After completing my Spiti ride I reached Manali on 16th July 2011. Next day, I decided to ride around the town and relish all the famous food from all the famous cafes/restaurants/eateries/streets. I had only one day and made the most of it by visiting four restaurants.
(1) Rainbow Cafe, Vashist.
Vashist is a place, located just outside Manali, famous for its natural hot springs. Adjacent to the temple complex which houses hot springs, you see Rainbow Cafe perched on an elevation. Rainbow Cafe is on the top floor of a building whose ground floor has been turned into a guesthouse and first floor has an Internet Cafe.
When I reached there, atmosphere was filled with the smell of weed and beats of Nirvana music. Crowd was cosmopolitan but small. I ordered a Masala Milk Tea and an Al-Fungi Lasagne. My order took 20 minutes to arrive on the table. With perfectly baked garlic bread and perfectly mashed tomato in molten cheese, Lasagne was delicious.
This place offers a touristy and backpacker’s type feel. Avoid it if you are looking for some peaceful place to sit back and write your travel stories. But if you are looking for people to party with and have some fun, this is your place. The guys at the service are jovial and springy. Friendly place.
(2) The Johnson’s Cafe, Old Manali.
This is perhaps the best restaurant in Manali. The moment I stepped into this place, it became my favourite instantly. The ambiance, the garden, the food, the service, the menu, the views from your table; everything is perfect !!
Generally, this place remains bustling with people but during brunch hours it is empty. I arrived at 11 AM and I was the only customer. Menu is beautifully designed and I placed an order of Veg Sandwich and Ginger Plum Soda. When the order arrived, I enjoyed it with the beautiful views of the misty hills.
(3) Pizza Olive, Old Manali.
I had heard and read a lot about this place which boasts it sell best pizzas in Manali. Pizzas are baked on a wooden oven and their base is very thin and crispy.
I always wanted to try Tuna fish sandwiches, so when I found Tuna Fish Pizza in their menu; I ordered it without a second thought. With first bit of the pizza slice down my throat, it was crystal clear to me that I was never going to order it again. Now the problem was to finish the one lying on the table.
To add to my misery, I ordered a Tibetan Herbal Tea which tasted worst than I presumed. In the middle of my struggle to finish my meal, a giant moth flew in from the window and landed on my table. I alerted the waiter who calmly caught it like an expert. Anyways, coming back to the overall experience at Pizza Olive, I felt I made some bad choices in picking up what I like to eat. However, pizza was baked to perfection in an authentic Italian way. There is nothing wrong with the place and it deserves the applause it has received. I will love to go there next time and eat something familiar to my taste buds.
(4) Il Furno, Old Manali.
I stopped here to enjoy some Italian desserts and decided to settle for a Tiramisu.
The ambience of this place is awesome and I believe Il Furno is worth a visit after dusk when the lamps inside the restaurant are lit.
Like the place, Tiramisu was tasteful. Rates are bit on a higher side.
