Best-of Guides Greater London

The Best Indian Restaurants In London

10 Restaurants
Many cities in the UK boast plenty of great Indian restaurants, but nowhere matches London when it comes to their diversity, regionality and originality. From small plates to tasting menus; from simple, neighbourhood spots to formally decorated Mayfair legends; from Northern India to the Kerala coast, there is simply something for all tastes and for all occasions.
Updated on 18 September 2023
Amaya
Halkin Arcade, 19 Motcomb Street, Belgravia, SW1X 8JT London
£££ · Indian

Its somewhat concealed location adds to the air of mystery here at Amaya. Once inside, with its 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 here, so expect a little theatre, along with an array of dishes designed for sharing. The smoked chilli lamb chops are always a highlight.

Bibi
42 North Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 6ZP London
££££ · Indian

Chaat and grills from across India are at the heart of the menu here and dishes boast plenty of originality. Most of the cooking happens over wood, which imparts a real depth of flavour, especially when blended with the heat of the spicing. There are tables, but your best bet is to grab a seat at the counter and watch how it’s all done.

Brigadiers
1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, City of London, EC4N 8AR London
££ · Indian

The Sethi family are well-versed in opening successful London restaurants and at Brigadiers they certainly nailed the brief, creating a space just right for its City location in the Bloomberg News HQ. It’s a busy, lively restaurant with various spaces for eating, drinking and entertaining and takes its influence from the old army mess clubs of India. The menu is a rollcall of street snacks and BBQ dishes, and there are feasting menus for larger parties.

Chutney Mary
73 St James's Street, St James’s, SW1A 1PH London
£££ · Indian

It would be fair to say Chutney Mary was one of the pioneers of Indian cuisine in London. It first opened back in 1990 in Chelsea and then moved to these somewhat spacious and elegant surroundings in the heart of St James’s in 2015. The main dining room with its bright Indian artwork is certainly a jewel and the extensive menu will leave you spoilt for choice.

Gunpowder Spitalfields
11 White's Row, Tower Hamlets, E1 7NF London
££ · Indian

Having only ten tables in a tightly packed space ensures there is always a buoyant, buzzy atmosphere here. The name comes from the spice mix made in-house daily, while the menu of sharing plates takes its influences from across India – and that includes family recipes. Be sure to try the ‘spicy venison & vermicelli doughnuts’, along with ‘Chettinad pulled duck with homemade oothappam’. If you can’t get a seat, then try their other branch near Tower Bridge.

Heritage Dulwich
101 Rosendale Road, Lambeth, SE21 8EZ London
££ · Indian

It’s a family affair at this neighbourhood restaurant in Dulwich, where chef Dayashankar Sharma, who is no stranger to some of London’s top Indian kitchens, cooks with his son Anmol. There are no particular regional leanings to the menu; it’s more an illustration of the sheer diversity of the cuisine. Some dishes respect tradition, whilst others are a little more original in their composition.

Kahani
1 Wilbraham Place, Chelsea, SW1X 9AE London
£££ · Indian

You’ll find Kahani – meaning ‘Story’ in Hindi – just along from the Cadogan Hall and Sloane Square. Experienced chef-owner Peter Joseph is the one to guide you through dishes, which showcase both his Indian heritage and the influences he’s gleaned from his travels. One hallmark of his cooking is the subtlety of his spicing, which gives the dishes their distinct identity.

pahli hill
70-81 Mortimer Street, Regent’s Park and Marylebone, W1W 7SJ London
££ · Indian

A relative newcomer on this list, Pahli Hill is proof there is no end to the appetite for Indian cuisine in the capital. It has an intimate basement bar and a colourful, clever retro feel in the comfortable dining room and is just the sort of place to come with friends or family as the menu of ‘big’ and ‘small’ plates is made for sharing. Chef Avinash Shashidhara previously spent time at the River Café and there is an appealing lightness to his style of cooking.

Quilon
41 Buckingham Gate, Victoria, SW1E 6AF London
£££ · Indian

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. 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. Try the beer pairings which come with certain dishes.

Tamarind
20 Queen Street, Mayfair, W1J 5PR London
£££ · Indian

Tamarind is not just a stalwart of Mayfair, but the Indian dining scene in London as a whole. A complete transformation a few years ago gave it a bright and airy first floor dining space, along with a basement complete with a tandoor counter. While the tandoor is still the heart of the kitchen, the cooking matches the ‘lightness’ of the surroundings, with dishes free from over-elaboration.