Meghalaya is a vast state with its heart being situated at Shillong. The beguiling city of Shillong is bounded by lush green Himalayan mountains on all of its three sides overlooking the plains of Bangladesh. This winsome city is also known as “The Scotland of East”. The city destitute clouds throughout the year and provides relief from the scorching temperatures of summer. Shillong is located at the Shillong plateau and has the highest elevation in the whole of Meghalaya.
Shillong is a lively city and is known among the tourists for its waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, zoo, museums and mountain peaks which offer spectacular views. Apart from these, it is all famous for its flea market area summoned as Police Bazar. This market offers souvenirs, local handcrafted artefacts, local products and most important variants of street foods. The market serves as the centre of the city.
Withholding the tourist spots of Shillong is also lively because of the presence of various cafes throughout the city. The growth in tourism rate has also urged the growth in the rate of growing cafes. In recent years many cafes have sprouted up in the city of Shillong. Once in Shillong, one must keep a separate day to explore some of the popular cafes of the city. You will be awestruck by the culture and vibe of these cafes.
So let’s take a tour through some of the most well-known cafes in the city.
Dylan’s Cafe: Dylan’s Cafe is themed based on the popular American singer Bob Dylan. The interior walls of the cafe have memorabilia. The cafe is located at Risa Colony just at the opposite of Edmund’s School. It is open from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM. The cafe has a moody ambience which is softly lit and offers iconic fast food and bakery with songs of Bob Dylan playing in the backdrop. Besides, munching up the sumptuous dishes the customers can also indulge themselves in some board games that are placed inside the cafe. One can also purchase a cutesy collection from the cafe. The must-try of the cafe is Mississippi Mud Pie and Chicken Wings prepared with the sauce of your taste.
ML 05 Cafe: ML 05 Cafe pays testimonial to the biking culture of the city. It solemnises the love for bikes and the rides through it. The cafe is located a bit far from Shillong near the Eastern Air Command and is open from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. This cafe is unique in its own way and as you enter you will feel that you are entering a garage. The Harley Davidson placed in the centre of the cafe is the most eye-catching part of it. The best food in this cafe is Fried Rice, Bombay Chicken Wings and Pasta.
Cafe Shillong: Cafe Shillong is a continental cafe and thus offers Continental dishes. The cafe is located at Laitumkhrah in the L.P. building. The serving hours of the cafe is from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The cafe comes up with a warm and cosy environment and plays live music. I must mention that the live music played by the local bands in the cafe will definitely make your foot tap and will take away your day’s fatigue. One can hop into the cafe to listen to some local music relishing over the delicious delicacies. The must-try of the cafe is Irish Coffee and Roasted Pork Ribs.
Bread Cafe: Bread Cafe is located at the heart of the city, Police Bazar. The cafe operates from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM. It is the perfect place for the shopping sprees to take some rest and give their tummy some energy. It is a cafe cum bakery and houses some of the city’s best brownies and cheesecakes. Various other bakery products and of the finest German pastry is available in this cafe. The must-try menu of the cafe is Chicken Danish and Coffee.
Swish cafe: Swish Cafe is the first cafe that was inaugurated in the whole state of Meghalaya. It is noted that this cafe brought the coffee culture in the state. The cafe is located at the Beat House of Laitumkhrah and was opened in the year of 2003 by Mary Tairang. It is operational from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM. The bohemian environment of this cafe generally entices the youngsters. The artistic vibe of the cafe also lures the local musicians to visit the place. The presence of a television, a mini library and live music being played throughout the day allures the people to pay a visit to the cafe. This cafe is best in selling Roasted Chicken, Smoked Pork Fried Rice, Coffee and Mac-n-Cheese.
Cafe Shillong Heritage: Cafe Shillong Heritage is the sister cafe of Cafe Shillong. The cafe was set up in the year 2012 in the serene backdrop of Tripura Castle, Shillong. It is located in Laitumkhrah and is open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The cafe presents a surreal view as the visitors dodge themselves into delicious delicacies. Someone who wants to spend their own time can visit this cafe as they can sip over a cup of coffee and read a book on their own. The cafe is well known among travellers for its relaxed ambience. The star item of this cafe is Hazelnut Coffee and Dumplings that are served with some tangy and spicy sauces.
Little Chef Cafe: Little Chef Cafe is located at Police Point in Laitumkhrah and is open between 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM. However, unlike the other cafes, this cafe is closed on Sundays. This cafe is a heavenly place for people who have cravings for sweet dishes. The cafe is not so whim but has a warm vibe and is pocket friendly which lures the backpackers and budget travellers. The must-try of this cafe are Coffee, Chicken Pastry and Crepes.
Open Up Cafe: This cafe in Shillong is notable among the people for its theme that is incorporated on comic characters like Batman. The cafe is situated in Mawlai, Mawroh. It is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The cafe has earned its name for its super yummy Hotdogs. Besides, it also serves mouthwatering Burgers along with some tangy and spicy dips and also the usual range of snacks and Coffees. The must-try of the cafe is Momos and Hotdogs.
Munchies: Munchies located at Laitumkhrah is open from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM from Monday to Saturday and from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sundays. This cafe is a must-visit for the cheese lovers. This cafe offers Russian, Lebanese, Mexican and Italian dishes without causing any harm to your pocket. However one should not expect plush interior and flaring ambience as this cafe has more of a relaxing atmosphere. The must-try are hand-beaten coffee, burger and strawberry smoothie.
Living Roof: Living Roof cafe is located near Shillong College in Bomfyle road, Laitlumkhrah. The cafe is operational 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM. It is a homestay cum cafe. The cafe serves as many cuisines as Indian, Italian, Chinese and European. The cafe is famous among college-goers and youths.
These cafes of Shillong are the paradise for the foodies and travellers visiting the hilltown. Besides, it also helps you to explore the local vibes of the place. Although there is an enormous number of cafes in Shillong however, these are some of the best places to spend your own sweet time with your pals. So the city of Shillong is best explored when one strolls through the quaint roads and stops by the cafes to wallow in some of the delicious delicacies.
10 Comments
Dilip Kumar Mondal
May 2, 2020 at 1:10 PMGreat information for foodie..and nicely written ??
Krishnandu Sarkar
May 2, 2020 at 1:19 PMI’m glad that you liked it 🙂
Suparna Acharya
May 2, 2020 at 1:35 PMThank You 🙂
Stanley
May 3, 2020 at 1:40 PMVery nice.
Are these cafes open air type or enclosed with air-conditioning ? Where else can I visit for sceneries (not for waterfalls, national parks or animals) beside Shillong ? Where is the nearest airport ?
Krishnandu Sarkar
May 4, 2020 at 7:48 PMHi Stanley, There are multiple types of Cafes we have covered here. Few of them are Open AIr types and few of them are enclosed.
Except for Waterfalls, you may choose to explore Mawphlang, Mawlyngbna, Mawphanlur if you are looking for exploring the offbeat Meghalaya. Or you may choose to head over to David Scott Trail if you are interested in adventure. You may also choose to head over to Jaintia Hills for Dawki or Jowai region to experience the history and culture different from Khasi. You may also choose to explore Tura in Garo Hills which is a rarely explored region.
Although Shillong do have a Airport, but flights to Shillong tends to get cancelled every now and then. I’d recommend you to fly to Guwahati (in Assam) instead.
Hope that helps 🙂
Sushmita Nandi
May 3, 2020 at 10:57 PMVery informative and well written.
Suparna Acharya
May 4, 2020 at 7:50 PMThank you 🙂
Dan
June 24, 2020 at 9:39 AMNicely written. You should also visit Vibes at Nongeim Hills, Shillong.
Suparna Acharya
June 24, 2020 at 11:22 AMHi Dan
Thank you 🙂 I’m glad that you have liked my post.
I will surely keep your recommendation in my mind while on my next visit to Shillong.
aahid nabi
August 27, 2024 at 4:43 AM“Thanks for the fantastic roundup of Shillong’s top cafes! Your descriptions of each spot really bring out the unique vibe and charm that make them special. As someone who loves exploring local cafes while traveling, I found your insights super helpful. The blend of food, ambiance, and location you highlighted makes me even more excited to visit Shillong. I’ll definitely be adding these cafes to my list for my next trip!”