The Best Indian Restaurants in London

Its somewhat concealed location adds to the air of mystery here at Amaya. Tucked down a little walkway in Belgravia, your patience when finding the doorway will be richly rewarded once inside. With dark, moody interior design and dimmed lighting, the focus is very much on the open kitchen with its tawa, tandoor and sigri grills. It’s all about the art of cooking over flames, so expect a little theatre, along with an array of dishes designed for sharing. Their signature smoked chilli lamb chops are always a highlight.

Did you know that The MICHELIN Guide also recommend hotels? The One-MICHELIN-Key COMO The Halkin is a great choice in this part of town.

If you’re looking for glamour, this might be your best bet among all of London’s premier Indian restaurants. Inspired by Punjab’s ‘party mansions’ of old, its look is opulent and decadent, with a large central bar dominating the ground floor and another bar and nightclub in the basement. Punjab is the guiding influence on the food as well, which showcases the well-balanced spicing common to all London’s Indian Stars. The ingredients here are first-rate too, adding to its luxurious feel.

If you're staying the night, then the Two-MICHELIN-Key Hotel Café Royal is only a short walk away.

If you take the finest British ingredients, then combine them with traditional Indian flavours and modern cooking techniques, you get Benares. Produce like hand-dived Scottish scallops and Welsh lamb can be found in a restaurant decorated with, among other things, a serene flower-filled pond. It’s in a commanding location too, in the much-prized Berkeley Square. If you’re looking for an indicator that this is a Mayfair restaurant, you need only spot the Ferrari garage next door.

The May Fair, A Radisson Collection Hotel, is just a three-minute walk from the restaurant.

Inspired by the old elite clubs of India, there is something that feels a little bit special about Gymkhana – which is fitting given this is London's only Two-MICHELIN-Star Indian restaurant. Diners are split across two levels, both inspired by the India of old, with the basement dining room the swankier of the two owing to its red leather banquettes and dark wood walls. Beautifully fragrant, balanced dishes bring just the right amount of intensity. They take drinks seriously too, with extensive gin and cocktail lists.

Staying the night? We recommend Althoff St James's Hotel & Club.

Another of Mayfair's Starred Indian restaurants, Jamavar has swish interiors and an air of opulence to match its neighbourhood. The cooking is authentic, carefully prepared and comes in the form of a tasting menu, a fixed-price lunch and an extensive à la carte. All of them take inspiration from multiple regions of India and feature dishes from the tandoor oven such as adraki lamb chops and malai stone bass tikka. A good choice of wines is available too, with bottles from all over the world.

Why not make your trip to Mayfair even more special with a stay at the Two-MICHELIN-Key hotel The Twenty Two?

A smart spot near Buckingham Palace, seafood is the way to go here as the kitchen looks towards the southwest of India and the Malabar Coast – they even have a dedicated seafood tasting menu among their other extensive choices. Chef Sriram Aylur has overseen the kitchen for years and does so with both passion and professionalism. While the recipes and preparations are largely traditional, there are occasional hints of more contemporary influences too.

Need a hotel? Quilon is located within Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, Suites and Residences London.

Trishna feels like a significant part of London’s Indian dining scene in many ways. Not only are dishes like aloo tokri chaat and the signature Dorset brown crab among the best you’ll find in the capital, but this was also the restaurant that kickstarted a group which now includes Ambassadors Clubhouse, Gymkhana, Bibi, Hoppers and Brigadiers – all popular spots serving Indian or Sri Lankan cooking. Let’s not forget too, that Trishna is notably well-priced for its quality, and caters brilliantly to vegetarians and vegans, allowing more diners to sample the chefs’ many talents.

Get a taste of the private members' club experience by staying the night at Home House London, just a short walk from Trishna.

Now celebrating its 100th year, the UK’s oldest Indian restaurant may have taken a while to earn its MICHELIN Star, but it is now firmly a part of the club. From the same stable as Amaya and Chutney Mary, Veeraswamy boasts a strong menu that offers a range of dishes from multiple culinary regions across India. You can expect to find both street snacks and royal palace dishes on offer, all of them cooked with care and no small amount of skill. A prime Regent Street location only adds to the appeal.

Ham Yard Hotel, a Firmdale Hotel, holds Two MICHELIN Keys and is in walking distance of the restaurant.