The Best Indian Restaurants in London

Choosing the best Indian restaurants in London – that’s a hot debate.

Some will look to the Michelin starred spots like Gymkhana, Kutir and Trishna for their fine-dining takes and stunning settings; others will point to modern institutions like Kricket that creatively fuse Indian flavours with British ingredients; there’s probably a rowdy curry house down the road that you ride or die by – and then there’s the people who will just say ‘Dishoom’.

What’s not up for debate, however, is that London’s spoilt for Indian restaurants. Since Indian food made its way to the city sometime in the 1900s (Veeraswamy is said to be the UK’s oldest Indian restaurant, opening in 1926), it’s become a staple of the average British diet. And with so much variety – the soft, fluffy naans; crisp dosas; the spice-loaded curries; the street food classics and the fragrant rice – this is a bucket list you won’t tire of quickly.

But enough pilau talk. Based on our usual strict criteria of taste, atmosphere, service and a little je ne sais quoi; we’ve put together a modest selection of London’s best Indian restaurants for when you’re in the mood for something a notch above your local. From cosy home-style eateries to a dining room that mirrors a vintage train carriage in Mumbai, these are our favourite Indian restaurants in London:
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Trishna | Marylebone

Specialising in Indian seafood, Trishna offers an aquarium’s worth of creatures steamed, seared, grilled, and tandoor-scorched with a mouthwatering array of flavours and spices. The addition of a Michelin star in 2012 is an indication that they’re doing something right, and the stylish and airy neighbourhood diner has been a big hit with the Marylebone regulars over the past few years. As with most Michelin star restaurants in London, it’s set menus that dominate with a varying degree of price and produce, but they do offer an early evening menu and a “lunch bites” bill of fare for more budget-conscious meals.

Details: 15 -17 Blandford Street, Marylebone Village, W1U 3DG | Book a table at Trishna
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Kutir | Chelsea

Kutir translates as a small cottage, which is at odds with its actual setting – inside a lavish townhouse in the heart of Chelsea. However, it’s on your plate where the rural influence can be found. Inspired by Indian wildlife lodges and the great feasts that would take place there, Kutir serves up traditional fare simply, and elegantly, to its diners. Chef Rohit Ghai (the first Indian chef to have been awarded a Michelin star in less than a year) has a seasonal menu which, predictably, changes with the weather but many of the staples will remain; Prawn Masala, Quail Naan, Sea Bass Kokum, and Guinea Fowl Biryani to name just a few. In addition to the à la carte, you’re invited to take an expedition through the flavours of the country in one of three wine-paired tasting menus – or take a sip of their sub-continental cocktails. And for Indian fine dining of this calibre, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised when the bill appears.

Details: 10 Lincoln Street, Chelsea, SW3 2TS | Book a table at Kutir
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BiBi | Mayfair

BiBi on Mayfair’s Audley Street is the brainchild of chef-patron Chet Sharma, who cut his teeth at The Ledbury before going on to be head of menu development for JKS (the restaurant family that includes Lyle’s and Gymkhana). After much anticipation he opened his debut spot Bibi, whose multitude of rave reviews easily qualifies it as one of the best Indian restaurants in London, with dishes like raw orkney scallops with Indian lemonade and wood-grilled Lahori chicken with cashew and yoghurt whey, all washed down with a fine list of cocktails.

Details: 42 North Audley Street, W1K 6ZR | Book a table at BiBi
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Babur | Honor Oak Park

Babur is a neighbourhood gem in South East London that’s been keeping locals – and visitors like the Michelin man – well-fed for almost four decades. Seafood is a particular highlight here, with dishes like Kasundi king prawns and griddled scallops leading a cast of mouthwatering curries, exceptional breads and intriguing game dishes prepared with the likes of quail, saddle of rabbit and venison. And as for the Indian spiced cocktails… well, they’re worth a trip in themselves.

Details: 119 Brockley Rise, Forest Hill, London SE23 1JP | Book a table at Babur
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Darjeeling Express | Soho

After years of sold-out supper clubs and moving to increasingly bigger sites to keep up with demand, Asma Khan’s show-stopper hit Darjeeling Express has done its fair share of travelling. Now it’s back where it all began in Kingly Court, with a larger space and an open kitchen from where you can watch Khan’s all-star, all-female team prepare her family’s now-legendary recipes like the chicken momos (steamed Darjeeling dumplings with chicken, onion and coriander); prawns in a luscious coconut milk sauce; and the slow-cooked tamarind dal. Lunch is a la carte but for dinner, it’s a 14-course Royal Thali set menu (more of a feast really) that mimics what you might get at a traditional wedding or celebratory banquet.

Detail: Kingly Court, Carnaby, W1B 5PW | Book a table at Darjeeling Express
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Brigadiers | The City

If you ever wanted to know what an army mess in India tasted like, then Brigadiers is for you. Inspired by the different methods of Indian BBQ that soldiers would have dined on, Brigadiers’ tandoors, charcoal grills, rotisseries, and wood ovens cook up a feast that might even fool you into thinking life in the army wouldn’t be so bad.

Brigadiers is probably London’s best Indian restaurant for a complete night out: indulgent feast menus can be pre-ordered 48hrs in advance (usually for a minimum of 6 people), allowing you and your unit to work your way through a wood-roasted Goan suckling pig, a tandoori tomahawk steak with lobster, or a suckling lamb biryani with all the trimmings. The bar flows plentifully with pour-your-own beers and whiskey (also available by vending machine, if you book the right private room). And one of those PDRs even converts into a miniature casino, with the dining table flipping into a cards table manned by your own personal croupier.

Details: 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR | Book a table at Brigadiers
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The Tamil Prince | Islington

The Tamil Prince is London’s reigning champ of Desi pubs. The brainchild of former Roti King exec chef Prince Durairaj, it showcases the glorious cuisine of Tamil Nadu, his home state. That includes huge, pillow-like deep-fried bhatura bread served with fragrant chickpea curry and creamy chicken varuval, humming with black pepper. They’ve also recently launched a South Indian breakfast service here, with traditional dishes like masala dosa and savoury uttapam pancakes. Over at the sophomore branch meanwhile, The Tamil Crown‘s weekly highlight is the Sunday roast, mingling Indian flavours with the English tradition. And the fact that you can enjoy all this in a Victorian pub setting is a reminder of how beautifully this city melts cultures together.

Details: 115 Hemingford Road, London N1 1BZ | Book a table at The Tamil Prince | Book a table at The Tamil Crown
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Gymkhana | Mayfair

Michelin-starred Gymkhana has long been considered one of the best Indian restaurants in London. The sumptuous interiors, reminiscent of an Indian Raj-era country club, provide a plush setting for friends, clients and dates alike (and have won the place a slew of celebrity fans, too). And of course, the food’s of stratospherically high quality – you can get their impressively conical Chettinad duck dosas and the famous wild muntjac biryani alongside newer dishes like boozy tiger prawns and Bombay vegetable cutlet.

Details: 42 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JH | Book a table at Gymkhana
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Dishoom | Various Locations

Dishoom is inspired by the old Irani immigrant cafes of Bombay, which offered friendly, welcoming, and cosmopolitan cooking. That’s certainly the vibe you’ll get when you enter this popular micro-chain of Indian restaurants across London. Like the cafés they’re based on, everyone is welcome – and everyone wants to go, which often means long queues to get in. The wait is certainly worth it though, as the retro interiors – unique to every branch – covered with vintage signs and photographs feel at once exotic and homely.

The all-day menu covers all the bases; you can expect delicious snacks alongside biryanis, masalas and dahl (Dishoom’s signature, marinated for 24hrs, and possibly – despite vigorous competition – the best lentil-based dish in London). The drinks menu is fun, serving up house favourites with an Indian twist alongside authentic staples like the communal Presidency Punch, an old East India Co. recipe that must be shared by a minimum of four people. Their breakfast menu too is the stuff of legend, where bacon naan and masala beans make for a delightful alternative to the full English.

Gunpowder | Spitalfields, Tower Bridge & Soho

Gunpowder describes itself as a home-style Indian restaurant – and it’s certainly somewhere you could adopt as a second home. Prepped by a chef who cut his teeth at Tamarind, the menu is a kaleidoscopic collection of good, wholesome dishes. Wild rabbit rulao, Sigri grilled broccoli, and a hedgehog-like venison and vermicelli donut all appear on a menu full of stand-outs.

The atmosphere at the Spitalfields original is relaxed, with salvaged seating, a bar made out of old chair backs, and a chalkboard wall of specials, wines, and cocktails. Round the corner from Brick Lane and its long-standing curry houses, Gunpowder represents a modern response to everything that street became famous for; honest, mouth-watering Bengali cooking shared with a passion for what’s on the plate. But if you’re heading more central, or fancy more of a special occasion setting, you’ll be happy to hear the place has sparked two spin-offs: Gunpowder Tower Bridge and Gunpowder Soho.

Details: 11 White’s Row, Spitalfields, London E1 7NF | Book a table at Gunpowder
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Empire Empire | Notting Hill

Empire Empire is another garlanded Indian restaurant from Gunpowder founder Harneet Baweja, similarly winning a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its quality cooking in relaxed surroundings. The inspiration here comes from the golden age of disco – and what says disco better than a lobster erupting from a pastry-topped biryani? A vintage photo booth, a Bollywood-pumping jukebox and a bespoke Disco Lager from 40FT Brewery firmly puts Empire Empire in the good time category of dining out. And a menu of north-west regional hits including coal-scorched kebabs and fragrant Hyderabadi aubergine & potato curry might just tease out your happy dance.

Details: 16 All Saints Road, W11 1HH | Book a table at Empire Empire
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Ganapati | Peckham

Ganapati is a south Indian restaurant in South London. After visiting and falling in love with the communal eating canteens of southern India, chef Claire Fisher set up Ganapati to bring some of that same colour and vibrancy to Peckham. The short-and-sweet menu focusses on thalis (a platter of all the best bits on one tray), and changes every two months. The mainstay, however, is the flaky roti – it’s absolutely unreal.

The cuisine of southern India is nurtured by close-knit communities, and Fisher has cultivated the same vibe in SE15. With supplies from Patel Brothers (one of the first Indian grocery shops in London), kitchenware from Little India, and local artists working on the design, Ganapati is a collaboration; a blend of flavours that come together to create the perfect dish. This theme extends beyond the kitchen, and when it’s not serving up supper Ganapati is home to exhibitions, classes, and events.

Details: 38 Holly Grove, SE15 5DF | Book a table at Ganapati
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Bombay Bustle | Mayfair

Easily one of the most glamorous Indian restaurants in London, Bombay Bustle is decked out like a plush train carriage – and you’re going to want to get on board with it. Executive chef Surender Mohan sends out comfort food dishes with fine dining finesse, from the overnight black dahl and Malabar chicken wings to balloons of crispy fried bread as big as your head.

Details: 29 Maddox Street, W1S 2PA | Book a table at Bombay Bustle
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Veeraswamy | Mayfair

The oldest Indian restaurant in London (and in fact, the UK), Veeraswamy has been serving the capital Indian cuisine since 1926. It’s housed on Regent Street, it’s designed to look like a Maharaja’s Palace, and it has a Michelin star: basically, it’s fancy. With Venetian chandeliers alongside lanterns from Jaipur, everything about this London landmark is an elegant counterpoint between East and West. Over its many years of existence, it’s been a solid performer offering up an extensive menu of established, quintessentially Indian dishes – but alongside its staples sit a host of gourmet offerings which seek to impress and intrigue, like their fresh pineapple curry, and Kerala-style venison scotch egg.

Details: Victory House, 99-101 Regent Street, London W1B 4RS | Book a table at Veeraswamy
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Kricket | Soho, Brixton, White City, Canary Wharf

When you’re whipping up delicious street food and the people start crying out for more, you don’t shut up shop and pack it all in – that’s just not cricket. It’s not Kricket, either, who, in 2017, expanded on their popular pop-up and opened a two floor flagship, Kricket Soho. Kricket Brixton, Kricket White City and Kricket Canary Wharf followed, and now all four serve up the same inventive, aromatic dishes inspired by India and supplied by British producers. Scallop madras curry, coronation smoked mackerel, bone marrow raita, and samphire pakoras epitomise the British food in Indian clothing theme that runs through the menu. And the cultural cross-over doesn’t stop there: SOMA is Kricket’s very own cocktail den, serving signatures spiked with Indian flavour like a curry leaf gimlet, and a margarita made with Chaat Masala.

Details: See all Kricket locations | Book a table at Kricket

Looking for something to wash that down with? Check out our guide to London’s best cocktail bars

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London’s Best Indian Restaurants