Candlewood Restaurant — Abu Road's Best Hotel Restaurant
A hotel restaurant that is genuinely worth eating at is harder to find than it should be. Too often, the in-house dining at hotels in smaller Indian towns is an afterthought — a limited menu, food cooked hours earlier and reheated on demand, a dining room that feels like a converted corridor. Candlewood Restaurant at Hotel Candlewood Abu Road is the opposite of that. Open daily from 7 AM to 11 PM, serving freshly cooked Indian, Rajasthani, and multi-cuisine meals, it is one of the best restaurants in Abu Road — and the best reason to stay at the hotel if you care about eating well.
The restaurant is open to hotel guests and outside visitors alike. Whether you are staying at the hotel, passing through Abu Road on the highway, or looking for quality dining in the town, you are welcome at Candlewood Restaurant.
Authentic Rajasthani Cuisine — The Real Thing
Abu Road sits at the cultural meeting point of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and Candlewood Restaurant reflects that honestly. The Rajasthani section of the menu is the heart of what the kitchen does best:
- Rajasthani Thali — The complete meal: dal, baati, churma, two or three rotating sabzis, rice, roti, papad, and a dessert. The definitive food experience of the region, done properly with baati that is baked rather than fried, dal slow-cooked with ghee and whole spices, and churma with the right balance of sweet and crumbly.
- Dal Baati Churma — Rajasthan's most iconic dish, available as a standalone order. Wheat balls baked golden, dunked in rich lentil curry, served with sweet crumbled wheat. If you eat this dish once in Rajasthan, eat it here.
- Gatte ki Sabzi — Gram flour dumplings in a spiced yogurt curry. A Rajasthani classic that many hotel kitchens get wrong by making the dumplings rubbery. At Candlewood, they are soft, properly spiced, and cooked to order.
- Ker Sangri — A desert vegetable dish unique to this region, made from ker berries and sangri beans. Deeply flavored, unlike anything available in most of India. Appears on the menu seasonally and is worth ordering if available.
- Laal Maas — For those who eat meat: the signature slow-cooked Rajasthani lamb curry, deeply red and properly spiced.
Gujarati Influence — The Regional Crossover
Given Abu Road's proximity to Gujarat (Ahmedabad is just 2 hours south), the restaurant naturally reflects Gujarati food traditions alongside the Rajasthani menu. Dhokla, khandvi, poha, dal-chawal combinations, and fresh lassi and chaas are all part of the offering. This Rajasthani-Gujarati crossover makes the menu unusually broad for a town of Abu Road's size — and ensures there is something genuinely good for every type of palate and dietary preference.
Pure Vegetarian and Jain Options
The region has a significant Jain and Hindu population, and Candlewood Restaurant reflects this in its kitchen. Pure vegetarian meals are the default rather than an afterthought. Jain food requests — no onion, no garlic, no root vegetables — are accommodated with advance notice. Pilgrims visiting Ambaji Temple (36 km) and the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (30 km) routinely choose Hotel Candlewood specifically because the restaurant meets their dietary requirements reliably.
All-Day Dining — 7 AM to 11 PM
Candlewood Restaurant serves all three meals daily:
- Breakfast (7 AM – 10:30 AM) — Poha, upma, paratha, eggs (on request), idli-sambar, fresh fruit, tea and coffee. Opens early enough for guests heading to Mount Abu for a morning start — you eat well before the drive, not after.
- Lunch (12 PM – 3:30 PM) — The thali is the lunch order of choice. Also available: roti-sabzi combinations, rice dishes, dal, and a wide menu of individual Rajasthani and North Indian dishes.
- Dinner (7 PM – 11 PM) — The full menu is available. Dinner at Candlewood is relaxed and unhurried — travelers who have come back from a day at Mount Abu find this the ideal way to end the day. The restaurant stays open late enough for guests arriving on evening trains to eat properly rather than surviving on station food.
For hotel guests, 24-hour room service is available beyond restaurant hours — food delivered directly to your room at any time of night or day.
Who Eats at Candlewood Restaurant?
The restaurant serves a genuinely mixed clientele — which is the best measure of whether a restaurant is actually good:
- Hotel guests who eat here every meal of their stay rather than venturing out
- Local diners in Abu Road who come specifically for the Rajasthani thali
- Highway travelers on the Ahmedabad–Jaipur route who stop for a quality meal
- Pilgrims visiting Ambaji or the Brahma Kumaris who need reliable pure vegetarian food
- Families who appreciate the wide menu, the family-friendly atmosphere, and the consistent quality
- Business visitors who need a proper working lunch or client dinner in Abu Road
The Dining Room
The dining room at Candlewood Restaurant is air-conditioned, well-lit without being harsh, and spacious enough for family groups and large tables without feeling cramped. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable — not a tourist-facing performance, just an honest place to eat well. Service is efficient without being rushed. For a family with children, the restaurant is genuinely family-friendly in the practical sense: the staff are patient, the menu works for all ages, and there is space to breathe.
Special Catering and Group Dining
Candlewood Restaurant accommodates group dining for weddings, corporate events, and large family gatherings. Special menus and banquet arrangements can be organized with advance notice. Contact the hotel directly to discuss requirements for events and group bookings.
Frequently Asked Questions — Candlewood Restaurant
Does Hotel Candlewood have a restaurant?
Yes. Candlewood Restaurant is open daily from 7 AM to 11 PM and serves Indian, Rajasthani, and multi-cuisine meals. It is open to hotel guests and outside visitors.
What is the best food to try at Candlewood Restaurant?
The Rajasthani thali and dal baati churma are the standout dishes. Gatte ki sabzi and ker sangri (seasonal) are also highly recommended.
Can outside visitors dine at Candlewood Restaurant without a hotel booking?
Yes. The restaurant is open to everyone — you do not need to be a hotel guest to eat here.
Is pure vegetarian or Jain food available?
Yes. Pure vegetarian options are available throughout the menu. Jain food (no onion, no garlic) can be accommodated with advance notice.
Is room service available at Hotel Candlewood?
Yes. 24-hour room service is available for hotel guests. Food can be ordered to your room at any time of day or night.
📞 Reservations and inquiries: +91 8949942909 | 🌐 hotelcandlewood.co.in
