Ahdoos Restaurant

Located along the banks of the Jhelum River with the upmarket Residency Road just across, Ahdoos is nothing short of an institute in Kashmir. Located within a hotel, it’s the restaurant that really draws in crowds by the hordes. Established all the way back in 1918, this was the valley’s first eatery, and even though it’s been joined by multiple others today, few can hold a candle to the quality of food, flavour and freshness maintained by Ahdoos even to this day. Although the menu here also accommodates Indian, Mughlai and Chinese cuisine, the restaurant is popularly referred to as the connoisseur of wazwan—it’s best if you stick to their speciality, and you won’t be disappointed. Translating into an elaborate spread of 36 dishes, wazwan is typically eaten by locals on special occasions. Hours go into its preparation—the meats are pounded till they are at their soft and succulent best—and the result is a rich and satisfying meal that you probably won’t be able to handle eating more than a couple of times a year.