Shillong’s streets have always had their own rhythm — the hiss of rain on tin roofs, the shuffle of sneakers on damp pavements, the call of a street vendor cutting through traffic noise. Recently, another beat has joined the mix: the low hum of espresso machines, and the murmur of conversation over latte foam. For a growing number of young people, cafés of Shillong have become a third home — somewhere between work, school, and the living room.
“Café culture is a huge part of youth identity here,” says Meka Maelyn Santam, adding: “Cafés are where friend groups gather and share mutuals. Being a youth is partly about discovering yourself, and this culture definitely helps — music, gigs, conversations, affiliations, and good food, it’s all here.”
From tiny chai stalls to neon-lit lounges, Shillong’s café scene overflows with character. Kadak Chai is a hole-in-the-wall perfect for roadside conversations, while Kynjai draws devoted crowds with Korean bites and cosplay events.
Munchies, one of the city’s oldest hangouts, serves burgers and fries that taste like nostalgia. Gyat Shawarma, a small stand, has become a youth hotspot thanks to its owner’s Gen Z banter and unapologetic brain-rot memes. Then there are the headliners — Fika and Roma — worlds apart in style, yet bound by the same pulse of a city that thrives on caffeine, conversation, and a touch of quirk.
Fika, run by friends Kyros Batkhar and Macleon Marbaniang, sits stripped-back in a ground-floor parking space — a minimal, monochrome corner with raw industrial edges. Its open-air seating blurs the line between street and café, folding the city itself into its atmosphere.
Roma, co-owned by Rida Tariang and Sahil Majaw, offers contemporary interiors in soft neutrals accented with gold and greenery. Its warm lighting makes you feel you’ve stepped somewhere else — yet it’s unmistakably Shillong in spirit.
Unlike many urban cafés across India that focus mainly on aesthetics or Instagram appeal, Shillong’s cafés run on something deeper. The heart of the space isn’t in the coffee beans or the décor, but in the feeling they leave behind. “Roma began as a feeling we wanted people to experience, in the room and on the plate… so it feels like stepping a little beyond Shillong while still being us,” say Tariang and Majaw. The space is designed for familiarity and comfort, while gently expanding the city’s palate.
Fika’s story begins in a different place but with the same intent. “From the start we wanted Fika to be a youth-centric space. More than just selling coffee, our goal was to create a community hub where friends can spend quality time, have meaningful conversations, and simply enjoy the vibe,” says Batkhar. Affordability was never an afterthought — it was a founding principle, keeping the space accessible to students and young professionals alike.
Majaw and Tariang describe their café as a “curated experience”: “The look and feel are the first handshake. But the bond lasts only if the food, music, pricing, and service feel authentic… we design for comfort over spectacle.” This balance between style and substance has helped make these cafés cultural anchors in Shillong — spaces where the city’s identity is being rewritten one cup at a time.
They also highlight the operational challenges behind the scenes: “The real challenges are weather-sensitive supply chains and price swings, consistent staffing and training, power and utility reliability, and standing out as new cafés and delivery apps expand. We counter these with seasonal sourcing and multiple vendors, disciplined prep, backup systems, and a strong service culture.”
Both cafés function as micro-communities. Fika focuses on youth engagement through the Meghalaya Grassroots music project, hosting live performances and working with local talents, with carefully curated playlists that have become part of their identity. Roma hosts the Coffee Club Party, Mexican Feast pop-ups, the Forage Aisle sub-festival, and collaborations that showcase Meghalaya’s chefs, while seasonal menus feature local produce like Soh Phlang and Soh Shang cocktails.
The prominence of these cafés also reflects a gap: a lack of public youth spaces. For teenagers, cafés have become essential social hubs. On whether cafés are more about being seen, Santam adds, “For some, it’s about co-existence — a place to exist outside the home. While food and aesthetics matter, the deeper reason is finding a place where you belong.”
Janvi Sangma echoes this: “Cafés are hangout spaces to socialise, try new cuisines, and capture Instagram-worthy moments. It’s not just a passing trend — it’s part of Shillong’s future, fostering opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.” Chris Shingnaisui highlights the experiential side: “I’ve attended gigs at cafés. Depending on the band, it can be a spiritual experience. Cafés give us a place to relax and enjoy the moment.”
If Roma and Fika represent the curated edge of this culture, across Shillong many casual hangouts tell another part of the story — where the draw isn’t styled interiors or elaborate menus. Friends share a single plate of fries, a round of drinks, and cigarettes outside. For most, hanging out is less about eating in the traditional sense and more about the ritual of being young — existing together outside the home, with food as the excuse.
The rain still hisses on tin roofs, sneakers still shuffle on damp pavements. Now, through open café doors, another layer spills out: the smell of nicotine mingled with coffee, the thrum of music, and laughter that carries into the street. Shillong’s youth have claimed their third space.
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