Indian cuisine is at the cutting edge of the culinary and restaurant scene in London. The city has an ongoing love affair with Indian food, especially curries, and has always been packed full of wonderful Indian restaurants serving everything from Michelin-starred dishes to sumptuous and comforting family-style meals. There is a long and storied relationship between the British capital and South Asia and, through years of migration and cultural exchange, a rich tapestry of restaurants and eateries has been woven across the city.
Now, with better access than ever to high-end produce and spices, London is home to the best and most innovative Indian restaurants in the country. Whether looking to expand your culinary horizons or try the very best versions of dishes you already love, read on and make a reservation at one of our top recommendations.
1. Kricket, Soho
For exciting, modern Indian cooking, Kricket, in Soho is a stylish restaurant that started life in a shipping container in Brixton. It is where Will Bowlby – the Young British Foodie Chef of the Year nominee – soon made a name for himself in the culinary world. Soon, Kricket became so popular that it opened its first permanent location in Soho, soon followed by another opening in Shoreditch in March 2025. The food is lovingly prepared from British ingredients and crafted into exquisite dishes inspired by memories of travelling, cooking, and eating in India. The menu is brimming with mouth-watering options, like the crispy samphire pakoras, pickled mouli and tandoori monkfish, and Keralan fried chicken. The stand-out dish, though, is the roast pumpkin in succulent makhani sauce. Inside, the restaurant marries shabby chic and exposed brick walls with vibrant modern furnishings, staying true to its humble origins in Brixton. The Soho location is open seven days a week for standard dinner bookings and pre-theatre dining.
2. Vatavaran, Knightsbridge
This extraordinary new restaurant takes diners on a culinary journey inspired by the tranquil and sublime landscapes of the Himalayas. Restaurateur Abhi Sangwan is behind the stunning interior design. On each floor, diners will find themselves at a different elevation of the Himalayan mountains. The restaurant’s luxurious blues call to mind winding valley streams leading to the rocky ridges of the Orangery and the summit of the post-dinner cocktail bar. Vatavaran’s menu draws attention to the ingredients and cuisine of the Himalayas and is seasonally designed in line with both the mountains and UK produce suppliers. Many dishes feature paneer fried in rich spices, chilli, tomato, and garlic and there is also a selection of small plates available to order as a starter, alongside the restaurant’s legendary poppadoms. The main menu serves the classics one might have come to expect from an Indian restaurant, all prepared to the highest standard. Of particular note is the Mangalore fish dish with fragrant flakes of stone bass served on a bed of coconut rice.
3. Gymkhana, Mayfair
With a Michelin star to its name, Gymkhana is up there with the best Indian restaurants in the world. This fine dining experience takes style inspiration from the Gymkhana Clubs of India – gentlemen’s sports clubs from the colonial era – with dark, polished woods and exquisite printed fabrics adorning the furnishings. Gymkhana transports you from modern-day London into a rich and seductive culinary world. There is a set menu available with four courses but the standard menu features a variety of dishes prepared to world-class standards. Two such dishes are the lasooni wild tiger prawns and chicken butter masala – wildly popular with Londoners. You will need to order enough bread to mop up the mouth-watering sauces. Gymkhana is known for its incredible customer service, so do seek out your server’s advice on the best combination of dishes and drinks for your tastes.
4. Dishoom, Soho
With locations across the United Kingdom, Dishoom is a stalwart of the culinary scene. Their blend of Iranian and Bombay-inspired cuisine and decor often has diners lining up halfway down the street. Although staff usually come out with steaming hot chai to keep you warm as you wait for a walk-in reservation, it is best to book in advance, to secure a table. Dishoom are known in particular for their breakfasts. Their menu is a collection of perfectly crafted small plates designed to be shared. Their char-stripped streaky bacon naan is exceptional and their black dal is slow-cooked over twenty-four hours into rich, smoky perfection. The dining space is designed to look and feel like a cafe in Bombay, with dark wood, slow-spinning ceiling fans, cosy dining nooks, and historic photographs and prints on the wall. Breakfast is a stand-out, but lunch and dinner services are equally delicious and best enjoyed alongside their signature cocktails.
5. Tamarind, Mayfair
Tamarind has been delighting London diners for 24 years, drawing them in with its refined and elegant approach to fine dining. It is their dedication to sophisticated traditional cooking that won them a Michelin star prior to a short closure for renovations to be carried out. The multi-million-pound improvements have allowed for the space to be totally revamped – it is now double the size and Dover Street’s The Arts Club has created understated but comfortable interiors with overstuffed sofas and practical wooden tables set between two open kitchens. The revised menu focuses on small plates and tandoor grills, with mouth-watering options ranging from sea-fresh scallops in red lentil curry sauce, to plump sea bass with coconut and chili, and mind-blowing lamb cutlets in a pistachio crump. Food here is made to be shared and eaten with plenty of freshly made naan. The Keralan prawn curry is a triumph of spice and seafood and the chicken biryani with a pastry lid is a surprising new take on the classic. Tamarind has plenty of fantastic options for vegetarians, and the caramelised Brussels sprouts in chestnut and mustard-seed sauce are top choices time and again.
This is Indian food at its very finest.
