Winter on my plate: 9 must-visit restaurants in Delhi, Dehradun, Chandigarh and beyond

Winters call for warm, comfort food. With the air getting crisper by the day, ELLE DECOR India curates a selection of season-inspired delicacies to satiate your palate this time of the year. Find winter dishes for every craving and indulge in ingredient-focussed recipes, crafted by 9 restaurants across New Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Dehradun.

Ama Café, Dehradun

A breakfast menu with subtle hints of Himalayan-ness, an in-house coffee roastery and a peaceful and calm ambience, Ama Café does it all incredibly well. This Himalayan concept café serves an exceptional experience of the mountains – warm and muted interiors, Ama Himalayan coffee blends and baked delicacies. With mud texture on walls and exposed concrete on the ceiling, the space is a perfect pit-stop on your way to Mussoorie.

Must Try: Ama Himalayan coffee blends and baked delicacies

Coco Osteria, Dehradun

Steaming hot, authentic Neapolitan pizzas on a frosty evening in Dehradun? Coco Osteria is where you need to be! Started by Abhishek Goel and Shruti Gupta – who travelled to Naples to master pizzas and pasta-making, this quaint cafe serves a farm-to-table experience paired with craft cocktails from the recently added bar program CinCin.

Must Try: Wild mushroom and truffle oil Neapolitan pizza

Dawatpur Food Court, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi

Whether you’re a regular or a visitor, Chandni Chowk quickly transcends from being just a location to an emotion – a vibrant blend of textiles, food and heritage. It never disappoints – especially with its flavourful, scrumptious assortment of chaat. To add to the charm, the Dawatpur Food Court is one place you need to stop by at. Chromed Design Studio and The Melange Studio joined forces to design a space with 45 food outlets and five fine-dining restaurants – spoilt for choices and how? Dig into the authentic paranthe from the famous Paranthe Wali Gali or even kebabs from Tunday Kababi all under one roof.

Must Try: Amritsari Chhole Kulche

Evoo, New Delhi

A meal at this restaurant will most definitely transport you to the lanes of Italy! Serving handmade artisanal pastas and Neapolitan pizzas for over seven years, Evoo’s menu is a culinary delight. The newest addition to the wide assortment of flavourful dishes, the Beetroot Tortelli is set to cure all your winter blues. What you must not miss out on are the stuffed zucchini flowers that feature tender blossoms filled with a velvety ricotta mixture infused with subtle hints of fresh herbs.

Must Try: Spinach and ricotta gnudi and beetroot tortelli

Indian Accent, New Delhi

Raising the bar up a notch is Indian Accent, a fine-dine restaurant that serves a stunning fusion of flavours and tradition of India paired with global ingredients and techniques. The highlight? A six course Chef’s Tasting menu with every course paired with a selection of wines. This season’s menu features a Kashmiri morel pie with walnut cream and truffle, a mud crab with buttered koshihikari and garlic pepper confit, a rawa fish with capers and mustard coconut curry, ajmer til patti and a lot more.

Must Try: Kashmiri morel pie with walnut cream and truffle

NAAR, Himachal Pradesh

Authentic flavours of the Himalayan region are most certainly synonymous with a meal at NAAR. A passionately curated menu by chef Prateek Sadhu and his team at this novel restaurant in Kasauli should be your next flavour adventure this season. Dive straight into an elaborate multiple-course Himalayan experience and discover unique local ingredients. Our first visit to the restaurant during its initial opening in 2023 introduced us to recipes like Askalu, Yak cheese cigar, Mushkbudij Kashmiri rice topped with sunny egg yolk amongst others.

Must Try: Their selection of seasonal ingredients 

Olive Café & Bar, Chandigarh

In the heart of Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh, Olive Café & Bar is where you will be enthralled by flavours of the Mediterranean. Transforming gourmet ingredients into phenomenal small plates, grills, mains and desserts, Olive is a treasure trove of comfort food. Chef Karl Whittaker’s winter menu features a French Onion Soup, Vegetarian Lentil Moussaka 575 Skillet, Herb-crusted Salmon 1525 & Turnip and the Potato Dauphinoise Pie. 

Must Try: French Onion Soup and Vegetarian Lentil Moussaka 575 Skillet

The Johri, Jaipur

Hidden inside the bustling lanes of – also named after – the Johri Bazaar, this ‘gem’ is a season-focused, intimate vegetarian restaurant, tucked away in a quaint haveli restored into a boutique hotel. Expanding on the nuances of Jaipur’s culinary culture and traditional flavours of the region, the winter menu features a unique rendition of aloo pyaz ki sabji and sev tamatar ki sabji. Pair them with missi or khamiri roti and don’t miss out on the season favourites, mini jalebi and mini churros.

Must Try: Baingan Ka Salan and Corn Moringa Chaat

Tubu, Chandigarh

A quiet, lush-green escape, amidst the modern architecture of Chandigarh, Turger Burger or Tubu, redefines the traditional norms of any café or restaurant space. Nothing less than a forest-like experience with sky-high trees, this 15,900 sq ft space designed by Studio Renesa will blow your mind. Cosy up with creamy hot chocolate, nibble on ginger cookies and pamper yourself with some praline toffee nut and banana bread.

Must Try: Chimmichuri chicken and cheese croissant

Read more: 13 must visit restaurants in India where you should be spending your weekends at!