Places Included
- The Chail Palace Restaurant
- Mosaic- Ekant Retreat
- Jungle Me Mangal
- Maple Restaurant
- Tarikha-E-Jharokha
After being stuck at home for almost two years now, it is time to make the most of your long weekends. Going on stay-cations and short trips is the new way to relax and rejuvenate before you get back to work on Monday. Spending time with friends and family and making memories of a lifetime is what you should be doing right now, with precautions of course. If you’re living in and around Delhi, you cannot be sitting back home and cribbing about nowhere to go. Pretty close to Himachal Pradesh, you literally have the mountains a drive away and also some delicious food. Did you know that each region of Himachal is home to a plethora of hill stations and scenic places that help you leave all your worries behind, giving you pahadi tastes of a lifetime?
Since it is a short trip, you wouldn’t want to go straight ten-hours to Manali and it makes sense. Offbeat and secluded hilly terrains that offer peace and solace at once are places that you should keep an eye open for, Chail being one of them. Usually, people either drive straight to Shimla and spend a day in the snow-capped Kufri or take a train till Kalka and a cab till Shimla from there. On the way, you often tend to miss out on this beauty called Chail. A quaint and peaceful remote area located amidst deodar trees in the Solan district, it is away from the hustle-bustle of city life. It isn’t flocked by tourists all throughout the year so you can be rest assured to find your inner self. Enjoy the scenic views and the cool breeze with birds chirping, right from morning to late afternoon with hot plates of maggi and chai by your side.
There’s isn’t much for sightseeing, with only the Chail Palace and a few temples around. However, you can savour good food while soaking in the winds that brush past your face throughout the day.
Best Places To Eat In Chail
Spend a cozy weekend at these eateries in Chail and have the time of your life.
1. The Chail Palace Restaurant
Did you know that this palace with the British Raj architecture is where the movie 3 Idiots was shot? The palace has been turned into a heritage hotel with royal dining facilities open to the public. The restaurant is housed inside the palace and their chicken tikka and naan are to die for.
Where: Chail Palace, The, Palace Road, Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 8:30 am-11 pm
Cost For Two: ₹1,900
Cuisines Offered: North Indian, Asian
2. Mosaic-Ekant Retreat
This simple and rustic eatery is situated inside the Ekant Retreat. A little off the road, this place not only offers a luxurious stay but a delicious feast too. If you’re a fan of North Indian, you can pick their pakora platter and chai for evening snacks or indulge in the creamy butter chicken-naan combination. Their portions are really large.
Where: Ekant Retreat, Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 8 am-10:30 pm
Cost For Two: ₹1,000
Cuisines Offered: European, North Indian, Asian
This jungle-themed restaurant offers an interesting vibe with a lavish buffet that leaves you spoilt for choice. You can also go for their al la carte options and pick butter chicken, dal makhni and malai kofta for your desi dil.
Where: Tarika’s Jungal Retreat, Chail Blossom, Teh- Kandaghat, Solan, Chail, Himachal Pradesh, 173217
Timings: 9:30 am-9:30 pm
Cost For Two: ₹1,500
Cuisines Offered: Indian, Asian, Chinese
If you wish to dine amidst lush greenery, you ought to visit this place once. They’ve got a large outdoor seating that offers the best views of serene nature. Located inside the Maple resort, this place serves the best paneer butter masala and gulab jamuns in Chail.
Where: Chail - Dubloo Rd, Dunu, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 8:30 am-10 pm
Cost For Two: ₹2,000
Cuisines Offered: North Indian
Another property of Tarikha Resort, this one has a different vibe to it. As the name suggests, the ambience is all about royalty and heritage. Built in a traditional way, they offer scrumptious delicacies like the Himachali curry and other pahadi specialties.
Where: Tarika’s Jungal Retreat, Chail Blossom, The Kandhaghat Chail 173217 Himachal Pradesh
Timings: 10 am-11 pm
Cost For Two: ₹1,500
Cuisines Offered: Chinese, North Indian
6. Xanadu Café
Are you looking for a place to chill and relax with friends while enjoying the weather of Chail? Xanadu Café brings everything together. While the mornings are bright and happening, evenings at this wooden-interior café is are also beautiful. There is lively music and a bonfire on most days which perfectly fits our idea of a cozy and warm night. Their thin-crust pizzas are great which can be enjoyed overlooking the mountains.
Where: Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173214
Timings: 11 am-7 pm
Cost For Two: ₹1,000
Cuisines Offered: Fast Food, Italian, Continental
Be it any hill station in Himachal, you are bound to find a Shere-Punjab nestled in the corner of the Mall road. This chain of restaurant is a classic stop for all desi cravings. In the mood for butter chicken and naan? Head to Shere-Punjab. In the mood for dal makhni and shahi paneer? Head to this place again. Giving you all the homely feels with its rustic interior, the restaurant is nothing short of a treat to the taste buds.
Where: Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 8 am-10 pm
Cost For Two: ₹700
Cuisines Offered: North Indian, Punjabi
8. Chail Valley Eating House
Make way for food in the Chail valley at this yummilicious place. Located on the Kandaghat-Chail road, this is another place where you can devour North Indian food. The Chail Valley Eating House has everything, from maa ki dal to aloo gobhi and more. For the sweet tooth, you can have gulab jamun and jalebis. The place is perfect for North Indian food lovers. Their outdoor seating is beautiful and offers amazing views.
Where: Chail, kandaghat, road, Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 9 am-10 pm
Cost For Two: ₹900
Cuisines Offered: North Indian
9. Dharma Tea Stall
If you aren’t one of those who enjoy a lavish breakfast or brunch, then you can head to this cutesy tea stall located on the mountain top. The small food hub located in the Himalayas is a respite for tourists, who want to grab a bite on the go. They’ve got pahadon wali maggi, tea, bun and butter, that you can munch on while getting lost in the views.
Where: Kandaghat-Chail-Kufri Rd, Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 11:30 am-7:30 pm
Cost For Two: ₹300
Cuisines Offered: Tea, Quick Bites
10. Kailash Foods And Hotel
A humble eatery in the lush green locale, Kailash Foods and Hotel is a run by a family in the hill station. The place feels like home and so does the food. Very simple and basic menu, they offer tadka dal, bhindi, aloo jeera and a plethora of dishes along with tawa roti.
Where: Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 8 am-10 pm
Cost For Two: ₹600
Cuisines Offered: North Indian
11. Anand Bhojnalay
This is a small, local eatery in Chail that offers amazing views of the mountains while you wait for hot food to arrive on your plate. Although it is nothing fancy, we bet you would want to spend a few extra hours once you’re here due to the location. You can pick desi spicy chowmein or a North Indian thali comprising of dal, subzi, roti, rice and pickle.
Where: Chail, Himachal Pradesh 173217
Timings: 7 am-10 pm
Cost For Two: ₹500
Cuisines Offered: North Indian, Chinese