G6
Melody Food Park
In melody g-6 markaz is a newly opened food area with variety of food to choose from with some nationally famous restaurant names having outlets there. plenty of bbq and traditional pakistani food with a variety of fresh fruit juices to choose from.
Rakaposhi
Pastry shop at the serena, has some of the best coffee and pastries in pakistan. worth a visit if you just want to relax or get some work done. the serena also offers wireless internet, so, it is an ideal place to sit and get some work done if you like.
Kamran Restaurant
In aabpara, g-6/1 is also a famous place for traditional pakistani cuisine.
Up in the margella hills
Des Pardes
A great choice for top notch Pakistani food - evenings are best when Saidpur is illuminated with subtle floodlighting, and you can relax on the terrace and admire the architecture. Can be very busy on weekends so reserving a table is recommended - the parking can be chaotic also.
Polo Lounge
Decent fine dining restaurant, with a long established sister restaurant in Lahore. European menu, excellent steaks, professional chef, drinks available. The upstairs terrace is wonderful, if a bit chilly in winter. Reservations recommended.
Monal
Set at an altitude of 3900 ft on Margalla Hills, Monal offers a spectacular view of the city. It is the largest restaurant in Pakistan in terms of seating capacity
F10
Lebanese Cafe
Run by a Lebanese family, the cafe restaurant is the perfect excuse to delve in to the back streets of F10 - the setting is nothing fancy, but the food is excellent, and very good value. Home deliveries available. No sheesha however.
MJ's Specialities
Specialist European style bakery, pizzeria and BBQ. Excellent food, specialty breads, cheesecakes, gelato ices. Outside lawn for BBQ.
F6
Majlis
Hill road northern end, on the f6-3 side, a trendy place with good lebanese food. a place where you will find the the movers and shakers of the city and a large portion of the arabic diplomatic community. the food is pretty good although some would argue that the lebanese cafe in f10 is more authentic, and the setting just right. though those visiting on a tight budget can choose to avoid it, it sure is worth a stop. it also delivers.
Table Talk
understated, home-cooked, well presented Asian and European food, in a small, cosy inside-outside restaurant with London Books shop next door. The place is aimed squarely at the expat market, and priced with this in mind. Owner also runs Riffy's restaurant in Chak Sharzad - call for details.
Khiva
Offers a central asia cuisine. it has indoor and outdoor seating. address: house no.64, main margalla road, f-6/3, islamabad
Nandos
recently opened branch of the popular chicken chain
Luna Caprese
Famous for being the site of a bomb attack in 2008, offers acceptable Italian dining with an extensive menu covering, pastas, seafood and meat. Wine and beer available at a price Rs 600 for a glass of red. Nice garden out back.
Cafe Khaas
No. 1, street 2, f-6/3. cafe khaas, is an extension of khaas art gallery. a lunch only place that is normally packed, though expensive has great food. they also boast one of the finest art collections in islamabad. look for "mouse" or the manager, and you will be given personal attention. make sure you get a suggestion for what is best, and work your way through the limited, but exquisite menu. at the lunch hour, this place is filled with yet more, movers and shakers of islamabad, from the business men, to politicians, models and expats. the place is always kicking for the sophisticated lunch.
F7
Upper Deck
F-7 markaz jinnah super, above gourmet bakery, near north-west corner of markaz. a very nice, up-market restaurant specializing in seafood. popular with expats and well-off locals. nice ambiance, a variety of well-prepared fish, fish & chips and a fish burger. decent cheesecake and chocolate cake for dessert. main courses rs300 - rs800.
Namak Mandi
Only for dinner. Set in a pleasant garden behind a large guest house. Pakistani food, traditional music playing, aimed firmly at expats. Service is slow but the food good. Drinks available at a price Rs2,500 for a bottle of wine. There is a better restaurant with the same name in Rawalpindi
Papa Sallis
F-7 markaz jinnah superph: 2650550-3, very well known place please ask any local shop for directions for steaks and pizzas since 1991. prices are quite high for pakistani standards, but from a western perspective still very cheap.
Ye Olde Hangout
F-7 markaz jinnah super, behind shell petrol station. a wonderful little coffee shop/sheesha bar. they serve a small selection of global and local food, and play sexy bollywood and egyptian videos. posters of jimi hendrix, 50 cent, marilyn manson and angus young are on the walls. one room is all men. another for mixed couples and ladies only. no alcohol of course, but lots of cigarettes and a good tea selection.
Hot Spot
One of the few places that islamabad can claim as theirs first. f-7/3 gol market also offers a great ice-cream place. though the menu has now increased from just ice-cream to milkshakes, pies, sandwiches and plenty more, the place still has the feel of an ice-cream joint. with a unique, rather artistic decor, hot spot is a must visit for any first time traveler to islamabad.
Pizza Hut
Not the same as worldwide, but still better than a few.
Olive Garden
Set in the wealthy back streets of F7 the Olive Garden is popular with wealthy Pakistani's and is a great place to people watch on a weekend. Food is variable, but the setting is nice, with a fire pit in winter, and plenty of sheesha. Not part of the American chain.
Kabul Restaurant
This large restaurant just off the markaz serves up tasty kebabs and Afghani specialties, and is usually very crowded with locals and expats at dinner time.
Civil Junction
F-7/3 markaz gol market offers good coffee and an interesting array of drinks and 'mocktails'. light snacks are also offered along with coffee and drinks. the place offers occasional live music from upcoming local bands, making it a popular hangout with the youth of the city.
Seoul Club Korean Restaurant
Hidden away in F7's back streets is this house-converted-to-restaurant run by a Korean women. Most other diners are Korean expats craving a taste of home. Most Korean favourites available, including dolsot bibimbap, and piles of Kimchi. No 'cook at your table' bulgolgi however. Moderately expensive. Alcohol available, but ask the price before ordering.
Blue area
Lasania Restaurant
66 west junaid plaza, blue area ph: 227-3200, 287-2200. this place is very nicely decorated and is also situated in a very nice location. they have a huge selection of bbq, pakistani and chinese food items on the menu. their food is not extremely spicy like most other places.
Subway
Is a franchise of the international subway and has two branches, one in blue area, and the other one in f11-markaz. it offers subs and salad.
Usmania Restaurant
In blue area is also a famous place for traditional pakistani cuisine.
Jahangir's
Masco plaza, blue area is one of the most popular local restaurant chains. its delicious local or 'desi' items and barbecue are a treat, garnering it lots of appreciation from food lovers. known for their pakistani and indian specialties.
Bar-B-Q Tonight
Popular new BBQ restaurant, with consistently good food and a varied menu of Pakistani favorites. Same owners as the branch in Karachi. Big rush on dinner timings. Price ranges from 300-700 per person. Free delivery available.
Bolan Saltish
Afghani and pakistani restaurant, known for its khadda sajji.
Kanpai
Expensive but not bad Japanese restaurant, and one of the few restaurants in the Diplomatic enclave outside of an Embassy and hence open-to-all. Serves a range of Bento boxes, tempura, noodles, sushi and sashimi, and in all fairness the food is fairly authentic the owner/manager is Japanese. Can bring your own drinks also.
Masoom's Cafe
Restaurant, cafe, patisserie - modern decor, plasma screens, surprisingly good food and service - has a nice outdoor area for sheesha and snacks also.
China Town Restaurant
Street 55, f-8/4. a large and popular chinese restaurant. it offers sichuan cuisine with firepot as one of it's specialities coupled with the modern blend where the waiters use pdas to take orders. china town enjoys a very loyal patronage from its customers. the restaurant is being re-located to a beautiful 8,000 sq ft building on street 55, f-8/4. it features a professional kitchen in the basement, a beautiful lounge on ground floor, a fine dining hall on the first floor, and a roof top sitting with a fantastic view of margallas.
At first glance the visitor may feel that Islamabad offers little to excite the taste-buds, however beneath the surface there is a thriving restaurant scene. Many of the better restaurants are away from the main markets of F6 and F7. Most do not serve alcohol, but some allow you to bring your own. Call ahead to ask.
For ease of use restaurants are organised by sector:
Khyber Afghan Restaurant
Pleasant local Afghan restaurant set in a small house, and a good excuse to explore the back streets of little-visited G9. Can eat well for under Rs. 500 per person.