The Lazy Dog — Restaurant in Himachal Pradesh

The Lazy Dog, Old Manali.

Visited on: 5th August 2025

Among Old Manali’s many cafés and lounges, The Lazy Dog stands out as a destination in itself. Set right by the Beas river, it combines a rustic charm with an energetic, youthful vibe. It’s not just a place to eat—it’s an experience that blends food, music, and the mountains.

Ambience & Vibe

The setting is spectacular. The riverside deck with wooden seating and warm lighting creates the perfect backdrop to unwind, while the interiors feature murals, quirky décor, and a cozy yet vibrant feel. By evening, the mood lifts further with live music—on my visit, an indie band’s performance against the sound of the flowing river created an atmosphere that was truly unforgettable.

Food

The Lazy Dog’s menu is diverse and creative, offering local favorites alongside global classics.

The Apple, Cheese & Bacon Panini was outstanding—the sweetness of apple balanced by melted cheese and smoky bacon, all tucked inside perfectly toasted bread.

The Pan-Grilled Lemon Coriander Trout was the highlight: fresh, flaky fish with a citrusy lift and herbaceous coriander notes, served with lightly sautéed vegetables.

The Hummus Platter made for an excellent side, smooth and flavorful, with warm pita and crunchy vegetables.

Drinks -

The bar here is one of the best in Manali. I tried the signature Lazy Dog Spicy Margarita, a fiery twist on the classic cocktail, refreshing with just the right chili kick. Their locally brewed apple cider was another star: crisp, sparkling, and the perfect riverside drink.

Desserts -

Desserts at The Lazy Dog are indulgent and well executed:

Crème Caramel – smooth and silky, with a golden caramel top.

Chocolate Mud Cake – rich, moist, and served warm, perfect for chocolate lovers.

Gulab Jamun – soft, syrupy, and nostalgic; a comforting Indian sweet touch.

Service -

The staff were warm, welcoming, and helpful with recommendations. Service slowed slightly during peak hours, but the ambience and music made waiting part of the charm.

Pricing -

The Lazy Dog is on the premium side compared to other cafés in Manali. However, the combination of riverside ambience, live music, excellent cocktails, and quality food makes it well worth the spend.

Final Thoughts -

The Lazy Dog is more than just a café or lounge—it’s an Old Manali landmark. From the zing of their Spicy Margarita to the delicate lemon-coriander trout and indulgent desserts, it offers something for everyone.

Whether you’re a solo traveler soaking up the mountain vibe, a couple looking for a riverside dinner, or a group of friends out for cocktails and live music, The Lazy Dog delivers an experience you won’t forget.

Overall Rating: 4.6/5

Ambience & Vibe: 5/5

Food: 4.5/5

Drinks: 5/5

Desserts: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Value...

Lazy Dog Manali. Such an attractive name with a really good interior and the restaurant goes into the premium class isn't it? When you are coming to Manali and searching for food options, there will be hardly any page of Manali that will not include this place.i also made my itinerary before leaving on my trip, old Manali was just a one day stop. And Lazy Dog was definitely a part of my itinerary. I went there today for dinner, just coming back and seriously found it a lot of hype. I ordered their special lazy dog chicken pasta in mushroom sauce and chicken kimbap roll. The interior live music location and the crowd was really good. But food, a big no. Pasta had some hard chicken parts, which were not supposed to be there as in the pasta or other such dishes , it's always chicken parts are boneless , so hard chicken parts were something unexpected. But I didn't complain about this. I was trying to understand what that small hard particle was, and it was left over of chicken cartilage part of chicken thigh or other bones. 2nd it was chicken kimbap rolls. Ohh my god what was that? The seaweed was so sticky that it was difficult to eat the roll properly, the inner filling had no taste, it was chicken boiled or steamed, zucchini, rice and carrot. There was no taste in kimbap rolls and it was a waste of money. I told the staff about the super sticky ness of seaweed and told him that it's not how seaweed tastes, waiter took the plate to the kitchen and came back after a few minutes and asked me to try again, and it was worse after that. I asked for the bill leaving the food on the plate and left, expecting apologies at least for having no taste in kimbap but nobody came for even that. I paid the bill and left the place with never to include this cafe on my list.

On the way my husband asked me to write a review this time. He always asks me to avoid writing reviews but this time he asked me as he said nobody else should go with these much expectations to that cafe.

My kid wanted to eat pizza which to my surprise was not available in Lazy dog, so we had to go to another place for that.

I understand that some food items may be good, but I tried two and they were not good.

If for all I will give 5/5 points to the cafe, I will give 2/5 for food, that is below average and no point for service , I was expecting atleast a sorry for those rolls for...

Don't let the informal name of the restaurant or the casually dressed diners and the equally casually clothed stewards confuse you into thinking this is just another Manali restaurant for foreigners. The Lazy Dog's market is the fine dining customers from India's metros or abroad with prices to match. The budget traveller would be well advised to stay away, unless you are on a date and desire to impress. In their favour I must say that each dish easily serves two. So, if you're a solo diner, like me, you'd better be very hungry when you step in. The ambience and space is breathtaking. An indoor seating in two sections is all antique looking tables and benches, with fine mountain views and seems suspended over the River Manaslu flowing below. An outdoor sunny sitting area is even more spacious with steps leading to a cosy, covered nook with low tables and cushions on the floor, good for rainy weather.

I ordered an Aglio é Olio Vegetarian Penne Pasta for lunch. The penne had been boiled just right. The dish was garnished with black olives, baby tomatoes, roasted garlic, chopped basil and chilly flakes. I sprinkled it liberally with oregano to spice it up further. The promised parmesan topping was difficult to spot and even harder to taste. The black olives,though, were yumm, but difficult to spot. The dish got tastier as I worked my spoon down to where all the olive oil and equally yummy garlic had gathered. The weather meanwhile turned from a wintry sunniness to cold as the sun disappeared behind the mountains around 3 in the afternoon. I paid the bill and moved indoors for a while to sit in the comfort of a warm electric heater and lovely 90s music over the indoors sound system. Despite the expensively priced dishes and drinks, I might just return to try their...