Dehradun has a large Tibetan population, and if you want to taste some of the community's authentic cuisine, Beyul, Hyatt Regency Dehradun's Rooftop Bar and Lounge is an excellent place to start. The restaurant also has a good selection of Indian and oriental dishes to keep the palate varied.
When I visited Beyul, the last thing on my mind was the food; the enchanting night view of the hills from the 7th floor was too distracting. From the twinkling lights of the Dehradun valley in the distance to the velvety darkness of the Malsi forest flanking the hotel to the beckoning backdrop of the Mussourie hills, the restaurant has an unfair advantage regarding location.
Beyul has both indoor and outdoor seating. The interiors are luxurious and contemporary, with a nod to its Tibetan moorings through artefacts and curios. At the entrance, don't miss the grand "Cham" masks that dancers wear during Tibetan religious festivals. The outdoor area is picturesque and affords a great view.
The bar and lounge have a hip vibe, and it is clearly the latest hangout joint for not just hotel guests but Dehradun locals who drive up for the experience. There are live DJs almost every night, and you can watch the skies change colour at dusk to the beats of electronic music.
Beyul has an extensive menu of small plates and house cocktails. I started the evening by sipping some of Beyul's signature cocktails. The Beyul Signature Old Fashioned is a very interesting drink where whiskey is blended with roasted Kashmiri walnuts, jaggery, and betel root syrup for a smoky and woody undertone.
The refreshing Himalayan Summer brings together London dry gin, a homemade limoncello made with local sweet mandarin oranges, olive salt for a savoury hint, and carbonated water harmoniously. The drink comes garnished with orange Campari jelly that adds a touch of bitterness.
Beyul serves a variety of small plates from Tibetan, Indian, Oriental and continental cuisine to go with their tempting cocktail offerings. I started my meal with Tibetan fare; the first was the Jashagyakok, a hearty chimney soup that can easily feed two to three people. We added pak choi, mushroom, bean sprouts, Kumaoni potatoes, Shigatse phing noodles, and chicken slivers to the hot, flavoursome stock. It was the perfect bowl of comfort on a cold evening. I followed this with a platter of Ra-Sha lamb momos, which were juicy and authentic, accompanied by a fiery chilli dip that added a bite. I also ordered a bowl of Thenthuk, a kind of hand-pulled Tibetan pasta, and Beyul makes a mean version jazzed up with tomatoes, seasonal greens, chicken and condiments. Tossed in a light sauce, the dish was delicious.
The beauty of small servings is that you can eat many things on the menu without over-stuffing yourself. And that was all the excuse I needed to try many more things from Beyul's extensive menu. I couldn't leave without sampling my favourite Truffle Fries, nicely garnished with Parmesan Snow, Parsley, Sea Salt and Truffle Oil, Crispy Corn Spinach, and the ghee roast pepper chicken flavoured with spices, pepper and curry leaves. The sabudana papad was a bonus.
The restaurant has a good selection of regular desserts, and I decided that the classic Tiramisu would be the best way to round off a grand meal.
Timings: Beyul, Rooftop Bar and Lounge is open from sundown to dinner, from 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
Address: Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort and Spa, Forest Edge, Mussoorie Rd, Salan Gaon, Malsi, Dehradun, Danion Ka Danda, Uttarakhand 248009
Getting There: Hyatt Regency Dehradun can be reached conveniently via multiple transportation options. Jolly Grant Airport, approximately 30km away, offers air travel access. For train travellers, Dehradun Railway Station connects well to major cities. Arriving guests can hire taxis or take public transport from these transit points. Those arriving by road can access Dehradun through well-connected highways from cities like Delhi and Haridwar.