Best Cafes in Islamabad with a View

The best cafes in Islamabad with a view are now down in the city rather than up on the ridge. For the Margalla Hills and Faisal Mosque, go to La Terrazza on the top floor of the Centaurus; for a wide city panorama, the relocated Monal on the roof of the Mall of Imarat; for hillside terraces with old stone walls, Saidpur Village; and for the cheapest view of all, a cup of tea at Daman-e-Koh.

The famous hilltop restaurants at Pir Sohawa, Monal among them, closed in September 2024 after a Supreme Court order on commercial buildings inside Margalla Hills National Park, and no big restaurant has reopened on that ridge since. So the list below is sorted by the kind of view you want, with one practical tip for each place.

Before you go: the 11 pm rule

Islamabad is under austerity closing hours again. A federal order of 17 September 2026 told restaurants and cafes to close by 11 pm, with takeaway and delivery exempt, for three months (Dawn). The rules have changed several times in 2026, so if you are planning a late coffee after a wedding or a long drive, check the current order first. In practice it means the night-view places on this list are best from sunset to about 10 pm.

Cafes with a Margalla Hills view

La Terrazza, The Centaurus

On the third floor of The Centaurus on Jinnah Avenue, La Terrazza's open terrace looks straight across Blue Area to Faisal Mosque and the Margalla Hills. It is the most central view in the city, and the one most people mean when they ask for a cafe with a proper view of the mosque. The menu is mostly Italian and continental.

Tip: ask for the outdoor terrace when you book, because the inside tables lose most of the view. The terrace is at its best around sunset and after dark, when the mosque is lit, and you can walk round the mall before or after.

Saidpur Village

Saidpur, the restored village at the foot of the Margalla Hills off Margalla Road, has several restaurants in old stone houses climbing the slope, with outdoor terraces looking up at the hills and down over the temple and lanes. The best known is Des Pardes, open for lunch and dinner, which serves karahi, barbecue and Mughlai dishes with terrace seating. This is less a coffee stop than a long, relaxed meal with a setting. Our Saidpur Village guide covers the history and the lanes.

Tip: go in the evening, when the village is lit and the heat has gone, but arrive early on Fridays and weekends because families fill the terraces fast.

Kohsar Market, F-6

Kohsar Market is not a viewpoint, but it sits close under the hills, and on a clear evening the Margalla ridge fills the end of the street. Long-running places such as Tuscany Courtyard and Street 1 Cafe have outdoor seating, and the market is quieter and calmer than F-7. Venues here change hands regularly, so check current reviews before you go. Our Kohsar Market guide lists more.

Tip: weekday late afternoons are the easiest time to get an outside table.

Rooftops with a city view

Monal, Mall of Imarat

Monal reopened in March 2026, not on its old site at Pir Sohawa but on the rooftop of Mall of Imarat Tower 1 at Imarat Downtown, on the Islamabad Expressway near Koral Chowk. The view is a wide sweep over the city rather than the old look-down from the ridge, and evenings, especially weekends, are when it is busiest. Imarat Downtown gives its hours as 10:30 am to 11 pm daily.

Tip: book ahead for a weekend evening, and allow for Expressway traffic if you are coming from F-sectors at rush hour. It is easier to reach from DHA and Bahria Town than from the north of the city.

Skydine Revolving Restaurant, Bahria Town

On the seventh floor of STS Mall in Bahria Town's Civic Centre, Skydine's floor turns slowly so the view moves round the city as you eat. It is on the Rawalpindi side of the twin cities, a long drive from central Islamabad, and best treated as a special-occasion dinner rather than a coffee.

Tip: published hours run late into the night, but closing-time orders can apply, so confirm by phone on the day.

Cheap tea with the best view

Daman-e-Koh

Daman-e-Koh, the viewing terrace about 730 metres up the Margalla Hills, has snack stalls and simple restaurants selling tea, snacks and street food. Nothing about the food is special, but the view over Faisal Mosque, Rawal Lake and the grid of the city is better than from any rooftop, and it costs a fraction of the price. Our Daman-e-Koh guide covers parking and the bus.

Tip: come at sunset, then stay for the city lights. On busy evenings expect queues at the stalls and at the car park.

Pir Sohawa

Since the restaurants closed, the ridge at Pir Sohawa has a scatter of small licensed kiosks selling tea and snacks along the road, and the air is noticeably cooler than in the city. There is no sit-down restaurant to plan a meal around. Our Pir Sohawa guide explains what is left up there.

Tip: bring your own food if you plan to stay, and drive down before dark if you are not used to the bends.

Lakeside

Lake View Park, on the shore of Rawal Lake, has food stalls and sit-down options near the entrance and the boating jetty. It is the choice for families who want water, space for children and a snack, rather than a cafe as such.

Tip: weekday afternoons are far quieter than weekends, and the light over the lake is best in the last hour before sunset.

Which one should you choose?

• For a date or a quiet coffee with Faisal Mosque in view: La Terrazza.
• For a big family dinner with a view and a sense of occasion: Monal at Imarat, or Skydine if you live on the Bahria side.
• For a traditional setting and desi food: Saidpur Village.
• For the best view on the smallest budget: Daman-e-Koh at sunset.
• For a drive and cool air rather than a meal: Pir Sohawa.

Visitors who remember the old Pir Sohawa strip should adjust expectations: the views from the ridge are still there, but the coffee with a view now mostly happens in the city. For a full list of sunset viewpoints to pair with any of these, see our sunset spots in Islamabad, and for other things to do in the capital, our experiences page.

Frequently asked questions