Where to Eat in Nainital
Most of Nainital's restaurants line the Mall Road, facing the lake. The long-running names are the safe choice in the busy months, when newer places stretch to cope.
3 places
Mall Road
1 place
Mallital
Not sure what to order? The Nainital food guide starts from the dishes — what each one is, when to eat it, and which of these kitchens is known for it.
On the Mall Road
Embassy is one of the old dining rooms on the Mall, with a long menu and the feel of an earlier hill station. It is a steady choice for a family meal after a boat ride. Machan, also on the Mall, serves a broad menu that includes a few Kumaoni dishes; ask for the aloo ke gutke or bhatt ki churkani if they are on that day. Sakley's is a bakery and restaurant best known for its cakes, pastries and continental plates, and it is a good stop for tea on a cold afternoon.
In Mallital
Chandni Chowk, in the Mallital bazaar, is a vegetarian restaurant for North Indian food and thalis. It is a short walk from the Naina Devi Temple and the Flats, which makes it a sensible lunch stop after the temple.
When to eat
In May, June and on long weekends, the Mall's restaurants fill up from about seven in the evening. Eat a little early, or book ahead if the restaurant takes bookings. Lunch is usually quieter than dinner. In the monsoon and in deep winter, some places cut their hours, so check before you walk the length of the Mall.
Kumaoni food on the menu
Hill dishes are not always on the main menu. Ask for them, and expect them more often at lunch. For what each dish is, see the Nainital food guide.
A practical note
The Mall is a long walk from end to end. Choose a place near where you will be, whether that is Mallital by the temple or the Tallital end by the bus stand.
Questions
Nainital — FAQ
Where should I eat in Nainital?
4 places are listed here, across 2 areas. Each entry says what that kitchen is known for rather than reprinting its menu, so pick by the dish you want and the area you'll be in.
Are there good vegetarian restaurants in Nainital?
Yes — 1 of the places listed is pure vegetarian, and the food-type badge on every card tells you before you set out.
What should I order in Nainital?
Start from the dishes rather than the restaurants — the Nainital food guide covers what each dish is and when to eat it, then links to the places that do it well.
Do Mall Road restaurants in Nainital need a booking?
Not usually, but on peak-season weekends the better-known ones have queues at dinner. Going before 7 pm avoids most of the wait.
Which Nainital restaurants serve Kumaoni food?
Machan and Chandni Chowk are listed for Kumaoni dishes. Menus change, so ask for bhatt ki churkani or aloo ke gutke by name.
Is there somewhere near Naina Devi Temple to eat?
Yes. Chandni Chowk in Mallital is a few minutes' walk away, and Embassy is at the Mallital end of the Mall.