Things to do in Manali
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Pizza Olive
The aromas wafting from the pizza oven give this place an authentic Italian feel and the pizzas and pasta dishes don’t disappoint. You can eat indoors or out in the garden.
reviewed
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Dylan’s Toasted & Roasted
Manali’s mellowest hang-out, this hole-in-the-wall cabin-style coffeeshop in Old Manali serves the best espresso coffee in town, cinnamon tea, hearty breakfasts, garlic cheese toast and wicked desserts like chocolate-chip cookies and ‘Hello to the Queen’. DVD movies are shown in an adjoining room.
reviewed
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Chopsticks
The most popular traveller choice along the Mall in Manali town, this intimate Tibetan-Chinese-Japanese place is always busy. Naturally there are Indian dishes here, too, along with local trout. Cold beers and fruit wines are also served. Arrive early to secure a table in the evening.
reviewed
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Tibet Kitchen
On the road to the Club House, this is a decent Tibetan and Chinese place with the feel of a real restaurant.
reviewed
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Bhuttico
Shawls are sold all over Manali. A good place to start is at the cooperative Bhuttico which was established in 1944 by a group of village women. It charges fixed prices, so it’s a good place to gauge price and quality. Expect to pay upwards of Rs300 for lambswool, from Rs1000 for angora, from Rs3000 for pashmina and Rs6500 for the exquisitely embroidered shawls worn by village women. It has another store located in Manu Market.
reviewed
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Khyber
Upstairs by the main junction, this darkened bar and restaurant is central Manali’s best place for a cold beer or bottle of fruit wine or cider. The food is also good – the speciality is meat-heavy Punjabi and Afghani cuisine but there’s also Chinese, continental, and tandoori trout. Drinks are reasonably priced, and the booths are a good place to huddle.
reviewed
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Il Forno
Perched on a hillside near Hadimba Temple, Il Forno is a genuine Italian restaurant in a superb Himachal stone and timber building. The wood-fired pizzas, calzone, lasagne and pasta dishes are prepared by a Veronese chef and you can enjoy an espresso or beer with wonderful valley views from the garden terrace.
reviewed
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Johnson’s Cafe
The restaurant at Johnson Hotel is one of the best in town for European food, with dishes like lamb and mint gravy, smoked chicken, and fig and apple crumble. The restaurant-bar is cosy, but on warm evenings or sunny afternoons, the garden terrace is the place to be.
reviewed
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Adventure Sports Centre
This adventure sports centre has its headquarters at Aleo, 3km south of Manali on the east bank of the Beas. A huge range of activities can be arranged, from rafting and treks to skiing and mountaineering courses – see the website for details.
reviewed
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Gelukpa Cultural Society Gompa
The more-traditional Gelukpa Cultural Society Gompa has an atmospheric prayer room crammed with statues of bodhisattvas (enlightened beings), revered lamas and Buddhist deities. There’s also a small workshop producing Tibetan carpets.
reviewed
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Mayur
Locals rate Mayur highly for its well-prepared North and South Indian specialities. Downstairs is traditional Indian, while the contemporary upstairs bistro serves dishes such as croquettes, chicken stroganoff and, oddly, Marmite toast.
reviewed
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Peace Cafe
This cosy 1st-floor Tibetan-run restaurant near the post office, serves possibly Manali’s biggest range of global food, from momos to Japanese noodles, and local river trout to Hong Kong lamb. Friendly and efficient service.
reviewed
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Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art
Opposite Hadimba Temple, the interesting Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art has religious relics, household objects, instruments, weapons, architectural woodcarvings and scale models of Himachal temples.
reviewed
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Nature Park
A large grove of deodars (cedars) on the banks of the Beas has been set aside as a nature park, with a small aviary of Himalayan birds, including the monal pheasant, Himachal’s state bird.
reviewed
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Nature Reserve
A large grove of deodars (cedars) on the banks of the Beas has been set aside as a Nature Reserve, with a small aviary of Himalayan birds, including the monal pheasant, Himachal's state bird.
reviewed
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Tibet Art Collections
Manali is crammed with souvenir shops selling souvenirs from Himachal, Tibet and Ladakh - most are open from 10:00 to 19:00. Tibet Art Collections probably has the best choice.
reviewed
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Original Sher-e-Punjab
A few doors down from its Kwality relative, this place fills the gap with meaty dishes from the Punjab. It's a bit less fast-foody and everything is freshly made.
reviewed
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Manali Sweets
Manali’s favourite dhaba, serving Indian sticky sweets, hot chai , samosas and hot veg snacks from early morning to late at night.
reviewed
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Him-Anchal Taxi Operators Union
The Him-Anchal Taxi Operators Union has fixed-price tours, including Rohtang La (Rs1200), Solang Nullah (Rs600) and Naggar (Rs600).
reviewed
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Cafe Amigos
This reliable little traveller cafe does a good line of enchiladas, burritos and nachos, as well Tibetan, Chinese and pizzas. Good desserts, too.
reviewed
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Himalayan Nyinmapa Buddhist Temple
The Himalayan Nyinmapa Buddhist Temple contains a two-storey statue of Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha.
reviewed
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Veer Restaurant
Located at Veer Guest House, this chilled restaurant has a big-screen TV, a library and cushions on the floor.
reviewed
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HimCoop
HimCoop sells a wide range of locally produced organic juices, jams, dried fruit and pickles.
reviewed
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Tibet Emporium
The Tibet Emporium stocks Tibetan knick-knacks and funky T-shirts with Tibetan messages.
reviewed
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Mom's Kitchen
The name says it all - this place serves wholesome Indian and continental food with the taste of home.
reviewed
