Himalayan Café Culture (Manali & Kasol)

The Himalayan backpacker trail has its own beloved café culture. In Old Manali, Kasol and across the Parvati Valley, riverside cafés with wooden terraces, floor cushions, wood fires and mountain views serve a surprisingly global menu — Israeli, Italian, Tibetan and hearty local fare — to a laid-back crowd of travellers.

These cafés are as much about the vibe as the food: nursing a coffee or a hot chocolate while the Beas or Parvati river rushes below and the peaks glow is the whole Himachal café experience. They're social hubs, workspaces and chill-out spots all in one.

• ›Riverside terraces in Old Manali and Kasol for the views.
• ›The eclectic international menus (a legacy of the traveller trail).
• ›Go for the slow, mountain-time atmosphere.

Many cafés are seasonal and quieter in deep winter. Connectivity can be patchy — embrace the digital detox.