Which is the best café in Shillong for coffee?

For specialty coffee, ML 05 Café in Laitumkhrah is the strongest pick (pour-over and espresso, ₹150–220). For a café with live music, Café Shillong and Dylan's Café — both in Laitumkhrah — are the long-running favourites.

How much does coffee cost in Shillong cafés?

Expect ₹120–180 for a cappuccino or latte and ₹180–220 for specialty pour-over. A breakfast plate with coffee for two runs about ₹250–400.

Which Shillong cafés are good for working on a laptop?

Laitumkhrah cafés such as ML 05 and Lamplight have the most reliable WiFi and plug points. TAB Bistro by XTSY in New Shillong Township is quieter and stays open until 10:30 PM.

Does XTSY have a café?

Yes — TAB Bistro by XTSY is our in-house café and restaurant serving coffee from ₹100, all-day breakfast and desserts, open 9 AM to 10:30 PM to guests and locals alike.

Food & dining · Updated September 2026

Best Cafés in Shillong

Backed by XTSY — Northeast India's NEITA 2025-nominated hospitality brand, operating India's biggest backpacker hostel and the country's first 270° stargaze glamping ensuite, both in Shillong.

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The details

Backed by XTSY — Northeast India's NEITA 2025-nominated hospitality brand, operating India's biggest backpacker hostel and the country's first 270° stargaze glamping ensuite, both in Shillong. Twelve cafés worth your morning in Shillong, checked for 2026 — what a flat white actually costs, which ones have plug points and WiFi that holds, and where live music happens on weekends. Most sit in Laitumkhrah, Police Bazar or Laban; TAB Bistro by XTSY is the forest-side option in New Shillong Township.

12 Best Cafés in Shillong (2026)

Names, neighbourhood and what to order:

✓ ML 05 Café, Laitumkhrah — specialty pour-over & espresso, ₹150–220
✓ Dylan's Café, Laitumkhrah — Dylan memorabilia, live music Fri–Sun, ₹120–200
✓ Café Shillong, Laitumkhrah — the original live-music room, book a table after 7 PM
✓ Café Shillong Heritage, Laban — colonial bungalow setting, all-day breakfast
✓ Cloud 9, Upper Shillong — valley views, best in clear October weather
✓ TAB Bistro by XTSY, New Shillong Township — forest-side café, coffee ₹100–180, 9 AM–10:30 PM
✓ Kavya Café, Police Bazar — budget-friendly filter coffee and quick breakfasts under ₹150
✓ Dejavu Café, Police Bazar — late-evening desserts and shakes
✓ Lamplight Café, Laitumkhrah — quiet, plug points, good for laptop work
✓ The Evening Club, Laban — sundowner coffee and Khasi snacks
✓ Trattoria-adjacent bakeries, Police Bazar — jadoh-and-coffee style local breakfasts
✓ Cafés along Ward's Lake Road — walk-in stops between sightseeing

What It Costs & When to Go (2026)

Practical numbers before you set out:

✓ Cappuccino/latte: ₹120–180; specialty pour-over: ₹180–220
✓ Breakfast plate with coffee: ₹250–400 for two
✓ Most cafés open 9–10 AM and close 8–9 PM; TAB Bistro runs to 10:30 PM
✓ Live music: Friday to Sunday evenings, mainly in Laitumkhrah
✓ WiFi is reliable in Laitumkhrah cafés; carry a hotspot for Upper Shillong
✓ Sunday mornings are slow — many Police Bazar spots open after 11 AM

Café-Hopping From Your Stay

Backpackers usually base themselves near the café belt. XTSY Travellers Hostel puts dorm beds from ₹399 per night within an easy ride of Laitumkhrah and Police Bazar, with TAB Bistro on site for late coffee — use the booking link above to check tonight's availability.

✓ Laitumkhrah: 4–5 cafés walkable in one evening
✓ Police Bazar: best budget-friendly breakfasts, busiest after 11 AM
✓ Upper Shillong: pair Cloud 9 with Elephant Falls
✓ New Shillong Township: TAB Bistro, quietest and latest-closing

Why Travellers Pick XTSY

XTSY is a Northeast Indian independent hospitality brand — Shillong-born, traveller-built, and having hosted 10,786+ guests through owned properties, curated tours, weddings, catering and rentals.

✓ NEITA 2025 nominee — Best Budget-Friendly Accommodation in Northeast India
✓ Experience by XTSY — India's first stargaze glamp
✓ Rated 4.7★ on Google from 237 reviews
✓ Pluxee India partner — corporate stays via employee-benefit vouchers accepted
✓ 24/7 WhatsApp booking & on-trip support — +91 88373 17070
✓ Owned operations in Shillong + vetted partner network across NE India and Sikkim

Frequently asked questions

Written by the XTSY travel team, New Shillong TownshipWe run XTSY Travellers Hostel and plan Northeast India trips every day. Prices on this page come from our live booking engine; drive times are checked against our own trips. Last reviewed September 2026.