Pahadee Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Himachal Pradesh

Easily one of the best coffees in Bir, no doubts about it. Yet, I'm forced to reconsider my further visits, or recommendations for PAHADEE, and for multiple reasons developed over a course of several visits, each time hoping for a better experience. Bir is a place full of love and care, being so close to nature with as much warmth in her people as in her sunsets. People here are super friendly, accepting, redicolulously kind, and horribly beautiful. And, I'm sure many can say the same.

Being at PAHADEE, and interacting with people behind the counter imparts the exact opposite feeling. Don't get me wrong, I like their coffee, and it is easily the best choice if you want a good cup in Bir, inspite of disconcerting inconsistencies in the same product, ordered at different times.

After the last time, when my working-at-a-cafe friend was asked to change tables thrice, and was finally asked to leave the premises because of influx of new customers, even though she wanted to order more food, we couldn't help but notice a stark difference in the way colourful customers are greeted, the warm smiles, the gestures, just transformed body language from the staff. Perhaps, I am wrong. Perhaps, new customers seemed hungrier and must have been better for business than my poor little friend.

We still wanted good coffee today, and decided to take our cups, sit outside on the lawn (since they don't offer takeaways) and enjoy ourselves in this beautiful weather, and also so we don't take up their space inside. Of course we were asked to step away, forcing us to be inside where it was loud, colourful and where we didn't seem worthy of good service, let alone a remotely-friendly smile. Its a start of a new day, and its only fair to want a positive one. Sadly, we gulped our hot coffees and left.

One time, they charged me 40 bucks for ice. It's been a few times, something or the other, and the main problem is communication, almost as if I'm afraid to express dissatisfaction/concerns/modifications for what I'm drinking and paying for. I would still consider understanding the snootiness in their voices, and the subtle eye rolls, or the fake smiles if their product was out of the world, but having personally seen them guessworking the quantity of coffee beans instead of using a scale, leaves me in utter despair. But yes, that at least explains the inconsistency I mentioned earlier.

Being a coffee enthusiast/lover myself, I found some books on the counter, and I wanted to strike up a conversation with them, exchange the excitement for good coffee, talk about interests, and so on, only to be told that the books can be found on Amazon. I mean, yeah, A to Z, right!

I feel extremely sad to be writing this, because the place is absolutely beautiful and it hurts to see it function in such an industrial and imporsonal manner. It really has marred the charm...

Really disagreeable vibes at this place from the moment I stepped in. One can tell a lot about how a place is run by the geniality of their staff, and at Pahadee it seemed that everyone behind the counter or serving tables was unhappy to be there. I didn't spot a single smile on any of their faces all morning.

I got a sense of this the moment I walked in, when I wished the person behind the counter a good morning, and I was met with a blank stare (I later learned this was the owner/founder). This set the tone for my experience.

I ordered a Tibetan set breakfast, consisting of aloo khatsa, tomato chutney, Tibetan bread, eggs-to-order and a coffee. The aloo khatsa and tomato chutney were tasty enough. But everything else left a lot to be desired.

They make it a point to charge ₹40 extra to accommodate any substitutions from their set breakfasts, yet they created a fuss because one of the drinks that we requested (the Dancing Jo) was priced at ₹210 on their a la carte menu and apparently only drinks that cost up till ₹200 can be substituted for that additional ₹40, although there is no mention of this on their menu. I eventually settled for just a juice (the Dancing Jo minus the espresso shot).

The second thing they charged ₹40 extra for was 2 slices of sourdough instead of 2 pieces of tingmo (edit: phale* not tingmo. This is listed only as "Tibetan bread" on their menu). A regrettable decision, because their sourdough turned out to be two very dense and gummy slices, served cold without butter. It was a proper workout for my jaw. I'm not even exaggerating...my teeth are still sore a couple of hours later!

And the final nail in the coffin was that despite requesting my sunny-side-up gently cooked with no crisp edges, and stressing that I will not eat an egg with a thick brown crust, their eggs came with a thick brown crust. They still weakly tried to suggest that it was not that brown, despite obvious visual evidence to the contrary.

I did search for any redeeming qualities to my experience, but I found none. Their prices are higher than I would have liked for a very substandard fare served to you by scowling faces.

Edited to add, after Pratyush's response below:

Thanks for clarifying. My review described specific service and quality gaps during my visit - unclear substitution pricing, poorly executed sourdough, and overcooked eggs. I noted these so future guests can make informed choices.

The tone of your reply illustrates the atmosphere I described: defensive rather than hospitable. A business confident in its product doesn't need to insult its customers to make a point.

I appreciate you admitting the communication lapse about the eggs. Consistency and professionalism would resolve most of what went wrong.

I consider the matter closed and wish your team steady...

After 41 Cups of Coffee at Pahadee – Here’s My Honest Review

I stumbled upon a photo of Pahadee Coffee Roasters on Instagram one random afternoon — a shot of sunlight hitting a ceramic cup, mist rolling behind the mountains, and a cozy little setup that just felt like something special. I didn’t expect that one photo would lead to a daily ritual, but after living in Bir for nearly two months, I can say this without hesitation: Pahadee is the heart of Bir’s café culture.

It’s not just a café. It’s a rhythm, a ritual, a community.

Every morning, I find myself walking to Pahadee — no alarm clock needed. The aroma of freshly roasted beans, the sun filtering through wood-and-glass interiors — it all pulls you in. On any given day, you’ll find remote workers setting up their laptops by the windows, travelers journaling or reading, and regulars sharing stories like they're at their second home. It's the kind of place where the staff knows your name, your order, and probably your favorite table.

The coffee? It's exceptional — not just by Bir standards, but by global standards. Handpicked beans, roasted in-house by the founder (an ex-engineer turned coffee wizard), who treats coffee like a craft, not a commodity. You’ll spot him often — quietly checking roast profiles, speaking to guests about brewing methods, or geeking out over a new blend they’re experimenting with. There’s soul in every cup here.

Though everything on the menu is good, a few items deserve special mention:

Nasi Goreng – Their take on this Indonesian classic is bold, flavorful, and perfectly comforting.

English Breakfast – Done right. Balanced, hearty, and just what you need on a chilly mountain morning.

Korean Cream Buns – Honestly? Addictive. Buttery, soft, slightly sweet, and perfect with a hot cup of flat white. You’ll tell yourself you’ll try something else next time… but you won’t. Trust me.

The aesthetics of Pahadee are warm and intentional — wood tones, earthy textures, soft lighting, and large windows that frame the mountains like paintings. There’s always someone filming a reel or taking that perfect top-shot of their coffee — but it never feels pretentious. It feels alive. Like a space created with love, for people who truly appreciate the little things.

In a place like Bir, where nature slows you down, Pahadee becomes your grounding point — a place to begin your day, to meet strangers who become friends, and to drink coffee that tells a story.

If you’re in Bir — even for a weekend — go to Pahadee. And if you’re like me, you might just find yourself returning every morning… for the coffee, the warmth, the people,...