7 Best Cafes and Restaurants in Hunza for Tourists
Ever wondered what food tastes like when it’s seasoned with stories, glaciers, and centuries of tradition?
Nestled among the soaring peaks and sapphire skies of Gilgit-Baltistan lies a place where every meal is more than just sustenance—it’s a memory in the making. Hunza Valley, while famous for its views, is equally fascinating in its culinary offerings. From ancient Balti flavors to experimental fusion dishes, Hunza’s cafes and restaurants are quietly building their own legacy—one dish at a time.
This blog takes you through 7 of the best cafes and restaurants in Hunza, where the views are breathtaking and the food, unforgettable. Whether you’re a backpacker chasing the Karakoram or a family seeking a laid-back retreat, there’s a table in Hunza waiting just for you.
Having spent weeks traveling across Karimabad, Altit, Passu, and Gulmit, I found that the most profound travel experiences often begin with a warm meal. Some of these places made me feel like I’d stepped into a local’s home, others served such artfully plated dishes they felt like fine dining disguised as mountain hospitality.
So, if you’re hungry for more than views, keep reading—because food in Hunza? It speaks a language older than the Silk Road itself.
Table of Contents
Silk Route Cafe – Where Culture Meets Culinary Magic
If Hunza had a beating heart, Silk Route Cafe would be the rhythm. Perched above Altit Fort, this charming spot offers more than coffee and cakes. It offers connection—to the land, the past, and to flavors that seem to whisper the stories of the ancient traders who once passed through this region.
The café is locally owned and operated by a vibrant team of young Hunzukutz, passionate about sharing their heritage through food. Their walnut cake, warm from the oven, pairs exquisitely with the house-blended herbal tea, made from wild mountain herbs. The Balti-style apricot soup here is a secret well-guarded and fiercely loved.
During my visit, I sat on a wooden balcony overlooking the Altit settlement. With the scent of pine in the air and the hum of quiet conversations around me, I felt, for a moment, like time had slowed down just for us.
If you’re a traveler who craves authenticity served on a plate, Silk Route Cafe is where your Hunza story should begin.
Cafe De Hunza – Walnut Cake Royalty and Espresso That Talks Back
Tucked into the bustling village of Karimabad, Cafe De Hunza is a pilgrimage site for foodies. Their world-famous walnut cake has reached almost mythical status, and rightly so. One bite and you’ll understand why no visit to Hunza is complete without it.
Their menu leans into both comfort and innovation. Expect cheese omelets, avocado toast with yak butter, and real espresso—yes, even up here in the mountains. The café is small but welcoming, with wood-paneled walls, local art, and books that make it feel like a traveler’s living room.
Pro tip: Grab a table near the window during golden hour. Watching the sun dip behind Ultar Sar while sipping espresso is soul therapy.
Glacier Breeze Restaurant, Passu – Dining Under Giant Peaks
Located in Passu, just steps away from the iconic suspension bridge and towering cathedral peaks, Glacier Breeze is famed for its humble hospitality and outrageously good yak burgers. The bread is handmade. The meat? Local. The view? You’ll never forget it.
Their rooftop offers a surreal backdrop for lunch—imagine biting into a hot Balti momo while the sun sets behind Passu Cones. It’s a fusion of adrenaline and tranquility, like the region itself.
I met a German trekker here who called it “the best meal I’ve had since Berlin,” and honestly, I believe her.
What makes Glacier Breeze more than just a stopover is the way it captures the soul of the Hunza Valley—unpretentious, nourishing, and unforgettable. You’re likely to sit next to local guides discussing glacier routes, or cyclists fresh off the Karakoram Highway. The walls inside the modest dining space are lined with pictures from past visitors, scribbled notes of gratitude, and flags from across the globe.
Service is slow—but intentionally so. Meals are made fresh, with heart. And that wait? It gives you time to look around, breathe deeply, and fall in love with Passu a little more.
Mountain Story Cafe & Bistro, Karimabad – Bookish Vibes & Gourmet Flavors
This modern little gem offers a sophisticated twist to Hunza’s food scene. Think locally-sourced ingredients, gourmet pasta, and berry-topped cheesecakes. The café doubles as a bookshop, making it a paradise for solo travelers and digital nomads.
Their sun-dried tomato and apricot salad is both bizarre and brilliant, and their mushroom and yak cheese pizza is worth every calorie.
Bonus: they have charging stations, fast Wi-Fi (relatively), and excellent music—making it perfect for catching up on journaling or emails while indulging in flaky pastries.
What sets Glacier Breeze apart is its gentle atmosphere—sunlight spills through wide windows, painting the wooden tables gold, while the snow-capped Passu Cones glint in the background. The café attracts an eclectic mix of customers: artists sketching quietly in corners, mountaineers refueling post-hike, and the occasional travel writer typing furiously over a cup of saffron-infused chai.
The books on the shelves are a curious mix—travel memoirs, Urdu poetry, mountaineering tales, and even Japanese fiction. It’s the kind of place where time stretches, where one espresso turns into two, and suddenly you’ve spent your entire afternoon in a state of cozy, caffeinated bliss.
It’s not just a café. It’s a creative retreat in the Karakoram.
Yak Grill – The Go-To Spot for Meat Lovers
You’ll smell Yak Grill before you see it. The aroma of charcoal-grilled meats, herbs, and freshly baked flatbread fills the air outside this family-run joint in Gulmit.
They specialize in yak steaks, grilled trout, and marinated mutton skewers. There’s nothing fancy here—wooden benches, smoky air, and a view of the Hunza River. But oh, the food. It’s the kind that hugs your insides after a long day of hiking or exploring.
The owner, Rehman, told me he smokes the yak meat over apricot wood for flavor. That little touch? Magic.
What makes Yak Grill memorable isn’t just the meat—it’s the atmosphere. You’ll find yourself sharing tables with local climbers, road-tripping families, and solo backpackers trading stories of mountain passes and misadventures. Meals are served on metal trays, piping hot, with warm naan straight from the tandoor and a side of tangy apricot chutney that wakes up every bite.
Rehman doesn’t have a menu board. He tells you what’s fresh that day—sometimes it’s yak liver, sometimes it’s spiced lentils for vegetarians. Either way, you’ll leave full and happy, with that smoky scent clinging to your clothes like a souvenir.
This isn’t just a grill. It’s Hunza hospitality over fire
Hidden Paradise Cafe, Hussaini – Where Silence Serves Flavor
Far from the crowded tourist tracks, beyond the honks of jeeps and the selfie sticks at every corner, lies a place that feels like a well-kept secret whispered only among kindred travelers—Hidden Paradise Cafe in Hussaini. Perched quietly above a graceful bend in the river, this open-air gem is not just a cafe—it’s a quiet rebellion against the noise of modern life.
Here, the menu is humble but crafted with heart. Many of the ingredients come straight from the terraced garden behind the kitchen. You can see the green of the spinach still dew-kissed, the tomatoes ripening under the mountain sun. The vegetable thukpa—a Himalayan noodle soup—is steaming, hearty, and full of bold, earthy flavor, the kind that wraps you up like a woolen shawl on a chilly evening. And then there are the apricot pancakes, soft and golden, dusted lightly with local honey—each bite tastes like the first light of dawn in the valley.
There’s no Wi-Fi here. No playlists humming in the background. Just the wind through the poplar trees, the distant chatter of the river, and the feeling that, just maybe, you’ve found a little piece of the world untouched by time
Bazouq Restaurant – For the Fusion Food Curious
Last but not least, Bazouq in Aliabad blends tradition with trend. Their Balti pizza (yes, that’s a thing) uses spiced apricot chutney as base sauce, topped with local cheese and herbs. Strange? Maybe. Delicious? Definitely.
If you’re into food experiments that work, this place is your playground.
Tucked away in the bustling heart of Aliabad, Bazouq is where culinary traditions take an unexpected—yet delightful—twist. Think of it as a laboratory for food lovers, where ancient Balti ingredients meet the imagination of modern chefs. And at the center of it all? The now locally legendary Balti Pizza.
No, you didn’t misread that. This isn’t your average pepperoni pie. At Bazouq, the pizza is slathered in a house-made spiced apricot chutney instead of tomato sauce—sweet, tangy, and just fiery enough to surprise your palate. Then comes a generous helping of local goat cheese, hand-grated and full of earthy depth, followed by a sprinkle of mountain herbs gathered from the surrounding slopes. The crust? Wood-fired, thin, and crisp enough to snap with a perfect bite.
The vibe here matches the food—young, curious, and unapologetically creative. You’ll find locals and travelers alike sharing tables, sipping fresh cherry juice, or debating whether apricot really belongs on pizza (spoiler: it does).
If you’re the type of traveler who seeks out food stories rather than just meals, Bazouq will be your favorite chapter in Hunza. Come with an open mind—and an even hungrier stomach.
How to Explore Hunza’s Cafe Culture (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Know the Seasons – Summer (May–August) is high season, so expect crowds. Spring and autumn are quieter and better for cozying up in mountain cafes without the rush.
Step 2: Plan Your Route – Base yourself in Karimabad or Gulmit for easy access to most of the cafes. Use offline maps and keep your travel days flexible.
Step 3: Taste Before You Judge – Some dishes may seem odd at first (like salty butter tea or yak jerky), but part of travel is embracing new tastes.
Step 4: Ask Locals – Often, the best recommendations aren’t online. Ask your hotel host or a guide what their favorite café is—they know the real gems.
Step 5: Pack Snacks for the Road – If you’re road-tripping to Khunjerab Pass or Chapursan, cafés can be far apart. Keep dried fruits or apricot cakes handy.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
Hunza’s cafés and restaurants offer more than meals—they serve identity, innovation, and soul. You’ve now got the ultimate shortlist of where to eat, drink, and let the view soak in. Whether it’s sipping tea under apricot trees or devouring a yak steak while glaciers loom in the distance, Hunza will feed you—body and spirit.
Ready to eat your way through Hunza?
Start marking your map, pack an appetite, and let each café introduce you to a new layer of this magical valley.
The Takeaway
Traveling in Pakistan is both exciting and accessible because to its varied transportation system. Every type of traveler has an alternative, from the convenience of ride-hailing services to the affordability of buses and trains.
Metro busses, Careem, and Uber are the most convenient means of transportation for brief city excursions. Pakistan’s picturesque train routes and opulent bus services offer comfortable and reasonably priced long-distance travel. The quickest option to travel long distances is still by domestic flight, particularly when traveling to far-flung northern locations.
Are you prepared to travel to Pakistan? Plan your vacation now to take advantage of the amazing nation’s transportation infrastructure!
Explore carefully planned tours to see the best of this fascinating nation. Please get in touch if you would need more travel advice; we are happy to assist you in organizing your upcoming journey! Additionally, by completing this form, you can personalize your journey.
FAQ: Answering Your Top Questions About Karachi
- What is the best cafe in Hunza?
Silk Route Cafe in Altit tops the list for its views, local dishes, and cultural ambiance.
- Is Cafe De Hunza really worth the hype?
Yes! Their walnut cake and coffee are famous for a reason—it’s a must-visit.
- Do any restaurants in Hunza cater to vegetarians?
Yes. Mountain Story Cafe and Hidden Paradise Cafe offer great vegetarian and vegan options.
- What are traditional Hunza foods I should try?
Try chapshuro (meat pie), buckwheat pancakes, apricot soup, and salty butter tea.
- Is yak meat common in Hunza restaurants?
Yes! Yak Grill and Glacier Breeze specialize in yak steaks and burgers.
- What is the average cost of a meal?
Expect to spend PKR 500–1,500 per meal depending on location and dish.
- Are the cafes open in winter?
Some, like Silk Route and Cafe De Hunza, remain open year-round, but always call ahead.
- Do I need a reservation?
Only during peak tourist season. Otherwise, walk-ins are welcome at most places.
- Are these cafes kid-friendly?
Yes, many have open spaces, gardens, and menu options for children.
- Can I get espresso in Hunza?
Yes. Cafe De Hunza and Mountain Story Cafe offer high-quality espresso and cappuccino.
- Are there cafes with Wi-Fi?
Yes, but expect slow speeds. Mountain Story Cafe and Cafe De Hunza offer decent connectivity
Daniel loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations and making new friends. Writing blog posts since 2015, Daniel says it helps him to document his travels and cherish them. He loves the fact that what he writes might actually help someone have a better experience in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In his spare time, he loves listening to Tchaikovsky and spend time with his dog Coconut.
