The busy town of McLeod Ganj sees a lot of visitors all year round, especially in the summers. Its chilled-out vibe provided a relaxed vacation away from the city chaos. It is another matter that the place is packed to the rafters on weekends and the small town feel has been irrevocably lost.
McLeod Ganj can be quite a foodie's paradise with a number of eateries that stand out. In fact, some of them are so good that they earn themselves patrons who visit even years later. The place is crowded with a number of cafes, each with its own distinct style. Freshly baked bread, delicious sandwiches and excellent cakes are just some of the mouth watering items on offer, which will keep you busy throughout the day. It is better to skip the hotel food and pay a visit to the various eateries, which will satisfy your taste buds and leave you craving for more. There were so many specials to savour in McLeod that I sampled a small quantity from each cafe/restaurant, rather than having huge portions from one single place. Just keep walking and munching on the go!
Illiterati Cafe - A place run by a charming Belgian, there are more than a couple of reasons you need to visit this place. The view from here is spectacular and if you'd like to indulge in some reading, they offer books! The place is famous for its coffee, Italian food, as well as burgers.
Tibet Kitchen - A must when you visit McLeod Ganj! This is a very popular place and the reason for that is the authentic Tibetan cuisine they offer. From momos to the perfectly made thukpa, this place provides you with a good variety.
McLlo Cafe - A cafe famous for being open late into the night, it is almost always full of travelers from all around the world. The chef can cook up a variety of dishes from different parts of the world. Conversations with fellow travelers and some cool music adds to the appeal.
Peace Cafe - It is a nice and quiet place. It seems small from the front, but there’s a place in the back with tables and a wonderful view of the city and mountains. I would recommend if you just want a nice place to drink some coffee and read a nice book.
Dudu Falafel - Don’t let the looks of the place deceive you. The falafels are delicious and will leave you craving for more. Â
Lung Ta Restaurant - The vegetarian menu here has noodles, miso soup, sushi, tempura (deep fried vegetables), tofu steak, sushi roll and perhaps the best donuts in the town. Their everyday specials are worth calling ‘specials’ and so is the gorgeous view from the terrace.
Carpe Diem - Sitting on the rooftop of this cafe on a chilly evening while sipping your drink is what perfection feels like. Their extensive menu which offers everything from Indian, Italian, Chines to Mexican and Thai. The tacos and Nutella crepes at this place are to die for.
Shiva Cafe - It is quite famous and the word of mouth publicity has ensured that most travelers want to be right here simply for the hippie atmosphere. The ambiance is super chilled out and the view is breathtaking. Most people visit this place for the serenity it has to offer.
There are many other places to try out like the Chocolate Log, Coffee Talks, Moonpeak Espresso, Woeser Bakery, Mandala Coffee Shop, Seed Cafe etc. Each place invokes a religious following amongst the locals and visitors, alike.
During my stay in McLeod, some of the items I savored were the chole burger (local specialty), coffee walnut cake, carrot cake, yak cheese slices and muffins, banana walnut pie, apple pie, beetroot cake, tea cake, cheese spinach momos, thenthuk and thupka, falafel and hummus, lip smacking chocolate cake, magic bars & Lhasa cookies, hot pancakes with a generous helping of honey, muesli with fresh fruits and various kinds of Pasta with Tibetan bread - the list seems endless! Visitors to McLeod Ganj know that the drink of choice in this mountain town is the honey-lemon-ginger. However, the cold coffee and the good old masala tea are not too bad either.
It is better to forget your diet plans for a while while visiting McLeod and it was just as well that I was coming from my backpacking trip in Ladakh. I was always hungry for more and my digestive system was working overtime, as I stuffed the various delicacies with glee! After a while, it becomes tough to decide which offering of McLeod is better, the views of the valley or their food, which leaves you craving for more!