Anayu: Six Senses Vana’s Ayurvedic Restaurant and Cookbook

Six Senses Vana has opened Anayu, an Ayurvedic restaurant in Dehradun, paired with a cookbook of the same name that teaches guests to tailor dishes to their individual body constitution. The word Anayu means food for life, and the concept reframes the meal as an act of constitutional balance rather than indulgence or obligation.

The restaurant and recipes build on the ancient Ayurvedic principle of constitutional medicine, which recognises three fundamental body types, or doshas. Vata, characterised by qualities of air and space, governs movement and communication. Pitta, comprising fire and water, drives metabolism and transformation. Kapha, the earth and water constitution, anchors stability and structure. Anayu presents Ayurveda not as dogma, but as a framework for understanding which foods and cooking methods serve each individual’s particular nature.

The cookbook, Anayu: Recipes and Stories from Vana, functions as both practical guide and narrative account. Each recipe carries context: which body type it serves, why those particular spices and cooking techniques matter, and the thinking that connects food to wellbeing. The recipes do not require specialist Ayurvedic ingredients or equipment; they are written for the home cook with access to a standard kitchen and local markets.

Six Senses Vana sits in the Himalayan foothills in Dehradun, a location chosen deliberately for the mineral water, altitude and botanical abundance. The wellness programme has long emphasised personalised treatment, and Anayu extends that logic to the dining table. Guests arriving for a retreat now encounter a restaurant where meals are calibrated to support their individual constitution throughout their stay.

For those planning a visit to Six Senses Vana, Anayu offers a clear reason to extend a stay and experience the restaurant’s full menu over several days. For readers without immediate access to the retreat, the cookbook provides a self-directed introduction to the same principles. The restaurant welcomes both retreat guests and external visitors seeking a single meal or a multi-day immersion in this approach to food.

For those planning a visit to Six Senses Vana, Anayu offers a clear reason to extend a stay and experience the restaurant’s full menu over several days. For readers without immediate access to the retreat, the cookbook provides a self-directed introduction to the same principles. The restaurant welcomes both retreat guests and external visitors seeking a single meal or a multi-day immersion in this approach to food.

For those planning a visit to Six Senses Vana, Anayu offers a clear reason to extend a stay: to experience the restaurant’s full menu and understand how personalised Ayurvedic eating feels over several days. For readers without immediate access to the retreat, the cookbook provides a self directed introduction to the same principles. The book is available through Six Senses Vana’s official channels, and the restaurant welcomes both retreat guests and external visitors seeking a single meal or a multi day immersion in this approach to food.

Imagery courtesy of Six Senses Vana (@sixsenses).