A few outdoor seats. Reservations strongly recommended
Luna Caprese – old standby, across from Shaheen Chemist on north side of Supermarket. Lousy pasta, but OK brick oven pizzas and the best steaks (apart form the Marriot) in town. Outdoor garden seating in warmer weather. Liquid refreshments. Open lunch and dinner. United Bakery – Best bakery in town. Pakistani sweets, western cakes, éclairs, h
omemade sugar free yogurt, farm fresh milk, and more. On north side of Supermarket a few doors away from Shaheen Chemist. Korean Restaurant – F-6/1, St. 35, H. 39. No sign. Real Korean food in restaurant run by a Korean woman. Liquid refreshments, I think. UN Club – Corner of double road and Margalla Road in F-6/3. Open only to members and their guests, so you need to find a club member to get you in. Food, liquid refreshment, swimming pool. Occasional theme evenings and happy hours. Majlis – Lebanese restaurant. Pricey. Has hubbly bubbly pipes. Street 3 between Kohsar Market and Margalla Road, F-6/3. Reservations are suggested. Table Talk – Decent small restaurant in Kohsar Market with indoor and outdoor seating. Try the vegetarian thali. Kohsar Market – 2 shops with lots of western foodstuffs and other products, a butcher, a decent bookstore, a hair salon, a vegetable shop, Multan pottery shop, Afghan glass seller, and a restaurant (Table Talk). Some shops not open on Sunday. F-7
Gol Markaz
Olive Garden – Pakistani and western food. Outdoor and indoor seating. Barbecue. Salad bar. Good pizza. On the back side of Gol Markaz, next to Hot Spot. (On the other side of the park on St. 8 in F-7/3.) Hot Spot – Pakistan’s Ben & Jerry’s: great home made ice cream in a funky environment. Good coffee, cakes, waffles, and 25 flavours of ice cream. Bagels and sandwiches at lunch time as well. Indoor and outdoor seating. It’s the hangout for Islamabad’s affluent youth. And free wi-fi, so I’m told! On the back side of Gol Markaz, next to Olive Garden. Gelato Affair – Islamabad’s newest ice cream shop. Ice cream (brought up from Karachi), desserts, and good coffee. Next to Civil Junction in Gol Markaz (half way down Street 8 in F-7/3, set off from the road beyond the playground.) Civil Junction – The capital’s hang out that is open to anyone, with a clever menu and a lot of artists and intellectuals but slow service. The idea is that it is a place where people with different ideas can meet and learn from each other. But mostly just a lazy place to spend an afternoon or an evening. Opens at noon and closes around midnight. Live music most Saturday nights Indoor and outdoor seating. Next to Gelato Affair in Gol Markaz (half way down Street 8 in F-7/3, set off from the road beyond the playground.) Rana Market
Chinatown – Old Chinese restaurant. Best thing on the menu: hot pots (cook food yourself at your table) in winter. Rana Market, on St. 16 in F-7/2. Jinnah Market
Upper Deck – (Former location of Arizona Grill) Upstairs above Gourmet Bakers on the northwest corner of Jinnah Super (F-7/2). Entrance is in the back (not visible from the street). Not sure whether it’s open yet but the sign is up. Not sure what kind of food. China Food Palace – Across from Shell station in F-7/1. Authentic Chinese food plus liquid refreshment available. Not much ambiance. Mondrian – Western and Pakistani fare. In the basement of King’s Arcade (not visible from the street) just beyond the Shell station (if going from the WV office) in the northwest side of Jinnah Super. Ye Olde Hang Oute – Basement ‘bar’ (I don’t think there is alcohol) with sh**ha pipe, in basement of King’s Arcade (visible from street on north side of Jinnah Super). Papasallis – Huge menu. Old favourite. Lots of tables upstairs, downstairs, and outside. Small salad bar. Below Chen One, across road from flower shops on north side of Jinnah Super. Café Lazeez – Good continental and some Pakistani food. Part of small chain started in London. Between Harolds Supermarket at Telenor building on south side of Jinnah Market. Kitchen Cuisine – Bakery downstairs, restaurant upstairs. Big menu, salad bar, quiche and salad combo, indoor and outdoor seating. Southeastern corner of Jinnah Super, on south side of the road (across from construction site)
Tofu can be purchased at the Chinese restaurant on 7th Avenue along F-6/1. Sometimes they have soy milk, too. Tofu and numerous other Chinese food products can be purchased in the Chinese shop (almost unmarked) which is on the right hand side of St. 30 in F-6/1 (off 7th Avenue) in the basement – look for doorbell on outside gate that says “Chinese.”
F-8
At Home Chinese Restaurant – Run by Frenchman (Jean Michel?) and his Chinese partner. Located in alley between H. 12 and H. 14 on St. 30, F-8/1. Only expats allowed because liquid refreshments are served. Good Chinese food. F-10
Lebanese Restaurant – Small restaurant on northeast side of F-10 Markaz, on the main road dividing F-10 from the Fatima Jinnah (F-9) Park. Dunkin Donuts – nearby on the same road. Blue Area
Omar Khayam (Iranian) – Basement restaurant. Run by an Iranian. Ask to see his copy of The Rubayat by Omar Khayam, the famous Persian poet. You can take your own liquid refreshment and have it served to you from a teapot. Jahangir – Standard Pakistani fare. On G-7 side of Blue Area near Wazir Tailors. Usmania – Standard Pakistani fare. Lasania – Standard Pakistani fare. Rehat Bakers – Good Pakistani sweets. Good pizza for less money than Pizza Hut. Wang Fu – Chinese. Bolan – Baluchi food including chicken or mutton cooked on a stick by an open fire. A few indoor seats and a few outdoor seats. Tiramisu – OK continental. At end of Blue Area on F-6 side, near travel agencies. Cinnamon – Good continental fare. In basement of Beverly Centre, just past PSO petrol station in Blue Area. Margalla Hills
Daman e Koh – 3 ½ km up from the zoo and overlooking Islamabad. Nice place for a picnic. Also a restaurant there with OK Pakistani food. Capital View Restaurant (Chicken Shack) – Outdoor barbecue place with the best chicken tikka in town. Try the halva, too. On a clear day, you can see all of Islamabad and then some. 13 km up the road from the zoo. G-6
Melody Market Food Court – 20 or so food stalls with Chinese, Afghani, and Pakistani food from all over the nation. Nice fried fish (in months with the letter R in them). Located in the centre of the G-6 Markaz, 2 rows of shops behind the Holiday Inn. Hotels:
Serena –
Moroccan-Lebanese Restaurant – quite nice
Coffeeshop – excellent coffee and pastries, some sandwiches. Great place for a meeting or a relaxing afternoon. 4-5 indoor and 3-4 outdoor tables. High Tea – Daily from about 4 to 6. Excellent buffet with inside seating and in pleasant weater lovely garden seating is available. Dinner Buffet- Nightly from about 7 pm, inside. Outdoor Barbecue- Nightly from about 7:30 p.m. in the back garden by the swimming pool. Marriot
Nadia – Main restaurant in lobby. Lovely lunch buffet. Dinner a la carte. Thai – Authentic Thai food. Try the Singapore Lassa Soup and the Som Tam green papaya salad. You can take your own liquid refreshment and have it served from a teapot. Jason’s Steak House – People say it’s the best steak in town. Japanese – Sushi bar as well as tables, with a water wall and floor-level goldfish tanks. Decent Japanese food. You can take your own liquid refreshment and have it served from a teapot or book a room and have the bottle right on the table. ISLAMABAD – Where to go? Fatima Jinnah Park – One full city sector just for park, some of which is groomed and some of which is still wild. Nice place for people watching, jogging, walking, or just having a picnic and relaxing. No dogs or bicycles allowed. Main entrances on Margallah Road and opposite F-10 Markaz. Bowling Alley – Western edge of Fatima Jinnah (F-10) park, in an arcade building (in the basement). Good quality bowling lanes, but not cheap. Shah Faisal Mosque (the big one) – It’s an architectural wonder and also very peaceful and calm inside. Women must have covered arms and heads. Deposit your shoes at the entrance and walk barefooted up the stairs and to the main building. Foreigners usually have the chance to go inside, even if Pakistanis are not being allowed in at that moment. Hiking in the Margallas – There are dozens and dozens of trails in the Margallas, most of which you won’t see anyone on except maybe a shepherd. Find someone who knows the trail to take with you on all trails except Trail 3. Trail 3 is the most popular and is considered very safe (they all are). The entrance to the 2 trails are at the parking lot on the northern side of the Margalla Road at the northeast corner of F-6/3. The right hand trail (by the little kiosk) is slightly longer and more gradual, and also more shady. The left hand trail is slightly steeper and shorter and more exposed to the sun. Both trails converge at the lookout, which is a 25-45 minute hike from the bottom. Hikers can continue along the one trail from the lookout to the Chicken Shack (see restaurants), which is usually about another 1-1/2 hours of hiking from the lookout. You can then hike back down or take a taxi or jingly truck, which will take you down to the zoo. Zoo – I’m told it’s depressing but they’re planning to revamp it. Nice place to see families and children having fun. Ultimate Gym – Workouts and massages. Corner of 7th Avenue and School Road (College Road) in F-6/2. Nirvana- New spa, located in G-6/3 off of Attaturk Rd (Embassy Row). Run by the owners of the Marriott, it’s a high end spa mostly for women, open 9 to 9 (but only 4-7 pm for men). Dineen, Sana, and Pashmina know the exact location. Canadian Club – Club for Canadian High Commission staff and some associate members from the international community. Happy hour open to all on Thursday nights. Sunday brunch from 11 am to 1 pm. Monthly parties on Friday or Saturday nights (tickets required). Entrance usually restricted to guests of members (each member can take in 2 guests at a time). Located in Canadian residential compound in the Diplomatic Enclave. American Club - Club for US Embassy staff and some associate members from the international community (monthly fee - $50). Happy hour open to all on Friday nights (?).Entrance usually restricted to guests of members (each member can take in 2 guests at a time). Ultmate Frisbee every Saturday afternoon (timing changes depending on season). Tennis pro. Best weight room/gym in town after Serena Hotel. Full-size pool (not heated in winter or cooled in summer). Bar and restaurant. Located in US Embassy compound in the Diplomatic Enclave. British Club – Club for UK High Commission staff. Occasional parties and social events. Located in British residential compound in the Diplomatic Enclave. French Club – Club for French Embassy staff and other Francophiles. Occasional French movies or other events. French food. Open certain days for lunch and Thursday and Saturday for dinner for non-club members. Best to have reservations - phone 282 1093 Located in French residential compound in the Diplomatic Enclave (between Canadian Club and US Embassy, across side street from US Embassy). UN Club – Club for UN staff. Pool, restaurant, and bar. Located at the corner of the Margalla Road and the double road in F-6/3. Asian Study Group (ASG) – Group of Pakistanis and internationals with numerous activities including hiking, travel, cooking, geology, botany, arts and crafts, biking, music, and more. Monthly calendar of events sent to members. Membership from September each year. Tickets for events available at ASG office in Blue Area and at London Books in Kohsar Market. Alliance Francaise – Courses in French language and Urdu language. Occasional French films or other events. Located on St. 16 in F-7/2. Lok Virsa Ethnography Museum – Located in Shakarparian. Very well respected museum. Nomad Gallery – 8th Avenue in F-8/3. Gift shop, café, and new shows about every 2 weeks. Occasional films or other activities. You can also join their electronic mailing list. Kohsar Market – Small market in F-6/4. 2 grocery stores with the best selection of imported foodstuffs including cheese, good butcher (with some frozen seafood), restaurant Table Talk, very good bookstore (London Books), Multan pottery shop, wicker furniture shop, and good vegetable shop (high prices but often vegetables not found elsewhere). Covered Market – Small market on Bazaar Road in G-6/3. Lots of small shops. Big indoor section with good vegetables and fruits including some not available elsewhere. Seafood shop next to the fruit and vegetables. Sunday Market – Large outdoor market on Sundays (and in G-9 location, on Tuesdays and Fridays as well). Fruit, vegetables, spices, meat, fish, clothing, kitchen utensils, and more. Located between the Red Mosque and Aabpara Market in G-6/4 (Sundays only) and in the middle of G-9 sector (Tues, Fri, Sun). Note that the G-9 market will be relocated at some point in 2006 or 2007. Best Price, 7th Avenue, and Harolds Supermarkets – Largest supermarkets in Islamabad. Best Price is on southern side of Supermarket (by petrol pump) and is probably the largest. 7th Avenue is next to the Telenor building on the south side of Jinnah Market. Harolds is on the other side, next to Café Lazeez restaurant
