Rooftop Restaurants in Panchkula
What if going out alone doesn’t feel lonely at all? What if it actually feels freeing?
That was exactly the mood I was in on September 25, 2026.
I wasn’t looking for a big plan, a crowded evening, or someone to accompany me. I simply wanted a change. The same routine had started feeling a little too… same. So I decided to do something I genuinely enjoy — dress up, get into my car, drive somewhere beautiful, order exactly what I wanted, carry my journal, and spend an evening with myself.
And this time, my solo date took me to Upstairs, a rooftop restaurant in Panchkula.
But before the evening really began, there was a little transformation waiting for me.
Sometimes, a New Look Is the First Step Towards a New Mood
I had been feeling that familiar “I need a change” feeling for a while.
You know that phase when nothing is necessarily wrong, but you are simply tired of looking at the same things, doing the same things and living on the same repeat button?
That’s where I was.
So I started with my hair.
I got a proper haircut — short hair around my neck with bangs on my forehead — and honestly, it changed my entire look.
But more than the haircut, I think I needed the feeling that came with it.
I looked at myself and thought, “Okay… I really like this.”
And perhaps that’s where the evening actually started.
I wore a green tube top with trousers, statement earrings, kajal and lipstick. Nothing complicated. I just wanted to feel good in my own skin.
And I did.
I felt beautiful.
I felt confident.
Most importantly, I felt like myself.
Then I got into my car — one of my favourite things to do anyway — and started driving towards my rooftop destination.
Why I Love Going on a Solo Date
This wasn’t my first solo date.
Actually, I’ve been doing this for quite some time.
After my sister moved abroad, I started going out alone more often. The first time, I missed her physical presence a lot. And honestly, I still do.
But over time, I discovered something unexpected.
I really enjoy my own company.
I don’t always want to be responsible for someone else’s experience when I’m out.
I don’t want to worry about whether someone else likes the place.
I don’t want to keep a conversation alive just because silence feels awkward.
And I definitely don’t want to smile when I don’t feel like smiling.
There is something incredibly freeing about sitting somewhere and not having to perform.
No forced conversation.
No fake laughter.
No unnecessary compromises.
Just me, my thoughts, my diary and whatever food I feel like ordering.
Maybe pasta.
Maybe fries.
Maybe a cappuccino.
Maybe a chocolate pastry.
If I want it, I can have it.
That’s the beauty of a solo date for me.
A Familiar Rooftop With a Completely New Look
Upstairs wasn’t completely unfamiliar tome.
My sister and I used to visit the place together, so I already had a little connection with it.
But after its renovation and reopening, almost everything looked different.
The interiors had changed. The setup had changed. The overall look felt fresh.
And yet, there was something reassuringly familiar about the place.
The hospitality.
The warmth.
The team.
The way they welcomed and served guests.
That part still felt just as lovely as I remembered.
And then I saw the rooftop properly.
Okay, this was going to be a good evening.
The Rooftop Ambience: Greenery, Warm Lights & a City Below
If you’re searching for rooftop restaurants in Panchkula because you want more than just food, ambience matters.
And this is where Upstairs really caught my attention.
The rooftop is surrounded by greenery, plants and flowers, with warm lighting woven into the space. There are comfortable outdoor tables and seating areas that make the whole place feel relaxed rather than overly formal.
And then there’s the view.
I chose a table on the right side because the view from there was beautiful.
As the evening settled in, the city slowly started lighting up beneath the rooftop.
From up there, it almost felt like the entire city belonged to me.
Or maybe, for those few hours, I belonged to the city.
The weather was cozy, the lights were glowing and everything had that soft evening energy that makes you want to stay a little longer.
And Then I Heard: “Ganpati Bappa Morya”
There was another little detail that made the evening unexpectedly special.
It was Ganpati Visarjan that day.
From the roads below, I could hear people chanting:
“Ganpati Bappa Morya.”
And sitting on a rooftop, surrounded by city lights and greenery, hearing those chants travel up from the streets felt almost magical.
If you’ve been around my content for a while, you probably know this already — my thoughts somehow begin with God and end with God.
So naturally, my mind went there too.
I remember thinking:
“Thank you, Bhagwan ji, for always being with me.”
And suddenly, the idea of being alone felt completely different. Yes, I had come to the restaurant alone.
But I didn’t feel alone.
Sometimes, that’s all the reminder you need.
What I Ordered on My Solo Date
Now let’s talk about the most important part of any restaurant experience.
The food.
For my evening at Upstairs, I ordered their Penne Al Guardi Pasta, Ginger Ale and French fries.
Here’s what my bill looked like from my experience:
| What I Ordered | Approx. Price |
|---|---|
| Penne Al Guardi Pasta | ₹695 |
| Ginger Ale | ₹195 |
| French Fries | ₹275 |
| Total Bill | ₹1,223 approx. |
The final bill included SGST and CGST.
The food was tasty, although I don’t have a very big appetite, so I couldn’t finish everything and had some of it packed. But honestly, this wasn’t one of those evenings where food was the only attraction.
I was there for the whole experience.
The view.
The weather.
The ambience.
The quiet time.
And that feeling of sitting somewhere beautiful with absolutely no hurry.
My Favourite Part? A Journal, a Tiny Lamp and the Moon
After eating, I took out my personal journal.
And this is where the evening became really beautiful.
I started writing while a little lamp on the table cast this warm glow around me.
The sky had turned dark.
The city was sparkling in the distance.
And then I noticed the moon.
Just sitting there.
Quietly.
Peeking into my evening like it had been invited.
I looked at the scene in front of me and honestly thought:
“I just want to live like this forever.”
A beautiful view.
A warm lamp. My journal.
The moon.
My favourite food.
And me.
No performance.
No expectations.
No one to impress.
Just a peaceful little moment that I wanted to freeze in time.
Of course, eventually I remembered…
“Okay, I do have to go home.” 😂
But for those few hours, I was completely present.
And that felt amazing.
Is a Rooftop Restaurant a Good Place for a Solo Date?
After this experience, I’d say a rooftop setting can make a solo date feel extra special — especially if you enjoy beautiful surroundings and don’t mind spending a little time by yourself.
For me, the combination worked perfectly.
A scenic view + good food + a comfortable table + some journaling + an evening drive = a pretty great solo date.
And you don’t necessarily need a complicated plan.
You can dress up. Take yourself somewhere you’ve wanted to visit.
Order something you love.
Bring a book or journal.
Take a few pictures.
Watch the sky change.
Listen to the city.
Or simply sit there and do absolutely nothing.
That’s the point.
There is no fixed rule for a solo date.
You make the rules.
What My Solo Date Really Taught Me
The most interesting thing about solo dates is that they can quietly teach you things about yourself.
For me, one of those things has been learning that I don’t have to agree with something I don’t genuinely agree with.
I don’t have to tolerate people who constantly disturb my peace.
I don’t have to keep relationships alive by constantly compromising myself.
And I definitely don’t have to fake happiness.
I have been learning boundaries.
I have been learning to say no.
I have been learning that not everyone deserves unlimited access to my energy.
And perhaps that’s whythe haircut felt symbolic too.
My outside changed. But inside, the changes were already happening.
Being Alone and Being Lonely Are Two Completely Different Things
I can miss my sister and still enjoy my evening.
I can love my friends and still want time alone.
I can enjoy someone’s company and still enjoy my own.
These things can exist together.
That’s something I have slowly understood through my solo dates.
Being alone doesn’t automatically mean being lonely.
Sometimes being alone means you can finally hear your own thoughts.
Sometimes it means you can choose the restaurant.
Choose the table.
Choose the food.
Choose when to leave.
Choose what to think about.
Choose whether you want to talk.
Or simply choose silence.
And there is something beautiful about having that freedom.
My Final Thoughts on This Rooftop Solo Date
My evening at Upstairs wasn’t just about visiting another rooftop restaurant in Panchkula.
It became one of those unexpectedly beautiful evenings that stay with you.
I went there because I wanted a change.
I left feeling like maybe the change had already started.
A new haircut.
A new look.
A beautiful rooftop.
A city glowing below me.
Ganpati Bappa Morya echoing through the streets.
A plate of pasta and fries.
A journal on the table.
A warm little lamp.
And the moon above me.
Nothing extraordinary had to happen.
The ordinary itself became extraordinary because I was actually present for it.
And perhaps that’s what I love most about taking myself on a solo date.
You don’t need someone else to create the moment for you.
Sometimes, you just need to decide:
“Today, I’m taking myself out.”
So, Would I Go on Another Solo Date?
Absolutely.
Because I have realised something very simple.
Life doesn’t always have to be a big event.
Sometimes happiness is driving your favourite car with your favourite playlist.
Sometimes it’s getting a haircut because you feel like changing something.
Sometimes it’s wearing an outfit that makes you feel beautiful.
Sometimes it’s sitting on a rooftop and looking at your city from above.
Sometimes it’s hearing “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and feeling grateful.
Sometimes it’s writing your thoughts in a journal while the moon watches from above.
And sometimes…
it’s just you, enjoying you.
That September evening reminded me that anything and everything is possible when you are willing to take a chance and stand by yourself.
So if you’ve been waiting for someone to make plans with you, maybe don’t wait.
Dress up.
Pick a place.
Order your favourite food.
Take your journal.
And go.
Because your next great date doesn’t necessarily need another person.
It might just need you. 🌙✨
📍 My Rooftop Solo-Date Snapshot
Place: Upstairs
Location: Panchkula
Experience: Solo date
Food: Penne Al Guardi Pasta, French Fries & Ginger Ale
Approx. Bill: ₹1,223 including SGST & CGST
Best part for me: The rooftop view, evening ambience, journaling, moonlight and that peaceful feeling of enjoying my own company.
LUS Note: Sometimes, the best company you can have is your own. ❤️
