Best Cafés & Restaurants in Nainital: Real Food, Real People, Real Vibes
Best Cafés and Restaurants in Nainital isn’t just a headline – it’s exactly how most people explore this lake town. If you’ve spent even a day in Nainital, you know this already – the lake isn’t the only thing people come back for. The food here hits different. Maybe it’s the altitude, maybe it’s the charm of eating something warm while a chill breeze slides across the hills… or maybe it’s just that Nainital cafés have character. Not the curated, “Instagram-perfect” character – the real kind. Wood-paneled rooms, old-school ovens, families who’ve been running the same shop for decades, and tiny windows that look straight into the valley.
And honestly, that’s the fun part. You’ll walk around thinking you’re just grabbing a quick coffee… and suddenly you’re in a 70-year-old bakery with stories tucked in the walls.
Here’s a handpicked list of Nainital’s cafés, bakeries, restaurants, street stalls and absolute hidden gems – the ones worth going out of your way for.
1. Café Lakeside – For That Classic Lake-Front Cup
Location: Mall Road (right above the lake)
Vibe: Bright mornings, breezy afternoons, golden-hour views.
If you want that textbook “sit by the lake with a hot coffee” moment, don’t even overthink it – go to Café LakeSide. It’s not fancy, but it’s honest: clean tables, big windows, and a view you’ll end up staring at more than your plate.
What to try:
Hazelnut cappuccino
Hot chocolate (underrated in this weather)
Grilled sandwiches
Fresh bakes that vanish early on weekends
Why it’s worth it:
Sit near a window, especially on slightly cold evenings. Watching the lake glow as the lights turn on across Mallital? Trust me — you’ll remember that feeling later, not the coffee.
Local tip: Morning sun hits the tables beautifully around 10 AM – great photos, warm light.
2. Sakley’s Restaurant & Pastry Shop – Nostalgia Served Warm
Location: Mallital
Vibe: Old-school bakery with mountain-town charm.
Sakley’s is one of the oldest names in Nainital (est. 1944), and you do feel that vintage café vibe when you walk in — wooden walls, old décor, warm pastry smell.
But let’s be honest: it’s not the absolute best café in Nainital, and recent reviews reflect that.
What’s actually good here
Blueberry cheesecake – still one of their strongest items.
Cinnamon rolls – consistently better reviewed than many other pastries.
Warm, cozy atmosphere – especially on rainy or winter afternoons.
What’s not great
Full meals (pizzas/pastas) can be inconsistent.
Coffee is average compared to newer cafés in Nainital.
Crowds + slow service during peak times.
Why it’s still worth a stop
Sakley’s works best as a dessert-stop or nostalgia-stop, not as your main dining choice.
If you want the “classic Nainital café” experience your parents probably enjoyed – this is that place.
Local tip
Go for pastries only, and go before evening – things sell out faster than you expect.
3. Café Chica – Colonial Charm + Slow Breakfasts
Location: Palla Mangoli
Vibe: Slow, quiet, lived-in. Perfect for a long brunch.
This place used to be a 140-year-old colonial bungalow and still carries that aura – sunlight on old stone, wooden verandas, a loose sense of calm.
What to try:
English breakfast
Croissants (freshly baked)
Cappuccino or flat white
Why it’s worth it:
If you want to escape the Mall Road energy, this café feels like a secret world. It’s 10-15 minutes away but you’ll be thankful for that distance.
Local tip: The garden seating feels magical during early mornings.
4. The Cask Café & Bar – Modern, Warm, and Always Busy for a Reason
Location: Sukhatal, Mallital
Vibe: Warm lights, big portions, relaxed but modern.
Cask is where you go when you want a little more than “just coffee.” The ambiance is surprisingly good for a hill town – long wooden tables, soft yellow lights.
What to try:
Grilled herb paneer
Thin-crust pizza
Coffee sourced from Indian estates
Hot soups (excellent in winter)
Why it’s worth it:
It’s reliable. Day or night, solo or with friends, you won’t walk out disappointed.
Local tip: Ask them for their “special cappuccino” – the foam holds better in Nainital’s cold.
5. Tadka Restaurant – Local Favourite, No Pretence
Location: Mall Road
Vibe: Busy, fast-moving, flavour-focused.
If you want proper food – not café snacks – this is one of the best local picks. It’s not glamorous, but almost every plate that comes out is solid.
What to try:
Dum biryani
Butter chicken
Veg thali
Chinese-Indian noodles (surprisingly good)
Why it’s worth it:
It’s honest Indian food. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you crave after all the travelling around.
Local tip: Go by 7 PM. After 8 PM the crowd balloons.
6. Luckie’s Café & Bakery – A Small Dessert Stop Loved by Regulars
Location: Near Boat House Club
Vibe: Simple, cozy, great for desserts.
Most tourists don’t even notice this one. But people who stay longer end up here a lot.
What to try:
Blueberry muffin
Honey latte
Carrot cake
Why it’s worth it:
It’s genuinely warm inside – the vibe, the staff, the smell of fresh bakes. Perfect for a slow evening.
Local tip: Get a seat that faces the lake’s north edge – beautiful lights after dusk.
7. Zooby’s Kitchen – Reliable, Good Portions, Great for Groups
Location: Near Boat House Club
Vibe: Family-friendly, lively, good for evenings.
This is the place people go when they don’t want to experiment. It’s dependable and has something for everyone.
What to try:
Paneer lababdar
Chicken handi
Kebabs
Momos (touristy but good)
Why it’s worth it:
If you’re traveling with multiple people and no one can decide what they want – Zooby’s is the safe bet.
Local tip: Sit on the upper level for better crowd and noise control.
8. Simz Café (Mallital) – High Rated, Highly Snackable
Location: Mallital
Vibe: Bright, cozy, youthful.
Good for quick coffee, snacks, and conversations. Strong online reviews and often missed in bigger lists.
What to try:
Chicken burger
Waffles
Fries & cold coffee combo
Why it’s worth it:
It’s simple and convenient – you pop in, order something comforting, and continue your walk.
Local tip: Their waffles are better than most cafés on Mall Road.
9. Giannis Pure Veg Restaurant (Mallital)
If you’re craving something comforting, simple, and fresh, this is where you go.
Gianni’s doesn’t try to be fancy – it’s the kind of restaurant that feels familiar the moment you sit down.
What Makes It Special
Always full of families – a sign the food is consistent.
Fast service even on busy evenings.
Pure veg menu but surprisingly flavourful.
What to Try
Chole bhature (light, fluffy, not too oily).
Dal makhani + tandoori roti for dinner.
Hot gulab jamun if you’re visiting in cold weather.
Why It Fits Your Blog
It’s not Instagrammable, but it’s solid, affordable, and dependable — a place travellers go back to.
10. Embassy Restaurant (Mallital Market)
A classic. The kind of place your parents might have visited 20 years ago and it still looks the same – in a charming way.
Why People Love It
- Quick service, old-school hospitality.
- Very reliable if you want Indian + Chinese dishes.
- Prices feel fair even in peak season.
What to Try
- Veg sizzler (their plate comes with extra sauce, not dry).
- Spring rolls (crispy, full, not just cabbage).
- Tomato soup – a proper Nainital classic on cold nights.
Why Add It
It’s an “old Nainital” restaurant, not trend-driven – gives variety to your café-heavy list.
11. Sherab Tibetan Food Stall (Near Tibetan Market)
Now we’re getting into actual local-loved spots tourists usually walk past.
Why It’s Special
Tiny shop, big flavours.
Locals swear by their noodle soup and fried momos.
Prices are very reasonable.
What to Try
Thukpa with extra chilli oil.
Veg + chicken momos made fresh (you can see them filling the wrappers).
Tibetan butter tea if you want the real deal.
Personal Note
If you’re exploring the Tibetan Market anyway, this is the perfect fuel stop.
12. Sonam’s Momos (Mallital Side)
One of the most spoken-about momo places in town. Small, often crowded, and totally worth the wait.
Why It’s Famous
Momos that taste like real mountain-style momos – not the bland city versions.
Juicy fillings, thin wrappers, smoky chutney.
Must Try
Chicken fried momos, the crispiest in town.
Paneer steamed momos if you prefer veg.
Veg thukpa – simple and comforting.
Local Tip
Go before 6 pm – they sell out fast.
13. Machan Restaurant (Mall Road)
This one constantly shows up in the “top restaurants in Nainital” list because it’s dependable.
Why It’s Popular
Good family-style restaurant.
Balanced menu: Chinese, North Indian, snacks.
Fast service even on weekends.
Top Dishes
Kadhai paneer
Chicken hakka noodles
Veg fried rice + Manchurian combo
For Your Blog
If someone is travelling with family and doesn’t want surprises – Machan is the safe, good choice.
14. Pahadi Organic Café (Bhowali Road – Offbeat)
A hidden gem many tourists never see because it’s slightly away from the main lake.
Why It’s Worth Going
Organic food sourced from nearby farms.
Simple pahadi flavours – the closest you’ll get to “authentic home-style Uttarakhand meals” without entering someone’s home.
Quiet, peaceful surroundings.
Things to Try
Madua (ragi) roti
Bhatt ki dal (black soybean dal)
Gahat (kulthi) soup
Herbal tea with local leaves
Personal Note
If you want one meal that feels rooted in the actual hills, not tourist menus – go here.
15. Nainital Local Sweet Shops (Bonus: Hidden Gems)
A food blog isn’t complete without mentioning the local sweet stores that locals swear by.
Best Picks
Mamu’s Mithai Shop → Try the bal mithai (sticky, chocolatey, coated with sugar balls).
Sardar Sweets, Tallital → Hot jalebi in the evening, always fresh.
Why Include
Because these tiny sweet shops sometimes leave a longer memory than cafés.
16. Chai Stalls Along Thandi Sadak (Underrated)
Not cafés – but ask anyone from Nainital, and they’ll tell you the best tea moments happen here.
Why It Matters
Quiet walking path, no vehicles.
Small tin kettles, steaming cups, lake on one side, forest on the other.
The most “Nainital feeling” you can bottle.
Order This
Lemon tea
Gur wali chai in winters
Samosa from the vendor near the bend
Personal Note
This is where conversations happen – the slow ones. The ones you remember.
End Notes From Someone Who’s Walked These Cafés More Than Once
If you let it, Nainital has a way of slowing you down – especially when you’re seated at a warm café table with a view outside and something good on your plate. None of these places are fancy in a show-off way. They’re familiar, comforting, and the kind of spots where you end up staying longer than you planned.
Maybe it’s the smell of fresh cake from an old bakery oven, maybe it’s the lake sitting quietly outside the window, or maybe it’s just the warmth of a simple meal in cold mountain air – but these are the moments that stick. The small things. The slow things. The things you don’t forget when you go back down to the plains.
So explore a little, eat slowly, talk to the café owners, ask what they make fresh that day… and let Nainital feed you in more ways than one.