Pakistani Instagram Restaurant, Featuring Unbeatable Night Views, Requires Reservation or Expect a One-Hour Wait
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and a young city. Coming here you may find significant differences from your imagination of Pakistan. The entire city is wrapped in lush greenery, while retaining the unique Islamic atmosphere of Pakistan, but also possesses a touch of European elegance. It is said to have been built according to Swiss city planning, so Islamabad doesn't have many historical sites, but it has more modern elements, enjoying life and nature has become the focus and pursuit of Islamabad residents.
Pakistan is a country in rapid development, and in the capital Islamabad, wealthy people are abundant. Whether domestically or internationally, wealthy people will always favor restaurants with distinctive features, or with excellent flavors, or with a distant history, although they may have high prices, they always have a charm that attracts people to visit. There is a restaurant in Islamabad that is also one of them, located on the top of Magra Hills. While dining, you can also watch the entire capital at night. This is The Monal.
Before going to The Monal, you can take a short rest in Half Mountain Park. The park doesn't charge an entrance fee and is open to the public. This is one of the most famous attractions in Islamabad and is also a favorite place for local residents to walk. The name 'Half Mountain Park' may be because it is located in the waist of Magra Mountain. It takes effort to reach here, and you need to drive along the winding mountain road before arriving. Once you reach the viewing platform, you can overlook the entire Magra Mountain. Although it doesn't have a majestic appearance, it is lush and beautiful, and connects to the vast expanse of the Ravi Lake in the distance. It is not surprising that Islamabad has a very high green coverage rate. It is said that the entire green coverage area of Half Mountain Park exceeds 3036 hectares, which is beyond the reach of many gardens in China.
The green coverage area of Half Mountain Park is also considerable, but many shaded trails have been built through it. This gives people a sense of 'winding corridor and hidden courtyard'. Because Pakistan is located in a landlocked area, the temperature is very hot, and walking in Half Mountain Park can feel a cool breeze, which is like a natural temperature regulator, making people feel very comfortable. Locals like it.
At the same time, it is also a place where people and nature coexist harmoniously. While walking, you might even encounter wild boars walking beside you! They don't fear people, and they swagger around, unbothered, and you might even encounter monkey groups blocking your way. No matter whether it's wild boars or monkeys, no one will drive them away. They seem to have gotten used to humans and won't attack them proactively. However, animals are still wild, so you should be careful and not tease them too much.
In addition, you can see many locals enjoying a feast with music and dance in the park, but these are not comparable to The Monal. Don't eat here if you're going to eat here.
As dusk falls, you can continue to Magra Hills to eat at The Monal. This is Islamabad's luxury restaurant. There is no public transportation to reach it, so 'having a car' is the key to getting to The Monal. For foreigners like us who don't drive, we can only take a taxi to get there. When the taxi drivers heard that we were going to The Monal, they gave high prices. It seems that everyone who goes to this restaurant is considered a wealthy person. Although it's not a deserted place, there are many people having dinner and some are already booked. If you go at peak hours, you'll have to wait a long time.
Although it's a restaurant for wealthy locals, Islamabad's wealthy people are abundant, and it's not a deserted scene. It's bustling, with many people sitting down to dine. Some good locations are already occupied, and some are pre-booked. It's comparable to the popularity of domestic internet celebrity restaurants, and if you go at peak hours, you'll have to queue for a long time. A picture of a child waiting in line behind was taken, full of expectation and eating his fingers, very cute.
The Monal restaurant offers a relatively rich menu, with Eurasian cuisine. It is said that it is characterized by barbecue, but generally paired with fresh fruit juice and a main course, about 100 RMB, which is not considered a high-end restaurant in China, and a similar price can buy a simple meal. In Pakistan, it is not affordable for everyone. This is a symbol of 'wealthy people'.
After finishing the meal, the waiters will come to clear the table, although they didn't say it explicitly, but they were obviously urging us to leave. The WiFi in the restaurant is limited to two hours and cannot be extended. It's just to let you leave quickly because there's a long queue waiting outside.
If you choose the right time, you will happen to have dinner at dusk, coinciding with the arrival of night, and the lights of thousands of families illuminate the night, which is illusory. The cool breeze at night dispels the heat of the day, and it's a good thing to idle here. But don't forget to arrange a taxi in advance before going down the mountain, otherwise it will be difficult to find a car temporarily.
If you come to Pakistan, will you check in this popular store? Welcome to share your comments in the comments!
