What & Where to Eat in Gulmarg

You'll be sure to work up an appetite while skiing/riding at Gulmarg Ski Resort but you may not know Where to eat in Gulmarg. Make sure you try the local Kashmiri cuisine offered at many of the Gulmarg Restaurants. Here are some suggestions of places to eat as well as some local cuisine you won't want to miss…

Coffee

Do not expect to find a beautiful coffee shop on every corner of Gulmarg. When I first got to Gulmarg your only choice was Nescafe. Nowadays there are more options to find a decent coffee. For your morning hit, I still recommend to being some grounded coffee, an inexpensive coffee dripper and coffee filters. Then just ask your hotel for some hot water and make yourself a nice pour over.

There are now a few espresso machines in Gulmarg.

There is a small but nice coffee shop in the village, just in front of the Yemberzal Hotel. The Black Bear Brew serves nice coffees and normally has a few tasty cakes and pastries.

Two more expensive options are the coffee shop at the Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa and at Kolahoi Green Heights. For a coffee with a great view of the Himalayas, I recommend Khyber.

Other Drinks

You will fall in love with the Qahwah Kashmiri tea. It's a mix of Cardamom, Saffron, Cinnamon, Sugar and sometimes Raisins, Almonds or Cashews. I also really like to get a Honey Ginger Lemon Tea.

Chai and Chai Masala are India's classic teas.

Breakfast

Most of your hotel and ski packages will come with breakfast included. Breakfast is normally fried or scrambled eggs, cold toast, and very thick oat porridge.

My personal favorite is Kashmiri roti from the Tandoori oven in the village. Look for smoke rising early in the morning behind the new police station (to the right when you are facing the station) and walk into a dark, dusty door to find fresh baked roti. Top the roti with Peanut Butter, Nutella or both… it is the best. You will need to bring the toppings or buy them at Pick and Choose in Srinagar. Very sweet Fruit Jam is available in Gulmarg.

Snacks

Cadbury Chocolate or other local Chocolate and Potato Chips can be found in all of the convenience stores in Gulmarg. Find Jaan across from the bus station for the friendliest store in town (but I like to spread the business around and buy from everywhere).

The Hide & Seek Choco chip cookies are to die for, and I also like the cashew cookies. They all sell good almonds and dry apricots -- an excellent snack while riding.

At Bakshi, you can ask them for a Yanik's special Sugar Cinnamon Butter Parata with Lemon Juice.

Lunch

For lunch, it all depends if the gondola is running or not, if you have time or you just want to shred some Pow.

When I have time, I like to visit Global Hotel & Restaurant, The Yambazal or a Classic Bakshi restaurant. If it is somewhat hot outside, a few Dhabas (restaurants that serve local cuisine) have outside tables in the village center. My personal favorite is in the building next to Bakshi. There are a few restaurants, but the Dhaba to the farthest left is the best…try their Malai Kofta.

There is also the Big Bite under the Hill Top Hotel. They serve o.k. pizza, good McDonald's-like fries, and decent burgers.

All the hotels around the gondola are also good options.

If you are riding, my tip is to bring a snack as the food at the Gondola restaurant or the tea house by Mary's Shoulder is all good but the service is slow, and portions are a bit small. They are an excellent option if it is sunny and you feel like relaxing and enjoying a Chai Tea.

My favorites are: Vegetable Pakoda, Paneer Pakoda, French Fries, Fried Rice, and different curries. Look for Sofy at the Tea House.

Dinner

Most of your hotels offer dinner, and most of our packages include dinners.

If you feel like trying something different, Hotel Alpine Ridge makes pasta, Pine Palace Resort offers some Russian dishes, and Pine Palace Platinum has pizza.

If you feel like enjoying a local meal with friends, walk to Bakshi. There is always a good vibe and good food. The buffet at Alpine Ridge is good, and the Après-ski is the best in town.

If you want to treat yourself, the place to be is the new Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa - buffet or "à la carte". Hotel Highlands Park is also an excellent option. You get a full 5 – 6 course meal and all you can eat. Every night is different, but I am always happy when I leave as it was tasty, copious, and delicious.

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