Shillong, October 6: Meghalaya’s growing reputation as a food destination has received a national boost, with two Shillong restaurants featuring among India’s Top 50 restaurants for 2026 in the Condé Nast Traveller x District Top Restaurant Awards.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma congratulated Rynsan and Nonna Mei after they were named among the country’s top 50 restaurants.
Rynsan was ranked 32nd, while Nonna Mei came in at 44th in the 2026 list released on October 5. Shillong was one of the smaller cities represented, but secured two places in the national ranking.
In a post, Sangma said the two restaurants showcased the “diversity, creativity and sophistication” of Meghalaya’s food culture, highlighting their different approaches — from reinterpreting traditional flavours to combining local ingredients with Italian cuisine.
The recognition is significant for Shillong’s emerging culinary identity. Rynsan, located in a restored Assam-style bungalow, draws heavily on Garo, Khasi and Jaintia food traditions, while also taking influences from Nagaland, Mizoram, Burma and Thailand. The restaurant was ranked 49th in the 2025 edition and has moved up to 32nd this year.
Nonna Mei, meanwhile, has taken a different route, marrying Italian techniques with Meghalaya’s produce. Chef Niyati Rao spent nearly two years researching local ingredients and building links with farmers and a local cheesemaker. Its menu includes dishes built around Meghalaya tomatoes, local herbs, fermented ingredients and other seasonal produce.
The recognition comes at a time when Meghalaya’s food culture is increasingly being presented as part of the state’s tourism story rather than simply as an accompaniment to it. Condé Nast Traveller itself described Shillong in May as an emerging culinary destination, noting the growing interest in indigenous ingredients, local producers and contemporary interpretations of Meghalaya cuisine.
The 2026 Top Restaurant Awards were based on voting by a 105-member jury comprising chefs, food writers, designers, entrepreneurs and other food and culture voices.
The jury voted in two rounds, with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP acting as process advisers.
For Meghalaya, the two entries offer something beyond restaurant recognition: they place Shillong’s local ingredients and indigenous food traditions in a national dining conversation.
Sangma, in his congratulatory message, said Meghalaya’s flavours were “making their mark on the national culinary map.”
