Restaurant Reviews:
Nick’s Italian Kitchen at Kunga Guest House (Vegetarian)
This is a perennial favourite and one of the few restaurants that seems to be almost consistently packed, not only in high season but year round. Once you’ve spent some time here you’ll likely understand why. The food is very good, prices are reasonable compared to similar restaurants, and there is a beautiful view from a large terrace out the back. Many excellent vegetable dishes, Tibetan food, Indian food, and Italian food such as pizzas for those interested.
Atmosphere inside is nice though often busy, and the outdoor terrace is a great place to sit during the good weather seasons.
Pros: Excellent food; Reasonable prices; Very nice atmosphere; lots of selection
Cons: at busy times you may have difficulty getting a table.
Overall score: 5 stars
Common Ground Cafe
Location: just about 50 metres from the Mcleod Main square, up Tushita road.
This innocuous looking little place is also a favourite of travelers, expats, locals, etc., for its surprisingly excellent food, reasonable prices, and cozy atmosphere. Plenty of great vegetarian dishes and others.
Baked goods are so-so but food is excellent. Also a nice relatively quiet location just up the “Tushita road” from the main square. Mostly indoor seating and one large table out in the front.
Overall score: 5 stars
Green Restaurant (Vegetarian)
Location: on the Bhagsu road close to Mcleod Ganj main square
Nice atmosphere, also with beautiful views of the mountains from the back terrace.
Food is of good quality, but a little more expensive than Nick’s, just down the road. Also the servers are sometimes a bit disconnected and it can be hard to flag them down, and food sometimes takes a bit longer than it seems it should. But atmosphere and food are nice, and the Tibetan couple who run the place are kind.
Pros: Food, atmosphere
Cons; slightly more expensive, not great service
Overall score: 4.2 stars
Snow Lion Cafe & Restaurant
Location: Jogibara road in Mcleod Ganj, just about 60 metres from main square
Pros: Very good food, reasonable prices. Relatively comfortable atmosphere
Cons: sometimes can be a little hard to find a table. Servers don’t seem to pay very good attention when trying to flag them down. Always looking at their phones.
Overall score: 4.6 stars
Lhamo’s Croissant
Baked goods are fantastic, with tons of gluten-free and sugar free amazing cakes and so on. The croissants are the best in the region. Run by a nice Tibetan family. Three floors of seating.
Food is surprisingly really good, though can be a little on the pricey side. Nice atmosphere
Overall score: 4.9 stars
Tibet Kitchen
Pros: good food, nice atmosphere, attentive service. A little more fancy/upscale atmosphere compared to most restaurants in the area
Cons: a little bit more expensive than some others, since the serving sizes seem to be on the small side.
Located directly in the main square, but not too noisy so long as you are inside. Good food and nice atmosphere inside, attentive service. Strangely enough, they are very reluctant to make you an omelette or boiled eggs, however.
Overall score: 4.4 stars
Bhagsu
Chilly Beans
Strange name for a restaurant, but best food in Bhagsu bar none. Food is excellent, good sized servings, and all prepared with care. Excellent vegetarian food available. Service is friendly, and atmosphere is nice. This restaurant is the class of Bhagsu.
As with many Bhagsu restaurants, tends to be closed in the off-season (November to January/February)
Overall score: 5 stars
Trimurti Garden and Cafe
A bit hard to find, and you have to walk through the woods to get there. But one of the most beautiful hidden gems between Bhagsu and Dharamkot.
Food is excellent, and outdoor garden is beautiful.
Ayurvedic food also available, and many ayurvedic students and yoga students can be found eating here when courses are on.
Open all year round.
Overall score: 5 stars
Raku’s Place
Music is hit or miss, but atmosphere is nice, and food is fairly good. One of the few Bhagsu restaurants that seems to stay open all winter.
Overall score: 4.2 stars
Old German Bakery
Food is good and plenty of seating and space. Nothing too amazing, but decently good food. For a place called “German Bakery,” however, the pastries and baked goods are surprisingly fairly bad. You can buy a much better cinnamon roll at Krishna’s shop a bit farther up the hill.
Overall score: 4.2 stars
Silent Cedars 