Best Food in Shimla — A Complete Foodie's Guide

Shimla Food Guide: From Colonial Bakeries to Himalayan Comfort Food

Shimla, the former summer capital of British India, has a food scene as layered as its history. At 2,205m in the Shivalik foothills, the Queen of Hills offers everything from 100-year-old bakeries to modern fusion cafes, all set against the backdrop of deodar forests and Tudor-style architecture.

Madra — The Celebration Dish

Every Shimla kitchen has its own madra recipe — a rich chickpea or rajma preparation in a yogurt-based gravy spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, and stone flower (dagad phool). Madra is the centerpiece of dham, the elaborate Himachali feast served on special occasions. In Shimla, you'll find madra at every thali restaurant on Mall Road, but the best versions come from the older establishments in Lakkar Bazaar.

Tudor Bake House Pastries

Shimla's colonial legacy lives on in its bakeries. The Baljees restaurant, established in 1934, still serves their legendary cream rolls and puff pastries using recipes that haven't changed in decades. The Scandal Point Cafe near Christ Church offers walnut cake and apple strudel that would feel at home in a British tea room.

Tudkiya Bhath — Mountain Rice Pilaf

This aromatic rice dish cooked with split lentils, onions, and a tempering of mountain spices is Shimla's everyday comfort food. Unlike the rich biryanis of the plains, tudkiya bhath is nutritious, affordable, and warming — exactly what you need at 2,200m. Find it at any local dhaba in the lower bazaar.

Himachali Dham

The traditional feast of Himachal Pradesh, dham is a multi-course meal served on leaf plates during festivals and weddings. In Shimla, several restaurants now serve dham-style thalis: rice, madra, dal, rajma, kadhi, meetha (sweet), and papad — an edible encyclopedia of Himachali flavors. Ashiana and Himachali Rasoi on Mall Road do excellent versions.

Wake & Bake Cafe

Located in Shimla's hippest neighborhood near Scandal Point, this cafe has become a landmark for travelers. Their sourdough sandwiches, cold-brew coffee, and all-day breakfasts are excellent. But it's the mountain views from the terrace — Christ Church steeple against a backdrop of snow peaks — that elevate the experience.

Shimla's Street Food

The Ridge and Mall Road come alive in the evening with street food vendors. Try aloo tikki chaat (crispy potato patties with chutneys), momos (both steamed and fried), and the locally famous Shimla mirch pakora — sliced Shimla peppers (capsicum) dipped in gram flour batter and deep fried.

*Best food street: The lane from Scandal Point down to the Lower Bazaar. Start with tandoori momos at the top, walk through the chaat vendors, and finish with a hot cup of masala chai at the bottom — a culinary descending tour of Shimla.*