What possibly do you do when you revisit a place? Okay but first of all, do you actually like to revisit a place or you move to a new one? Well, I like revisiting the same place and when I do so, I like to do the things I did during the last time considering I am already done with everything that the place has to offer. I spent some time sitting at Mountain View Caféin Shangarh during my first visit, relishing hot masala Maggi and staring at the mountains in the backdrop. I watched the sun getting lost behind the mountains and the mountains being topped with snow. Thrilling, isn’t it?
Read Here – Where to Eat in Shangarh?
So this time when I revisited Shangarh and passed in front of Mountain View Café, I had a beautiful nostalgic vibe. So back then, it was the only café in Shangarh (as far as I know) though now more cafes are opened, one of them is Café Stories n More. I came here twice during my weekend stay in the village (the same day when I reached the village and the next day when I left the village). The café looked crowded with local people. I didn’t see any travelers or tourists during my visit. However, the next day when I was sitting there, I did see a couple with a small kid. I took a short hike from there and then hitchhiked in a truck.
Mountain View Café – Location, Menu, and Vibes
So, the café is run by a local and I don’t remember his full name. All I remember is calling him Negi bhaiya. You will find him in the café’s kitchen or sometimes you will see his nephew (if I am not wrong). The café is located outside the main village, just a short walk of five minutes from the village by the roadside only which leads to the village and Devta Ground. Negi bhaiya lives there itself nearby (again, if I am not wrong). The café has enough parking space by its side. You can park your bike or car without any worry. The parking is free, obviously.
So this café is a basic local café that you find in the villages, nothing fancy. However, the fanciest thing about Mountain View Café of Shangarh is the view that you will get while enjoying your hot Maggi or chai. The sitting area of the café in the backside opens to breathtaking views of the mountains in front of you. I tell you one thing. Maggi or chai, whatever it is, tastes far more delicious here in the mountains than any other place. And Maggi in the mountains is a perfect treat for your trip.
Behind the café, you will see a small chalet (Ted’s Cabin) which can be booked through Air BnB. I wish I had known this earlier and I would have booked it for myself. All due to my unplanned journey. Well, someone was already staying there before my arrival so there was no chance I could have booked it around the same time. As far as I heard from Divya (the person staying there), I was told that Negi bhaiya manages the chalet. So, if you are planning a weekend itinerary to Shangarh and looking for an isolated place to stay, consider Ted’s Cabin.
What will you get here to eat? You name it and if possible you will get it. Okay, let me put it straight. All the basic things, including roti sabzi, veg, and non-veg dishes (confirm with the café), local cuisines, tea time snacks, etc. And yes, even the local alcoholic beverage. During my first visit to Mountain View Café, I had veg masala Maggi, twice and I even bought handmade coconut cookies. So during my recent visit, I did have Maggi, just like the last time, sitting at the same place. I had dinner there which included roti, daal, aloo gobhi, along with Siddu. If you don’t know what siddu is, it’s a local Himachali dish which is either eaten with honey or chutney with lots of ghee. It’s somehow like a samosa since it has a similar filling (correct me if I am wrong).
The next day I had lunch there at the café. Aloo paratha with dahi and butter. That was my last day at the café. On my fourth day in Shangarh, I ran out of stay options. I spent two days at Snowline Homestay and then I moved to Café Stories n More homestay. It kept raining and I couldn’t plan anything much. The rain even got me trapped inside the homestay. I even missed out on visiting the waterfall in Shangarh which was not so good for me, having visited the village twice and still missed out on this beauty. So yeah, I ran out of stay options due to rain, and then I asked Negi bhaiya if he could arrange me something for a night. And he did. He arranged me a room in someone’s home. And then I again ended up staying for two nights instead of one.
The café has two tables with four chairs on each in the backside and also has a sitting area, chairs, etc. in the main entrance. There is a power switch where you can charge your phone if it runs out of juice. If you want to work, you can. You want to smoke or sip tea/coffee, be comfortable. This is a silent zone but with sounds of nature, birds chirruping, water cascades. So, if you are heading to Shangarh, Mountain View Café of Shangarh is the first thing that will welcome you to the village.
