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All you need to know about the most cosy, comfortable and chic lake-side restaurants in North India
If you’re looking for the most delightful restaurants in India for a lakeside meal, we've got just the spot/s for you! Undoubtedly, a lakeside restaurant is the perfect setting for that special evening or a hearty afternoon meal. The restaurant overlooks a beautiful lake, and the view is simply stunning at sunset. Nestled amidst picturesque landscapes, these diners offer not just delectable meals, but an immersive experience, inviting food patrols to savour each bite while being serenaded by nature’s symphony.
There’s a wide range of options to choose from, so I’m sure you’ll find something you love in this article. From the shores of Nainital’s pristine lake to the enchanting Dal Lake in Srinagar, each location has its own charm.
Below, I share my personal anecdotes and culinary revelations as I guide you through the diverse food tapestry that North India’s lakeside restaurants offer. You can expect a sensory journey as we explore together, the fusion of traditional flavours and modern gastronomy, with the background music of shimmering waters and distant calls of migrating birds.
Quick traveller trip: I would highly recommend reservations, as these restaurants are usually the top-picks for all unconventional set-up lovers who book their table well in advance.
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You can enjoy your breakfast, lunch, and dinner under the shade of the magnificent Chinar trees. You can sip on a glass of warm Kahwa tea during a pleasant Srinagar evening, and soak in the gorgeousness of this place. The aura of The Chinar is so pleasant, calming, and warm that it is bound to fill your heart with joy.
Two places share the spot here, for Nainital’s most charming lake-side eateries. The first is Cafe LakeSide, a cosy yet uber chic cafe on the mall road overlooking the Nainital Lake.This is one of the best restaurants in Nainital, that’s bound to take anybody and everybody's breath away. What makes it a must-visit place? Firstly, dining in the presence of a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains in front of your eyes is a sight to behold. Secondly, you will find Indian, Continental, and Italian food at this restaurant. You can satisfy your taste buds with a well-prepared fried fish, or indulge in their delicious momos, and butter chicken. This restaurant is also known for its delicious waffles, pancakes, and biscuits. Your lunch will taste better with great cold coffee, hot chocolate, or rose tea, and I can promise you will return to this beautiful place.
TThe next popular restaurant is Boat House Club which is quite famous for the filming of several Bollywood romantic date sequences. You will undergo a feeling as though you have been transferred away from the craziness of everyday life as you take in the spectacular view of the lake and the gorgeous mountains. This place exudes an air that is calming and relaxing to the senses. In addition, the eatery is unrivalled when it comes to serving high tea and provides lip-smacking pastries.
Udaipur is regarded as one of the most romantic cities in India. Its lakes and palaces provide an evocative backdrop for a meal, and you won't have to look far to find a restaurant with a mesmerizing vista. The best lakeside restaurant upon Lake Pichola in this gorgeous city would undoubtedly be Ambrai at Amet Haveli.
Tourists and locals alike flock to Ambrai Ghat at sunset for the spectacular panorama of Lake Pichola and the City Palace. Ambrai, located inside Hotel Amet Haveli, is perfectly positioned as the only lakeside restaurant in the area. The emphasis is on Indian cuisine, although the menu does include some Continental dishes. The food isn't exceptional—it's the view that's the main draw. Aim to book a couple of days in advance during peak season if you want a table for dinner. Otherwise, a drink from the bar may have to suffice.
This small and unconventional lake hidden in 'Land of the Gods’, Uttarakhand offers several cute cafe options overlooking the lake, but my personal favourite is Pine Wood Restaurant, located within Hotel Harshikar. The café veranda is cosy and provides the perfect spot for a place where all good conversations begin. The ambience in and around the restaurant gives you the warmth to a peaceful and delicious meal. The chef is well known to make spicy food that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. The restaurant serves a multi-cuisine menu which not only includes dishes from the Indian culture but also serves a variety of choices from different parts of the world.
There’s a tie for my favourite lake-side restaurants near Pangong Lake too! Located right in front of the famous ‘3 Idiots’ spot, the classic wooden cottage restaurant on Changla is one of the best options with a mesmerizing view of the Pangong Tso. The multi-cuisine restaurant offers pure vegetarian food including Indian, Chinese and continental dishes. They also offer a host of other facilities including a common dining area that can house 20 people, individual television sets with cable in each room, and a solar heating system to be as eco-sustainable as they can be. A view of the lake on one side and snowcapped high Himalayan peaks on the other makes it one of the top hotels at Pangong Lake.
Next, the Hermitage at Pangong is a glance into heaven’s own abode. One of the few luxury hotels in Pangong Lake, the Hermitage lies right at the feet of the mighty majestic Himalayas. Trying to incorporate the nomadic lifestyle as far as possible, the Hermitage serves traditional home cooked Ladakhi meals with unique flavours to satiate your taste buds. All meals at this unique resort are made with locally produced vegetables from nearby villages. Their promise to treat their guests with nature’s own charm is truly unlike any other hotel located in the vicinity of the beautiful Pangong Lake. With stunning vistas of high grasslands, skyrocketing Himalayas, and the pristine Lake, this is one of the must visit Pangong Lake hotels.
I have observed two things during my gastronomic adventure to find the best lake side restaurants in Northern India. Firstly, culinary innovation takes centre stage in most of these places, as they often showcase a remarkable fusion of traditional recipes with innovative techniques in the dishes they serve. This innovation can be seen in the restaurants’ unique presentations and creative reinterpretations of classic recipes. For example, the food at Udaipur’s Pichola Lake offered a modern twist on a Rajasthani classic pushing culinary boundaries here.
If you’re an extrovert such as me, you can also note the obvious influence of local settings in every dish, as most of these chefs draw inspiration from the bounties of the region. I could see this evidently in the aromatic spices of the Kashmiri cuisine echoing across the Dal Lake and the rustic flavours of the hills complementing the dining experience near Bhimtal.
In this gastronomy odyssey, the lakeside restaurants of North India not only satisfy the taste palate, but also offer a feast for the eyes and soul. The marriage of exquisite flavours and breathtaking sceneries transform each dining experience into a vivid memory etched against the canvas of these enchanting lakeshores. I hope the flavours of this experiential food blog linger long with you, and the landscapes stay vividly etched in your memory, beckoning a visit to the shores where food and nature waltz in a harmonious celebration.
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