Teyla, the in-house restaurant at Misty Mountain Plantation Resort in Kuttikkanam, has won the Best Café & Casual Dining Experience Award at Manorama Online's Golden Clove Awards 2026. The award was presented on 11th April 2026 at KTDC Kumarakom Waterscapes Resort, with food critic Vir Sanghvi as chief guest, recognising Teyla among the finest casual dining spaces in Kerala.
The award places Teyla among the state's standout casual dining destinations, a fitting recognition for a restaurant whose name, meaning "tea leaves" in Malayalam, has always pointed back to the plantation it calls home.
About the Golden Clove Awards 2026
The Golden Clove Food Award, organised by Manorama Online, is one of Kerala's largest restaurant recognition platforms, built around a statewide competition rather than a closed-door judging panel. For the 2026 edition, Kerala was divided into five regional zones, and more than 3,000 eateries across the state took part, competing on categories such as taste, ambience, hospitality, and overall dining experience.
The 2026 award ceremony was held on 11th April at the KTDC Kumarakom Waterscapes Resort, with renowned food critic Vir Sanghvi attending as chief guest. The event was backed by Melam Masala as the main sponsor and Kerafed as co-sponsor, and it drew restaurant owners and chefs from across Kerala's food scene to celebrate a year's worth of standout dining experiences.
In the Best Café & Casual Dining Experience category, Teyla Restaurant in Kuttikkanam was recognised alongside Jubery Resto Cafe in Wayanad, with both properties honoured for setting a high bar in relaxed, approachable dining.
About Teyla: A Plantation Restaurant with Its Own Identity
Teyla operates as Misty Mountain Plantation Resort's in-house bistro, set along the Kottayam-Kumily highway within the resort's 600-acre estate. Its name is a direct nod to the plantation surrounding it, and its menu leans into that identity while ranging well beyond it, blending global flavours with a modern, casual dining format that suits everyone from a quick coffee stop to a full sit-down meal.
Guests frequently note the restaurant's antique-inspired interior and its accessible parking facilities for visitors travelling through Kuttikkanam en route to Vagamon or Thekkady, and a menu that spans everything from comfort classics to more adventurous fusion dishes compared to other Peermade resorts.
Why This Recognition Matters
Winning at the Golden Clove Awards carries particular weight because of how the competition is structured. With thousands of eateries competing across the state and category winners drawn from every region, a win is less a single judge's opinion and more a reflection of consistent performance against a genuinely large field.
It places Teyla among Kerala's top casual dining spaces, judged against thousands of competing eateries statewide.
It reflects consistency in food quality, service, and ambience across day-to-day guest visits, not a single event.
It adds to Misty Mountain Plantation Resort's growing list of industry recognitions across hospitality and dining.
It reinforces Kuttikkanam's standing as a serious food and travel destination within Kerala's Western Ghats.
Visit Teyla at Misty Mountain Plantation Resort
Award-winning food tastes better with the view to match. Set within a 600-acre working estate in the Sahyadri Hills, Misty Mountain Plantation Resort invites you to experience Teyla's award-winning menu for yourself, alongside guided plantation experiences and stays in cottages built to sit quietly within the landscape.
Planning a visit? Book your stay at Misty Mountain Plantation Resort and reserve a table at Teyla for a meal worth the trip to Kuttikkanam.
