Cafe Simla Times : Cafe, Biergarten & Bar on the Mall Road Shimla ( Awarded Most Instagrammable Cafe of Himachal)
Cafe Simla Times : Cafe, Biergarten & Bar on the Mall Road Shimla ( Awarded Most Instagrammable Cafe of Himachal) things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
IndiaHimachal PradeshCafe Simla Times : Cafe, Biergarten & Bar on the Mall Road Shimla ( Awarded Most Instagrammable Cafe of Himachal)
Plan your stay
&promo_pic=/one-page/coolest.jpg)
Posts
Visited 'Cafe Simla Times' in Shimla recently located at Hotel Willow Banks- it's not a desi cafe but a cozy little bistro with hustling and romantic settings bustling with joys and laughter of people. Named after the first newspaper publication of the city - The Simla Times, it is a prominent landmark on the Mall Road and a must visit for people who love to indulge. The ambience of Cafe Simla Times is very friendly, warm, with open wooden seating and wooden tables; very old style with a breathtaking view outside. Be it sunrise or sunset, it is beautifully lit and happening. The menu there has Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Mexican and Lebanese all in good portions and a taste to come back for. The tables are spaciously laid and all COVID precautions are being followed whether it is proper sanitization or wearing of masks by the servers and chefs. I totally loved the ambience and the interiors- creative glass lamps and lots of fresh air and sunlight that made me very happy. The benches here reminded me of my Christian school. The menu itself was very creatively done with an explanation of some iconic landmarks of Shimla like Lakkar bazaar, Gaiety theatre (the Victorian theatre), Scandal point, Mall road and Jakhu temple which are the high shine spots of Shimla and which the menu of Cafe Simla Times highlighted and lifted. Additionally, Shimla comes alive on the walls and ceiling of the café through art that captures the must visit places in the city. Cafe Simla Times being a kitchen, bakery and bar, offers the best of gourmet food and drinks in Shimla. You can see the entire Shimla from this cafe with all the mountains, the nostalgic view and the beauty of exhilaration and the adrenaline punch of fresh and scenic beauty. We started with some mocktails and soft drinks. Fruit Punch was very refreshing and fruity. Yes, indeed! Much required sugar rush and a good start I must say! Virgin Mojito was a cool summer quencher with herb infusion and lots of ice. In Veg Starters, we tried Honey Chilli Potato- it was crunchy, saucy and yummy with the sesame goodness and the taste oh! so lovely. Wok Tossed Cottage Cheese was crunchy, nice and so soft from the inside. Very fresh! In Main Course, we tried Spicy Veggie Exotica Pizza. Topped with exotics veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, olives, broccoli, jalapenos and lots of cheese, it was absolutely delicious. Next was Penne Pasta with exotic vegetables (mix sauce) with veggies and lots of lovely spice and cheese. It was yum! Lastly for Desserts, we tried Chocolate brownie with icecream- gooey and full of chocolate goodness with vanilla ice-cream while Warm Apple Crumble had a cinnamon crust pastry with warm apple. A perfect end to our meal :) The portion size here is also just perfect. Overall a lovely meal and experience at Cafe Simla Times :)
ChicLifeByte
10
The Shimla Times Café, one of several bars, cafés and eateries in the hotel Willow Banks, does Shimla's hospitality scene proud. It's certainly one of the best of its kind in the country that combines a prime location, service and good beer into a heady customer experience. The first thing visitors to the café do is gape at the awesome sight of Shimla before them. Its perch on the hillside, slightly northeast of the Ridge, gives it a commanding view of nearly the whole of Shimla, the Ridge, parts of the Mall Road, with Christ Church standing promptly to its west. Don't be surprised if guests are busy taking selfies or making reels. The views, and the café design make it a delightful prop for memorable pictures. I ordered a home brew - the Wit-ty Monkey, and blueberry cheesecake. The home brew was rich in taste and eminently enjoyable. My first home brew in a long while. The blueberry cheesecake was unfortunately mediocre for its price. While it had plenty of blueberries in blueberry syrup, the cheese part of it was bland and the cake part was just roasted wheat-sugar-butter flour. Guests should be prepared that the prices on the menu don't include GST or VAT. The final bill may shock, as there's a 18% GST on food, and a 12% VAT on drinks. Go for the views. And do go at least once. The views are worth busting your budget.
Saurabh
20
This cafe is besides the hotel willow banks. We got inside after listening to the good music that was being played there. I believe they do live music as well but it was over before we reached there. The ambience was good, people were having fun. Seating was not very comfortable but looked good. We ordered two items Grilled Fish Steak and Chicken Lovers Pizza. Grilled fish stake felt little costly when we ordered but when it came the portion size was quite big so I guess the price was justified. Fish was cooked almost perfectly. This dish had mashed potatoes, white sauce and grilled vegetables as sides and they were all quite good. Chicken Lovers pizza was good in sense that it was juicy with just right quantity of cheese and various types of chicken as toppings. What could have been made better was the crust. This was a thin crust pizza cooked in a wood fired oven. The crust was crisp on the sides but somehow little chewy in the centre. But I would still rate it 4 out of 5. One thing I didn't like was they added service charge on a can of diet coke. The can had an MRP of 35 but they charged 125 and they billed it as diet coke + service charge. But over all I might visit this place again on my next visit.
subhanshu pradhan
00
When I searched online for top restaurants in Shimla, the top 10 list showed this name. So I thought why not to give it a try. The cafe is a part of Hotel Willow Banks and is situated near to where the stairs from the parking complex end up at Mall road. From outside it looks inviting as it has balcony/verandah types open sitting that looks over to Shimla and the mountain peaks. So we decided to give it a try. I should tell beforehand that I am a strict vegetarian. Staff was courteous and served us our order in time. But the none of the preparations that we ordered were like they should have been. Hakka noodles were like simple noodles. A veg burger prepared in a way that it was difficult to swallow and so my little one decided to give it a skip only after a bite or two. Veg Lasagne was again very pathetic. On the whole, they have created an international menu cooked by desi cooks in a whatever way. We hurriedly left the place to a nearby great restaurant that we had visited the day before (Sol) for a refreshing change.
navendu gaur
10
Cafe Simla Times is a gem nestled on the Mall road within Hotel Willow Bank, Shimla. Its classic European theme captivates from the moment you step in. The array of culinary delights, from Speciality Wood Fired Oven Pizzas to Scrumptious Burgers, Authentic Chinese meal platters, and Hearty Indian Specialties, cater to every palate. The vibrant ambiance, coupled with a lively restaurant and bar, creates an inviting atmosphere. Not to mention, their craft beer selection is unparalleled, offering the freshest brews in Shimla. The rooftop sitting options provide a breathtaking view of the surrounding hills, adding to the dining experience. While the food is exceptional, there's room for improvement with the french fries. The highlight of our visit was the live music by local bands in the evenings, which added a soulful touch to the overall ambiance. Cage Simla Times truly encapsulates the essence of Shimla's culinary scene, making it a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike.
Abhishek Verma
10
The best place of SHIMLA FOR YEARS IS FINALLY RUINED HAVE VISITED SEVERAL TIMES AND RECOMMENDED LOTS OF PEOPLE BUT FINALLY NOT ANY MORE FOR THE FOOD THAT USED TO BE SERVED AND EXCELLENT SERVICE THE FOCUS ISN'T ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AT ALL NOW PIZZA SERVED WAS TOTALLY WITHOUT ANY CHEESE AND THE TOPPINGS WERE TOTALLY DIFFERENT STILL THE SERVER DIDN'T GET IT CORRECTED EVEN AFTER ACCEPTING SAID I'LL GET THOSE TOPPINGS ADDED IN YOUR PASTA 🍝🍝 WE ORDERED CAPPUCCINO IN SUCH A COLD WEATHER HE GOT US COLD COFFEE ☕ STILL NOTHING WAS DONE WE WERE TOLD ITS PEAK TIME WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR ATLEAST 15 _ 20 MINS FOR CAPPUCCINO My old rating was 5/5 in all the categories But not anymore as the focus has shifted in new restaurants of the hotel A recommendation just don't order pizza 🍕 here Pasta Thai curry Indian was still better
karan bhatia
20
Nearby Attractions Of Cafe Simla Times : Cafe, Biergarten & Bar on the Mall Road Shimla ( Awarded Most Instagrammable Cafe of Himachal)
Christ Church, Shimla
Shri Hanuman Mandir Jakhoo
Ridge, Shimla
Jakhu Ropeway Shimla
Mall Road
The Ridge
Lakkar bazar
Rani Jhansi Park
Jwala Devi Temple Himachal jagarwalo ki kuldevi
Daulat Singh Park
Christ Church, Shimla
4.6
(8.1K)
Click for details
Shri Hanuman Mandir Jakhoo
4.8
(8K)
Click for details
Ridge, Shimla
4.6
(4.2K)
Click for details
Jakhu Ropeway Shimla
4.4
(2.1K)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Cafe Simla Times : Cafe, Biergarten & Bar on the Mall Road Shimla ( Awarded Most Instagrammable Cafe of Himachal)
Domino's Pizza | The Mall, Shimla
Sher E Punjab ( Regd.)
Goofa Ashiana Restaurant
Himachali Rasoi
The Brew Estate
Wake and Bake Cafe
Devicos Restaurant & D Lounge Bar
Indian Coffee House
Cafe Under Tree
Cafe Sol
Domino's Pizza | The Mall, Shimla
3.8
(2.6K)
$$
Click for details
Sher E Punjab ( Regd.)
3.5
(1.7K)
Click for details
Goofa Ashiana Restaurant
4.2
(1.4K)
$$
Click for details
Himachali Rasoi
4.3
(1.2K)
Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
the Cafe, Within Hotel Willow Banks Premises Mall Road Shimla 100m from Tourism lift Exit Tourism Lift, Turn Right and Walk 100m to Reach, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001, India
Map
Phone
+91 84478 25855
Call
Website
willowbanks.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.2
(1.7K reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Cafe accented with quirky & fun decor including a graffitied Ambassador & European cuisine.
attractions: Christ Church, Shimla, Shri Hanuman Mandir Jakhoo, Ridge, Shimla, Jakhu Ropeway Shimla, Mall Road, The Ridge, Lakkar bazar, Rani Jhansi Park, Jwala Devi Temple Himachal jagarwalo ki kuldevi, Daulat Singh Park, restaurants: Domino's Pizza | The Mall, Shimla, Sher E Punjab ( Regd.), Goofa Ashiana Restaurant, Himachali Rasoi, The Brew Estate, Wake and Bake Cafe, Devicos Restaurant & D Lounge Bar, Indian Coffee House, Cafe Under Tree, Cafe Sol
- Please manually select your location for better experience
%20-%20reviews,open%20hours,photo%20spots,%20things%20to%20do%20%7C%20WanderBoat%20AI%20Trip%20Planner&kw=Things%20to%20do%20in%20Cafe%20Simla%20Times%20%3A%20Cafe,%20Biergarten%20%26%20Bar%20on%20the%20Mall%20Road%20Shimla%20(%20Awarded%20Most%20Instagrammable%20Cafe%20of%20Himachal),What%20to%20eat%20in%20Cafe%20Simla%20Times%20%3A%20Cafe,%20Biergarten%20%26%20Bar%20on%20the%20Mall%20Road%20Shimla%20(%20Awarded%20Most%20Instagrammable%20Cafe%20of%20Himachal),Best%20places%20to%20visit%20in%20Cafe%20Simla%20Times%20%3A%20Cafe,%20Biergarten%20%26%20Bar%20on%20the%20Mall%20Road%20Shimla%20(%20Awarded%20Most%20Instagrammable%20Cafe%20of%20Himachal),What%20to%20do%20in%20Cafe%20Simla%20Times%20%3A%20Cafe,%20Biergarten%20%26%20Bar%20on%20the%20Mall%20Road%20Shimla%20(%20Awarded%20Most%20Instagrammable%20Cafe%20of%20Himachal),Cafe%20Simla%20Times%20%3A%20Cafe,%20Biergarten%20%26%20Bar%20on%20the%20Mall%20Road%20Shimla%20(%20Awarded%20Most%20Instagrammable%20Cafe%20of%20Himachal)%20travel,Cafe%20Simla%20Times%20%3A%20Cafe,%20Biergarten%20%26%20Bar%20on%20the%20Mall%20Road%20Shimla%20(%20Awarded%20Most%20Instagrammable%20Cafe%20of%20Himachal)%20reviews,Cafe%20Simla%20Times%20%3A%20Cafe,%20Biergarten%20%26%20Bar%20on%20the%20Mall%20Road%20Shimla%20(%20Awarded%20Most%20Instagrammable%20Cafe%20of%20Himachal)%20AI%20Trip%20Planner&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwanderboat.ai%2Frestaurants%2Findia%2Fhimachal-pradesh%2Fcafe-simla-times-%253A-cafe%252C-biergarten-%2526-bar%2FeKf1BUgNTyyvO79QUmeCDQ&r=<=1430&evt=pageLoad&sv=1&cdb=AQAQ&rn=269399)