A Foodie’s Day Out In Lahore

With temperatures crossing 40 degrees every single day, the summer in Lahore is showing it’s strength. If you’re planning on visiting the city during these days then you really need a proper plan in place, as well as advice from locals – because the city is way different from what you see in pictures. Nothing to be scared of, but a little planning will go a long way in making your experience much more memorable (in a good way). Here’s how you can spend a great day in Lahore if you happen to be a foodie.

Try to leave your bed early in the morning to enjoy the fresh air and travel towards Model Town to enjoy breakfast from Goga Naqibia. It is one of the best-known places for murgh channay (chickpeas cooked in chicken), a popular breakfast in Lahore. Their Special Channay along with a mug of Lassi will make you forget Zinger Burgers and pizza. You can also have boiled eggs with the channay, and ask for puris instead of naans to mix it up. My personal  advice is that you go with naan, channay and lassi. If you need more options for breakfast in Lahore you can check out our Top 5 picks for a Lahori Breakfast. 

Goga Naqibia in Model Town. Image: Author

After breakfast, don’t be too ambitious to go sightseeing as you won’t be able to enjoy the beauty of Lahore’s historical buildings and gardens at this hour. It’s best to rest till noon and then, when you’re planning for lunch, you should visit Dera Restaurant at Gaddafi Stadium. This place is known for it’s cultural setting and traditional taste. The chairs, tables and ambiance depict a typical Punjabi dera (a common place where people gather). This is the perfect place for an authentic Punjabi lunch.

Image: Dera Restaurant Facebook page

After lunch, you can visit Sozo Water Park to beat the heat (and work off all that food). The park is located 22 kilometers away from the stadium, and is a 45 minute drive. This water park offers a wide variety of slides and amusements. Beware though, you’ll need nerves of steel to try some of these.

Sozo Wate Park. Image: Google

Now, back to the mission of exploring Lahore: for this, you must now travel to Badshahi Mosque. The historic mosque is 30 minutes away from the water park. The Badshahi Mosque, as well as the Shahi Qilla right in front of it, are both remnants of the Mughal Era. The qilla (fort) contains beautiful sections such as the Sheesh Mahal, Moti Masjid, Diwan-e-Khaas and Diwan-e-Aam. You must visit all these if you get the chance; it will hardly take you an hour to stroll through both structures. If you’re into photography however, you’ll want to spend a good 2 to 3 hours here to truly capture the essence of these remnants of a bygone era. You can always skip the water park and come here earlier in the day when it’s less crowded. After visiting both of these places, you may also want to have a look at the historical buildings of Androon Lahore (Inner Lahore).

Lahore Fort. Image: Google

Badshahi Mosque. Image: Google

A single day is hardly enough to witness the beauty of Lahore, yet you can try. For a good dinner you must visit the Gawalmandi Food Street, located near Anarkali Bazar and the famous Lahore Railway Station. You can enjoy their popular Chicken Sajji and Hareesa. This area also offers a variety of naans and parathas along with Lahori Fried Fish. This part of town has a history that goes back more than 100 years, and has been beautifully preserved. And since you’ve made it all the way out here, don’t forget to head out to the Mochi Gate area and get some of the best Khatai from Khalifa Bakers. 

And if you spent way too much time admiring the mosque and still haven’t left by the time dinner rolls around, then you can eat at the New Food Street. The best part of the experience is that the restaurants here have the most beautiful views of the mosque. A personal favorite is Cooco’s Den, not just for the food but also because there is an arts and crafts shop just beneath the restaurant. It’s definitely worth a visit for a connoisseur of art.

Food Street at night. Image: Google

There are still a great many eating places that you can visit if you want to have a genuine Lahori experience – check out our list.  We suggest you make your stay at the city a little longer and visit other places like the Wagah Border, and also check out the many great eateries in areas like MM Alam Road, Defence and Bahria Town. PS: It’s always best to have a Lahori as your guide.