening in Shimla.
Location: Stairs, Middle Bazar, The Mall, Shimla
Timings: Closes 10:45 pm
The Pub
Looking for a place to enjoy the best brews in Shimla? This
popular outlet at Ritz is the venue for many relaxed evenings. Go all out and
try out the amazing cocktail and mocktails on the menu. The Foot tapping music
and ambiance make up a vibrant and peppy experience.
Location:
Ritz Cineplex, Shimla Timings: Closes 9 PM
Rendezvous Bar And
Restaurant
Looking for a place to unwind and relax after a day of
sightseeing? Rendezvous Bar offers a variety of refreshing drinks to choose
from. The professional bartenders provide amazing concoctions with delicious
and crunchy appetizers. Grab your favorite drink and enjoy the dazzling
ambiance of this electrifying bar!
Location: Scandal Point, The Mall, Shimla.
Timings: Closes 11:00 pm
Devicos Bar
Devicos Bar is an ideal bar cum restaurant for a large
number of groups to enjoy the city nightlife. With moderate pricing, this place
is a delight for budget travelers to enjoy delicious eateries and favorite
drinks.
Location: 5, Mall Rd, Vijaya Bank, The Mall, Shimla Timings:
Closes 11:00 pm
Labels: Food and Beverages, Himachal Tourism, Local Dishes, local food shimla, Market in Shimla