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 décor 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 Michelin also recommend hotels? The One Michelin Key COMO The Halkin is a great choice in this part of town.

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 Portsmouth clams 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 look to the Ferrari garage next door.

The May Fair, A Radisson Collection Hotel, is just a 3 minute walk from the restaurant.

Inspired by the old elite clubs of India, there is something that feels a little bit special about Gymkhana. The restaurant is 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. If your visit leaves you craving more, buy a jar of their curry sauce or marinade to take home.

Staying the night? Michelin recommends Althoff St James's Hotel & Club.

Another of Mayfair's Michelin-Starred Indian restaurants, Jamavar has swish décor 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?

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. Long-standing Head Chef Sriram Aylur oversees his kitchen with both passion and professionalism and, while the recipes and preparations are largely traditional, there are occasional hints of more contemporary influences. For something different, try the ‘Beer and Food’ tasting menu that pairs various brews with the cooking.

Need a hotel nearby? The Guardsman is just a few hundred feet away.

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 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 member's club experience by staying the night at Home House London, just a short walk from Trishna.

Edging ever closer to its centenary, 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.