Forest Side Farm Cafe: A Farm Cafe With a View Near Jim Corbett and Nainital

Forest Side Farm Cafe is famous for it's natural breathtaking view

Nestled in Kotabagh, Uttarakhand, close to the popular tourist destinations of Nainital and Jim Corbett National Park, Forest Side Farm is more than a boutique homestay — and at its heart sits a genuine farm cafe with a view near Jim Corbett that guests and day visitors alike come specifically to experience.

What Sets This Farm Cafe With a View Apart

Cafe with it's own food forest

Step onto the first-floor deck of the cafe, and lush orchards, sprawling farmland, and forested hills unfold in every direction. The cafe itself is built from seasoned, smoked wood salvaged from a former farm hut — rustic by design, not by accident — and the setting blends directly into the landscape around it rather than sitting apart from it.

But the setting is only half the draw. Every dish here is built from ingredients sourced directly from the farm or nearby villages, following the same seasonal rhythm as the rest of the property.

What to Order

First Choice of Non-Vegetarians: Handi Mutton takes at least 5 hours to cook in slow heat

• Kumaoni Thali — a full spread of traditional dishes: curries, rice, and regional accompaniments that capture the actual flavor of Kumaoni cooking, not a simplified version of it.

• Mutton Handi — slow-cooked in a clay pot for roughly five hours, resulting in tender meat carrying the full depth of the spice blend.

• Wood-Fired Oven Pizza — fresh, seasonal toppings, baked properly in a wood-fired oven rather than a standard kitchen oven.

• Pita Bread with Hummus — a lighter starter before the main event.

• Sizzlers — A sumptuous veg or non veg sizzler at Forest Side Farm is served in a 11 inch plate. Sizzler sauce made with our own farm produced honey distinctly separates it what you will not find any where else.

• Sunday specials — freshly baked breads served with mashed potatoes and farm-fresh passion fruit juice.

Why Pre-Booking Matters Here

Pizza baked in wood fired pizza oven is the Best Pizza as accorded by the guests

Because the cafe operates on a genuine farm-to-table basis rather than keeping pre-made stock on hand, dishes are prepared to order from what's actually available that day. That's part of what makes the food distinctive, but it also means turning up unannounced isn't the best way to experience it at its best. Make sure you have pre-booked at least 2 days in days in advance for us to treat you with our best food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Forest Side Farm Cafe open to non-guests, or only to homestay guests?

Answer: Forest Side Farm Cafe is primarily for the homestay guests. However, in special case if planned ahead we host non-guests too.

Can guests walk in to Forest Side Farm Cafe and order food?

Answer: No guests cannot walk-in and order food.

How far in advance should I book a table at the cafe?

Answer: Pre-booking is recommended, since the cafe prepares dishes fresh to order using farm produce rather than keeping pre-made stock — please check directly for the recommended lead time. It varies from dishes to dishes too.

What is the Kumaoni Thali?

Answer: An elaborate traditional spread of Kumaoni dishes — mainly has Ras, Pahadi style Kadhi, Dry vegetable, Pahadi Raita, Pahadi Chutani, Rice and Rotis — served at the cafe using dals and produce grown on the property's own organic farm.

Does the cafe serve anything besides Indian food?

Answer: Yes — alongside Kumaoni dishes, the cafe serves wood-fired pizza, pita with hummus, and other internationally inspired dishes, all made from scratch.

Is there a minimum order quantity for any food item?

Answer: Yes — some food items like Pizza, Pita Bread-Hummus, Sunday Breakfast, Mutton Handi, Kumaoni lunch have minimum order quantity to make the effort worthwhile.

If a table on a deck overlooking your own food's growing fields sounds worth the trip, reach out to book ahead.