Varanasi
Seriously some of the best Indian food we've ever had. The palak chaman (paneer in spinach and spices) is heaven in your mouth and the aloo chaat (fried…
Must-see restaurants in India
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Villa Maya is more an experience than a mere restaurant. Dining is either in the magnificent 18th-century Dutch-built mansion or in private curtained…
Kovalam
Designed as an upmarket alfresco beach shack, the fabulous seafood restaurant at the Taj Green Cove fronts the sea, with waves and palms on one side and…
Amritsar
Pronounced 'praa-waan', this down-to-earth Amritsar institution has been serving lip-smacking Punjabi treats since 1912. The thalis are delectable…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Considering its gritty Paharganj location and its street-food roots, the interior of this locals' favourite is surprisingly elegant (there's even a…
Nashik
If you're looking for a spicy kick in the gut, this local hotspot is the place to come for authentic Maharashtrian food that'll make your nose run. Under…
Jaipur
Established in 1949, Niro’s is a long-standing favourite on MI Rd that, like a good wine, only improves with age. Escape the chaos of the street by…
Agra
This modern North Indian superstar is the best spot outside five-star hotels to indulge yourself in rich curries and succulent tandoori kebabs. The murg…
Guwahati
The lunch thalis (₹280 to ₹525) at Paradise are archetypal Assamese spreads, bringing together a wide range of local culinary flavours on one platter. Try…
Jaipur
This multilevel rooftop restaurant at the Hotel Pearl Palace gets rave reviews for its excellent yet inexpensive cuisine (Indian, Chinese and continental)…
Bhubaneswar
Located at the Mayfair Lagoon hotel, tiny Kanika does a fabulous job with regional Odishan recipes, particularly excelling with local seafood…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
This unpretentious restaurant on one of South Kolkata's main thoroughfares serves a melange of traditional and improvised dishes curated from Kerala,…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Consistently popular with locals, this central branch of Kolkata's best biryani house is high ceilinged and attractively modern without being fashion…
Chandigarh
Almost always busy with locals, this venerable, fan-cooled, 40-year-old institution is a great place for breakfast or lunch. Egg, toast and fabulously…
Arambol (Harmal)
Just back from the beach, and understandably popular with Israeli backpackers, Shimon is the place to fill up on exceptional falafel or sabich (crisp…
Margao
A local institution since 1950, quaint old Longhuino’s serves up tasty Indian, Goan and Chinese dishes, popular with locals and tourists alike. Go for a…
Northeast States
The last word in Manipuri lunch platters, ultrapopular Luxmi does a fabulous chakluk (thali) comprising more than a dozen local delicacies such as tangy…
Nashik
This rustic institution on the edge of town serves Nashik's best breakfast of champions, misal pav – an unusual Maharashtrian dish prepared with bean…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
A legendary name in South Indian comfort food, this eatery has had Bengaluru eating out of its hand since 1924. Head to the dining room upstairs, queue…
Tiruvannamalai
Super-chilled Dreaming Tree dishes out huge portions of exquisite, health-focused veg fare, prepped with mostly organic ingredients, on a breezy thatched…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
A whitewashed villa straight from the coast of Santorini, Olive Beach has a menu that evokes wistful memories of sunny Mediterranean getaways. Things…
Gangtok
Beautifully designed with adobe walls and a mock-up earthen stove, Nimtho gives Sikkimese food a gourmet twist. Sample with a local thali (₹250 to ₹350),…
Gujarat & Diu
Rough stone walls, heavy wooden beams and hanging copper vessels conjure a northwest frontier feel at Vadodara's best restaurant, with loyal customers…
Rajasthan
Under billowing sails this breezy, rooftop restaurant delivers high-quality food. The veg and nonveg curries, including rich laal maas (mutton curry),…
Amritsar
Originally founded in Pakistan's Punjab province, this 100-year-old eatery relocated to Amritsar after Partition. Since then it has been serving up…
Panaji
With its cute rickety balcony tables overhanging the cobbled street, Venite has long been among the most atmospheric of Panaji’s Goan restaurants. The…
Jodhpur
This candlelit rooftop restaurant at the Pal Haveli hotel is the perfect place for a romantic dinner, with superb views to the fort, clock tower and Umaid…
Hyderabad
Jubilee Hills rooftop restaurant, with candles and loungey playlists, which makes a highly atmospheric eating spot. The superb menu has been crafted…
Assam
In a well-spaced dining room off MG Rd, Chouka's menu is full of bamboo shoots, banana flowers, elephant apple, mustard greens, poultry in sesame-seed…
Maharashtra
This stylish all-day breakfast-only hotspot in a residential building 7km southwest of the centre is worth a diversion. English, American and Belgian…
New Delhi
Located in a peaceful garden-courtyard inside Triveni Art Gallery, this delightful cafe has seating on a plant-filled terrace overlooking a small, grassy…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Behind a modest entrance on a quiet Kala Ghoda lane is this often-lauded, intimate South Indian seafood restaurant. It’s not a trendy place – the decor is…
Mumbai (Bombay)
The much-acclaimed Khyber has a Northwest Frontier–themed design that incorporates murals depicting turbaned Mughal royalty, lots of exposed brickwork and…
Chandigarh
A Chandigarh stalwart and still going strong, Ghazal has a dignified air and a fine menu of Mughlai classics including chicken and mutton, plus some well…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
This terrific new place, with its brilliant comfort-food menu of Persian soups and Parsi specials like salli boti (mutton served with matchstick potatoes)…
Mumbai (Bombay)
In the Tamil enclave of King’s Circle, 80-year-old Ram Ashraya is beloved by southern families for its spectacular dosas, idli (spongy, round, fermented…
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
Run by an Irish-Indian couple, this mellow thatched-roof restaurant shares a sandy floored site with Dive India and does fabulous seafood, salads, pastas,…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Superior seafood restaurant with a wonderfully atmospheric interior that takes in a traditional thatched roof, vintage woodwork and beaten brassware –…
North Goa
The lovely garden tearoom at Café Chocolatti may be on the main Fort Aguada Rd, but it’s a peaceful retreat where chocolate brownies, waffles and banoffee…
Mumbai (Bombay)
With a cult following and festive lavender tables to boot, this thali mainstay – one of the oldest in the city – puts on the full-court flavour with its…
