Malavika Bhattacharya, author of our official Himachal Pradesh digital nomad guide shares her expert picks for the region's best restaurants and bars, plus cafes and coworking spaces.

The Best Restaurants in Himachal Pradesh for Digital Nomads

Fat Plate, Manali: With quaint cottage set in a garden, this restaurant serves global classics featuring homegrown ingredients, plus homemade jams and breads.

Café 1947, Manali: This buzzy Italian restaurant with frequent live music has a beautiful al fresco section overlooking the river.

Chopsticks, Manali: Eat Tibetan-style noodles, dumplings, and delicious stir-fry in a colorful setting and old-timey favorite.

Common Ground Café, McLeodganj: Find traditional Tibetan and Chinese dishes in a bright setting with a laid-back, multicultural vibe.

Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen, McLeodganj: This is an iconic Italian restaurant with hearty pastas and pizzas, offering cozy window tables with mountain views.

Tibet Kitchen, McLeodganj: With rustic brick-and-wood interiors, Tibet Kitchen is a cozy stop for hot noodle soups and spicy Bhutanese dishes. 

Avva’s Café, Bir: For homestyle flavors of South India in the mountains of the north, you can eat here with the most serene views of rolling fields and a paragliding landing site. 

The Terrace at Araiya, Palampur: The al fresco restaurant of this upscale hotel specializes in regional Kangri cuisine, offering views of the pool and the Dhauldhar peaks.

Café Sol, Shimla: When you can’t decide what to eat, head to this cheery space that offers up a bit of everything on its menu: Mexican, Italian, Lebanese–plus cocktails. 

Himachal Rasoi, Shimla: A cozy, wood-lined space where you can sample a hard-to-come-by, authentic Himachali dham meal with multiple curries and lentils.

The Best Bars in Himachal Pradesh for Digital Nomads

The Lazy Dog, Manali: Sip on beer and wine under the mountain sun at this bar with live music, set on a rocky ledge above a Himalayan river.

Johnson’s Lodge, Manali: This old-timey haunt offers a long cocktail list and a fireplace in the winter, especially buzzy on weekends.

The Corner House Restaurant & Bar, Manali: You’ll find a cozy wood-lined spot overlooking a market street, good for a relaxed beer with pizzas and burgers.

McLlo Beer Bar & Restaurant, McLeodganj: An old-fashioned haunt right on the Main Square, it’s most popular for a beer on the rooftop with mountain views.

The Cliff, Dharamshala: With panoramic views of the city and the Dhauladhar Mountains, this relaxed rooftop bar is perfect for sunset drinks.

House of Tibet, McLeodganj: This traditionally-decorated spot popular for Tibetan food and a drinks list acquires a distinct bar-like vibe on the weekends when there’s often live music.

18Sixty @ Infinitea, Palampur:  With leather seats and wood-paneled interiors, this old-world bar set in an 1800s tea estate is a quiet spot to wind down with after-dinner drinks.

Eighteen71 Cookhouse & Bar, Shimla: Unwind with classic cocktails and a diverse menu of eats at this bar with live retro music.

Cavalry Bar at Wildflower Hall, Shimla: For a taste of splendor, sip on single malts and cocktails by the fireplace at this upscale, wood-lined hotel bar. 

The Brew Estate, Shimla: This is a lively brewpub with German-style beers, plus bar food and burgers in industrial-chic interiors.

The Best Cafes for Digital Nomads in Himachal Pradesh

Rocky’s Café, Manali: With an outdoor terrace with mountain views, warm wood interiors, good WiFi, and a diverse menu, it has all the ingredients of a perfect workspace.

Drifter’s Café, Manali: If you’re looking for a community, this welcoming spot with good food and coffee is always packed with long-term travelers.

The Other Space, Dharamshala: The minimalist design, quiet, art-filled interiors, and all-day cafe fare make this an ideal work spot for the day.

Café Simla Times, Shimla: With both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a diverse menu with soups, salads, and solid meals, this is a great space to work from for an afternoon.

Cliffy’s Café, Palampur: This quiet cottage tucked into a forest, with book-lined shelves and a steady supply of fresh bakes is the perfect spot to plug in for the day.

The Coworking Spaces in Himachal Pradesh for Digital Nomads

Young Monk, Manali: This space has great food, high-speed WiFi, and a quiet workspace with windows looking into the mountains.

Alt Life, Manali: Set amidst apple orchards and the Beas River, this lively coworking space provides access to a cafe and a community of remote workers. 

Ghoomakad, Dharamshala: You’ll have no distractions and all the modern work facilities you need at this traditionally-built cottage surrounded by nature in the Kangra Valley.

The Void, Dharamshala: At the foot of the Dhauldhar mountains, this dedicated workspace attached to a café hosts frequent live events.

Barefoot Bir, Bir: Plug in indoors in a quiet common area with food and WiFi, or outdoors with views of the mountains at paragliding hotspot Bir.