Waking up in Ooty feels different. With fresh air all around, mist-covered hills, quiet roads, and the smell of eucalyptus mixing with the early morning mist, one thought naturally follows as you step out to explore, where should we eat today?
In a hill town like Ooty, food becomes part of the experience. A hot breakfast tastes better when the weather is cool, and a warm dinner feels comforting after a long day of sightseeing.
In this blog, we bring together the best restaurants in Ooty, where great food and the charm of the hills come together to create moments you’ll remember long after your trip ends.
11 Best Restaurants in Ooty
Non-Veg Restaurants in Ooty
Let’s first take a look at some of the best non-veg restaurants in Ooty, known for their flavourful dishes and quality service.
1) The Periodic Table
At first place is The Periodic Table, a fine-dining restaurant in Ooty known for its unique chemistry-themed ambience and elegant setting inside a 150-year-old heritage building. Located on Commissioner’s Road, this restaurant specialises in contemporary European, French, Japanese, and Asian cuisines. Open daily from 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM, it is also a great spot for coffee and tea lovers.
Menu Highlights: California Seafood Maki, Sweet Potato and Spinach Rice, Charred Broccoli with Couscous, Choco caramel mousse, buttermilk panna cotta, hazelnut soufflé, thyme passion cooler, blue spritzer.
2) Colonel’s Kitchen
Secondly, Colonel’s Kitchen, a premium vintage dining restaurant set inside the historic Tiverton Bungalow, which is over 150 years old. Located on Coonoor Road near Charring Cross, it offers a charming heritage ambience with both indoor and outdoor seating. Open daily from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM, it is especially known for rich Indian and Western flavours.
Menu Highlights: Hyderabadi dum biryani, Dindigul chicken biryani, Kashmiri yakhni pulao, Kongu mutton biryani, plain pulao, khichdi,Butter chicken, mutton chukka, Indian curries, Western main courses.
3) Shinkows – Chinese Restaurant
Next on the list is Shinkows Chinese Restaurant is one of the oldest and most iconic veg and non-veg restaurants in Ooty. Established in 1954 and run by a Chinese family, it is located in Summer House Colony, Upper Bazaar. The simple, no-frills ambience keeps the focus entirely on authentic flavours. It is open from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM to 9:45 PM.
Menu Highlights: Sweet corn soup, hot and sour soup, sliced chicken with vegetables, chilli chicken (boneless), chicken in hot garlic sauce, chicken Manchurian dry, sweet and sour chicken, chilli pork and sliced pork with vegetables.
4) Nilgiri Express
Another popular non-veg restaurant in Ooty is Nilgiri Express, located inside Sterling Ooty Elk Hill. This multi-cuisine restaurant is well known for Indian dishes prepared with local Badaga flavours. With comfortable seating, valet parking, and a family-friendly setup, it is open daily from 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
Menu Highlights: French fries, potato wedges, mixed vegetable pakoda with chilli, chilli cheese toast, club sandwich (veg and chicken), kathi roll (paneer and chicken), grilled vegetable wrap, harissa chicken wrap, coleslaw sandwich, chicken tikka sandwich, spring rolls, nuggets, chicken curry, Indian main courses, Asian dishes, Italian items.
5) Zuka Fine Dining
The final non-veg restaurant on our list is Zuka Fine Dining, located at Hotel Preethi Classic Towers on Coonoor Road, opposite the RTO Office. Open from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, this restaurant offers a cosy and trendy ambience with scenic views, making it ideal for lunch or dinner.
Menu Highlights: Indian: Paneer tikka masala, paneer butter masala, kadai paneer, vegetable jalfrezi, mushroom masala, dal fry, chicken curry, mutton rogan josh, mutton curry, fish curry, prawn curry.
Chinese: Chinese fried rice, Schezwan fried rice, hakka noodles, Schezwan noodles, American chop suey, chicken gravy Chinese style, vegetable gravy Chinese style
Veg Restaurants in Ooty
While non-veg lovers have plenty of options in Ooty, the town is equally welcoming for vegetarian travellers, with several restaurants serving delicious and comforting veg meals.
1) Adyar Ananda Bhavan – A2B
To begin with, Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B), a popular veg restaurant in Ooty, is located on Commercial Road, close to the main market and shopping areas. Open daily from around 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM, it offers a clean, no-frills, family-friendly ambience with quick service.
Menu Highlights: Idli, dosa, vada, pongal, South Indian full meals, chole puri, parathas, paneer curries, samosas, pav bhaji.
2) Kailash Parbat
Another popular veg restaurant in Ooty is Kailash Parbat, located on Commercial Road in the Upper Bazaar area. Open from about 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, this lively pure veg restaurant is known for its vibrant North Indian and chaat-style atmosphere.
Menu Highlights: Pani puri, aloo tikki, chole bhatura, paneer dishes, dal makhani, combo meals.
3) Ruchi Bhavanam
Moving on, Ruchi Bhavanam is situated inside the Hotel Charring Cross complex on Garden Road, very close to the Botanical Gardens. Open from around 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM, it offers a calm, clean, and family-friendly pure veg dining experience.
Menu Highlights: Idli, dosa, vada, South Indian meals, North Indian curries, veg thalis, Indo-Chinese dishes.
4) Pankaj Bhojanalaya
One more veg restaurant worth visiting is Pankaj Bhojanalaya, located on the first floor of a commercial complex in the Charring Cross and Commercial Road area. Open from about 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM, it is known for its simple, home-style North Indian food and warm ambience.
Menu Highlights: Dal tadka, shahi paneer, bhindi masala, kadhi, thali meals.
5) The Paradise
Lastly, The Paradise (The Paradise Grand) is located near Hidden Valley on Coonoor Road, slightly away from the main market. Open daily from around 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM, it offers a neat and comfortable pure veg ambience suitable for families and groups.
Menu Highlights: Veg thalis, North Indian dishes, Chinese items, pizza, pasta.
Bar and Restaurant in Ooty
The Culinarium
The Culinarium is one of the best bar and restaurant options in Ooty, located on the Ooty–Coonoor Main Road in Ketti, about 8 km from Ooty, overlooking the scenic Ketti Valley. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, this farm-to-fork fine-dining restaurant offers a calm and elegant ambience, perfect for relaxed dining.
Menu Highlights: Vegetable pot pies, mushroom pot pies, ravioli, pizzas, quiches, vegan dishes, crème brûlée, salted caramel ice cream, Indian and international liquors.
Conclusion
From heritage fine-dining restaurants and long-standing favourites to family-friendly veg spots and scenic bar and restaurant experiences, Ooty offers dining options to suit every kind of traveller.
So, when you plan your trip to Ooty, be sure to include these restaurants in your itinerary and experience flavours that perfectly complement the charm of the Nilgiris.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Which are the best restaurants in Ooty for non-vegetarian food?
Some of the best non-veg restaurants in Ooty include The Periodic Table, Shinkows Chinese Restaurant, Colonel’s Kitchen, Nilgiri Express, and Zuka Fine Dining. These places are known for their flavourful dishes, quality service, and comfortable dining ambience.
2 ) Which are the best vegetarian restaurants in Ooty?
Yes, Ooty has many excellent vegetarian restaurants. Popular choices include Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B), Kailash Parbat, Ruchi Bhavanam, Pankaj Bhojanalaya, and The Paradise, which serve a variety of South Indian, North Indian, and multi-cuisine veg meals.
3) Is there any bar and restaurant in Ooty?
Yes, The Culinarium is a popular bar and restaurant near Ooty, located on the Ooty–Coonoor Road in Ketti. It offers European and Continental cuisine along with a bar and beautiful views of the Ketti Valley.
