Monkeys & Mountain Broth Magic: A Runaway’s Guide To Kasauli

Look, everyone deserves one good runaway arc in their lifetime. I am not suggesting you vanish without a trace or drop off the map so hard that people start posting flyers. I told a few trusted people, packed my bags, and took off for a week because my soul and spirit needed a system reboot because I believe that spontaneity is the spice of life (also because I like being dramatic, for the plot). Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and a week away from home turned out to be the exact reset button I needed at the time. When picking a location to execute a minor abscondment, Kasauli won the debate, checking every single box on my list.

The weather stays crisp practically year-round, and the valley views stretch out forever. Beyond the physical landscape, Kasauli holds a secret advantage over the heavy hitters of Himachal Pradesh. Because it operates under cantonment jurisdiction, commercial frenzy gets kept strictly at bay. You will not find the endless bumper-to-bumper tourist traffic or rows of neon signboards cluttering up the streets here. It maintains a peaceful pace where a person can wander around without getting swallowed by crowds (though you might still get mugged by a local monkey for your snacks).

Since this marks my third official food guide for Homegrown, my status as a resident culinary authority remains fully intact. I think you can trust my palate at this point. During my week of tactical retreat, I stayed about twenty minutes outside the main town centre and spent most of my time there sampling the local eateries. Here are the five best spots to feed your soul when you decide to step away from reality for a few days.

Dochi sits right on Mall Road, though they have a couple of other outlets across the northern region. I can say without an ounce of hesitation that this place stands out as one of the best additions to Kasauli in recent memory. Finding genuine, wood-fired oven Neapolitan pizza up in the hills feels like striking gold. The crust achieves that light, airy rise with dark blistered spots on the edges, proving their oven setup is the real deal.

The price point stays shockingly reasonable for this caliber of cooking. Pulling up a chair here with a Dochi signature pizza, tailor-made for red paprika lovers like myself, or a fresh Rocket Chicken Mushroom Onion Feta — which stands out as their absolute best work — is top tier. They actually source their feta locally from Amiksa Creamery in Mashobra Valley, which is a pretty sweet touch for a place operating in what is fundamentally the middle of nowhere. Pair that with a Lemon Iced Tea for your smokes, or a Dochi Iced Nutella Shake if you’re feeling indulgent. They also play great tunes over their Marshall speaker, and sitting near the window while piping hot cheese pulls apart in front of a chilly mountain backdrop makes you forget every small worry waiting for you back home.

Positioned inside the Tibetan market on Mall Road, Taste of Tibet operates with a compact footprint, but is full of surprises. Do not let the modest size fool you; their menu is longer than my own history of bad decisions and features an unexpectedly wide multiplicity of regional dishes. Beyond the familiar staples, they serve several lesser-known Tibetan and Bhutanese items that I had never encountered anywhere else.

Their kitchen knows exactly what it is doing. Ordering a plate of Pan-fried Mutton Momos is non-negotiable, alongside their Chicken Dhabalay — a crispy, deep-fried meat pie that deserves its own fan club. If you want something beyond standard noodle soups, get the Dry Thukpa, which tosses seasoned noodles without the broth. Then there is the Shamu Datshi, a rich Bhutanese mushroom and cheese stew that turned out to be one of the best soups I have ever tasted in my life. Before you head back out onto the road, make sure to browse their retail counter. They sell some fantastic locally made chutneys, chilli pastes, chilli oils and trinkets you can get as souvenirs, so grabbing a jar of their house chilli chutney to take home is a mandatory move.

Every trip into the hills demands a dedicated stop for quintessential comfort food, and Kasauli Cafe 73 became my absolute anchor for those cravings. Plenty of roadside stalls serve basic mountain bites, but this establishment pulls ahead thanks to its comfortable seating setup and a broader menu that goes way beyond standard offerings.

Their house Maggi is the obvious first bite, turning out a bowl that hits the spot when the mountain chill rolls in, especially when paired with an order of their super juicy Steamed Chicken Momo. They also excel at making Siddu, the traditional Himachali steamed bread. You can order it in both sweet and savoury iterations depending on what you want that day. The savoury version comes stuffed with seasoned lentils and spices, served alongside a healthy dollop of ghee that makes the dish sing.

I hate using this but this spot really is a “hidden gem” in every sense of the word. Good luck trying to pin it down on digital navigation apps because it simply does not exist on standard maps. To locate it, navigate toward a local kirana shop named 'The Daily Needs' on Mall Road. Walk about fifty meters past Taste of Tibet, and you will stumble across this humble counter.

They serve up an overflowing plate of some of the most satisfying Indo-Chinese Vegetable Chowmein I have tasted anywhere. The noodles carry that distinct wok-char flavour, tossed with crunchy cabbage and green chilies. Be warned: the local monkey population frequents the immediate vicinity like they pay rent, but the sweet restaurant staff handle the wild visitors with expert ease so you can eat in peace. If you want a simple spot to sit with a steaming cup of sweet pahadi chai while looking out at the green slopes, this location offers total solace.

No hill station expedition feels complete without visiting a bakery that is supposedly German in nature. Gargi's Cafe has woven its baked goods right into the fabric of the town's food culture. The display cases feature classic mountain bakes that draw sweet lovers from every corner of town.

Their pastry chefs produce apple pies packed with real fruit spice, soft cinnamon rolls glazed to perfection, and slices of moist carrot cake that go down smoothly with a great cup of coffee. They also offer an extensive continental menu featuring sandwiches and breakfast platters that I plan to tackle during my next trip. Sitting at one of their small wooden tables with a forkful of pastry offers a sweet note to close out any afternoon walk.

Disappearing for a week was the best decision I made all month. I ignored my notifications, lived off the holy water I call mountain broth, and let Kasauli do its thing, giving me the physical space to breathe, clear my head, and eat exceptionally well for seven days straight without anyone asking me for a status update.

I came back fully fed, severely grieving the mountain chill — because literally everything in life feels ten times better when the weather is cold — and with my third Homegrown culinary stamp firmly validated. If you ever feel the sudden, undeniable urge to pull a disappearing act for your own peace of mind, you now hold the precise roadmap to feeding yourself extremely well while off the grid. Go book the ticket, grab a slice at Dochi, and tell them the girl sitting by the window with her Marlboro Reds sent you.

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