In this guide
London does not have one definitive “best” Indian restaurant. A Keralan vegetarian restaurant, a Mumbai street-food counter and a Michelin-starred Mayfair dining room offer completely different experiences.
This guide compares restaurants that recur in current recommendations from the Good Food Guide, Thatsup, Michelin Guide, The Infatuation and Time Out. We then checked locations and restaurant information against official websites.
Important: these are researched editorial recommendations, not claims that we have personally reviewed every restaurant. Menus, prices, dietary provision and booking policies can change, so check the restaurant’s own website before travelling.
What five current guides agree on
We compared five of London’s best food guides to see which Indian restaurants they kept coming back to. The places below are the ones that stood out across several of their recommendations.
That does not mean there is one restaurant that suits everyone. The best choice depends on whether you want a special-occasion dinner, a relaxed central meal, somewhere for a group or great vegetarian food.
| If you want… | The recurring recommendations worth comparing | Why this is useful |
|---|---|---|
| A destination meal | Gymkhana and Trishna | Both are repeatedly selected for high-end Indian dining, but their atmosphere and food focus differ greatly |
| A historic central experience | Veeraswamy | It is consistently included for its heritage, Regent Street location and formal setting |
| Coastal regional cooking | Quilon | A recurring option for south-west Indian cooking near Westminster and Victoria |
| A central casual meal | Dishoom and Kricket | Both turn up frequently, but Dishoom is more convenient for visitors while Kricket is more small-plate-led |
| A lively group meal | Brigadiers | Multiple guides point to its barbecue, group menus and high-energy setting |
| Vegetarian Indian food | Rasa | It is repeatedly singled out for all-vegetarian Keralan cooking rather than merely having vegetarian options |
This is why the guide is organised by what the visitor needs rather than one overall ranking. A traveller looking for a quick vegetarian lunch should not be sent to the same place as someone planning a milestone dinner.
Quick recommendations
| Best for | Restaurant | Area | Price | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destination fine dining | Gymkhana | Mayfair | ££££ | Two-Michelin-starred cooking and one of London’s hardest reservations |
| Contemporary tasting menu | BiBi | Mayfair | ££££ | Highly individual modern Indian cooking in a small counter-led room |
| Coastal Indian food | Trishna | Marylebone | £££ | Refined seafood-focused cooking in a calmer neighbourhood setting |
| South-west coastal cooking | Quilon | Westminster | £££ | Particularly useful near Buckingham Palace and Victoria |
| Historic experience | Veeraswamy | Regent Street | £££ | London’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant, opened in 1926 |
| Central, accessible first choice | Dishoom | Several areas | ££ | Multiple branches, breakfast and an approachable Bombay-café format |
| Modern Indian small plates | Kricket | Several areas | ££ | Energetic contemporary cooking with a Michelin Bib Gourmand |
| Vegetarian Keralan food | Rasa | Stoke Newington | £ | Long-established neighbourhood restaurant with an all-vegetarian menu |
| South Indian vegetarian value | Saravanaa Bhavan | Several areas | £ | Dosas, idli, thalis and a large vegetarian menu |
| Mumbai-style quick food | Shree Krishna Vada Pav | Fitzrovia and other branches | £ | Vegetarian snacks and fast, inexpensive meals |
| Sharing dishes with a story | Darjeeling Express | Soho | £££ | An all-women kitchen and menus influenced by several parts of India |
| Groups, barbecue and sport | Brigadiers | City of London | £££ | Large, lively Indian barbecue restaurant with group feasts |
Price guide: £ generally means an inexpensive meal; ££ a typical casual or mid-range meal; £££ an expensive restaurant or set menu; and ££££ a destination tasting-menu experience. Drinks and service are not included, and the boundary between categories is approximate.
Map the restaurants
Use the map to see which recommendations fit naturally into your day. For restaurants with several London locations, we have pinned one useful branch; always check the restaurant’s website before travelling.
Explore the restaurant map 12 guide choices + 4 video-only visits
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How we selected the restaurants
This is not a popularity poll and it is not based solely on customer-star averages. A restaurant was considered when it met several of these tests:
- recommended by more than one established editorial source;
- recognised by Michelin or another respected professional guide;
- offers a particularly useful experience that is not duplicated elsewhere;
- represents a regional Indian tradition or a distinct style of cooking;
- has current official information and remains bookable or open;
- gives visitors a useful choice by budget, location or occasion.
The list deliberately mixes destination dining with affordable neighbourhood food. It focuses on Indian restaurants; Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nepali restaurants deserve separate guides rather than being treated as interchangeable.
Best for a special occasion
Gymkhana, Mayfair
Best for: a major celebration or a food-focused trip
Nearest stations: Green Park and Piccadilly Circus
Price: ££££
Reserve: as far ahead as the booking system permits
Gymkhana is the clearest destination choice in this guide. It holds two Michelin stars and appears near the top of The Infatuation’s current London recommendations. The dining room takes inspiration from Indian private clubs, while the menu combines grills, game, curries and biryanis.
This is not the sensible choice for a quick pre-theatre meal or a restricted budget. It is the choice for visitors who want the restaurant to be one of the principal events of the day.
In the videos: watch TOPJAW visit Gymkhana from 14:15.
Official website and reservations · Michelin’s Indian restaurant selection · The Infatuation’s assessment
BiBi, Mayfair
Best for: an inventive tasting menu and counter dining
Nearest station: Bond Street
Price: ££££
Reserve: well ahead
BiBi is a small, modern restaurant rather than a traditional grand dining room. Its strongest appeal is the opportunity to experience chef-led, contemporary Indian cooking in a more intimate setting. The Infatuation currently gives it one of its highest London ratings, while its tasting-menu format has also received national coverage.
Because the room and menu are tightly structured, confirm allergies and dietary restrictions before paying a deposit.
In the videos: watch TOPJAW visit BiBi from 7:20.
Official website and reservations · The Infatuation’s current Indian guide
Trishna, Marylebone
Best for: seafood, coastal Indian cooking and a quieter celebration
Nearest station: Baker Street
Price: £££
Reserve: recommended
Trishna specialises in contemporary Indian coastal food and holds a Michelin star. It is a useful alternative when Gymkhana feels too formal, expensive or difficult to book. Marylebone also makes it convenient after Madame Tussauds, Regent’s Park or shopping around Oxford Street.
Seafood is a central part of the restaurant’s identity, although current vegetarian and other dietary menus should be checked directly.
Official website and reservations · Michelin’s selection · The Infatuation review
Best for regional and historic cooking
Quilon, Westminster
Best for: south-west coastal Indian food near major landmarks
Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Victoria
Price: £££
Reserve: recommended
Quilon focuses on the cooking of India’s south-west coast, with seafood and carefully balanced spicing playing a prominent role. It has held a Michelin star since 2008, according to the restaurant, and is especially practical for a day around Buckingham Palace, Westminster or Victoria.
This is one of the strongest choices for visitors who want refined regional cooking without travelling to Mayfair or Marylebone.
Official website, menus and reservations · About Quilon’s cooking · Michelin’s Indian selection
Veeraswamy, Regent Street
Best for: restaurant history, traditional ceremony and pre-theatre dining
Nearest stations: Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus
Price: £££
Reserve: recommended; check the dress and child policies
Opened in 1926, Veeraswamy is London’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant and marks its centenary in 2026. Its current menus draw on several Indian regions, including royal-court traditions, rather than representing a single regional cuisine.
The location is excellent for Regent Street and the West End. However, this is a formal restaurant with published clothing guidance, age restrictions at some services and a dinner minimum spend outside its pre-theatre offer. Check those details before booking with children or planning a casual meal.
Official website and reservations · Current visitor policies · Pre-theatre information
Darjeeling Express, Soho
Best for: sharing menus, groups and a distinctive personal story
Nearest stations: Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus
Price: £££
Reserve: recommended
Chef and owner Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express is known for its all-women kitchen and food shaped by family recipes and several regional influences. Its Kingly Court location makes it convenient for Soho shopping and West End plans.
This is most attractive when the sharing format matches the group. Read the current menu and booking terms rather than assuming that every service offers the same experience.
In the videos: watch TOPJAW visit Darjeeling Express from 11:17.
Official website and reservations · Time Out’s current Indian and South Asian guide
Best central and mid-range choices
Dishoom, several locations
Best for: first-time visitors, breakfast and mixed groups
Useful branches: Covent Garden, Carnaby, King’s Cross and Shoreditch
Price: ££
Booking: varies by branch, time and group size
Dishoom is not a substitute for exploring London’s regional Indian restaurants, but it remains a practical visitor recommendation. The Bombay-café concept is approachable, the branches are close to popular areas and breakfast creates an alternative to another hotel buffet.
It is also exceptionally popular. Queues, reservations and walk-in arrangements differ, so check the chosen branch rather than relying on a general rule.
Official locations, menus and booking · The Infatuation’s Covent Garden review · Browse our Covent Garden and Soho guide
Kricket, several locations
Best for: contemporary small plates and a lively casual meal
Useful branches: Soho, Brixton and Shoreditch
Price: ££
Reserve: useful for Soho at busy times
Kricket began as a pop-up and now operates several permanent restaurants. Michelin gives the Soho restaurant a Bib Gourmand for good-quality, good-value cooking. Small plates make it a good option for sharing, though a group should watch how quickly multiple orders increase the bill.
The Soho branch is particularly useful before an evening in the West End; Brixton and Shoreditch work better when those neighbourhoods are already part of the itinerary.
In the videos: watch Harrison Webb visit Kricket from 7:56.
Official website, locations and menus · Michelin Guide entry
Best affordable and vegetarian choices
Rasa, Stoke Newington
Best for: vegetarian Keralan food and a neighbourhood meal
Nearest station: Stoke Newington Overground, followed by a walk
Price: £
Reserve: sensible at popular times
Rasa is the strongest all-round vegetarian recommendation in our source comparison. Time Out currently rates it five stars and highlights its long-established place in Stoke Newington. The restaurant describes the N16 branch as vegetarian and focused on South Indian food.
It is not central, so combine it with Stoke Newington, Dalston or north-east London rather than crossing the city solely to fill a short gap between attractions.
Official website and booking · Time Out review
Saravanaa Bhavan, several locations
Best for: vegetarian South Indian food on a modest budget
Price: £
Good choices for: dosa, idli, vada and thali-style meals
Saravanaa Bhavan is an international Chennai-based vegetarian restaurant group. It is less of a special-occasion experience and more of a dependable way to explore South Indian dishes at accessible prices. Time Out includes it in its current London Indian and South Asian selection.
London branches are not all near the major sightseeing corridor. Confirm the exact location, menu and opening hours before building it into the day.
Official London website and locations · Time Out’s current guide
Shree Krishna Vada Pav, Fitzrovia and other branches
Best for: a quick vegetarian snack or inexpensive informal meal
Nearest station for Fitzrovia: Oxford Circus
Price: £
Shree Krishna Vada Pav specialises in Mumbai-style vegetarian street food, including the potato-filled roll from which it takes its name. This is the useful answer when the priority is speed, location and price rather than table service or a long evening meal.
Time Out identifies it as a strong street-food snack choice. Branch details can change, so use the company’s own list rather than an old map result.
Official website, menu and locations · Time Out’s current guide
Best for groups
Brigadiers, City of London
Best for: groups, Indian barbecue, beer, whisky and televised sport
Nearest stations: Bank, Cannon Street and Mansion House
Price: £££
Reserve: strongly recommended for groups
Brigadiers is a large, lively restaurant inspired by Indian army mess clubs. The Michelin Guide highlights its live-fire cooking, group menus and energetic atmosphere. It is a better match for a sociable meal than for quiet conversation or a low-sensory evening.
Its City location works particularly well on a weekday, after St Paul’s or before continuing towards the South Bank. Check the sporting schedule if screens and a louder room would affect the experience.
In the videos: Brigadiers is the opening restaurant in both guides. Watch TOPJAW from 0:00 or watch Harrison Webb from 0:00.
Official website and reservations · Michelin Guide entry · Browse our City and Shoreditch guide
Choose by area
| If you will be near… | Useful choices from this guide |
|---|---|
| Soho, Covent Garden or the West End | Dishoom, Kricket, Darjeeling Express or Veeraswamy |
| Mayfair | Gymkhana or BiBi |
| Marylebone | Trishna |
| Buckingham Palace or Victoria | Quilon |
| The City | Brigadiers |
| Shoreditch | Dishoom or Kricket |
| Stoke Newington | Rasa |
| Oxford Circus and Fitzrovia | Shree Krishna Vada Pav |
London travel time matters. A very good restaurant ten minutes from the day’s final attraction is often a better choice than a marginally more acclaimed restaurant requiring two changes and a long walk.
Vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergy advice
Rasa, Saravanaa Bhavan and Shree Krishna Vada Pav are presented by their sources or official sites as vegetarian choices. Other restaurants in the guide offer varying degrees of vegetarian provision, but a vegetarian option does not automatically mean a restaurant is vegan-friendly.
Do not infer halal status from the cuisine or from an old third-party listing. Meat suppliers, preparation arrangements and alcohol policies can change. Ask the restaurant directly if halal certification or separation is important.
For serious allergies:
- contact the restaurant before booking;
- explain the allergy again on arrival;
- check whether tasting menus can be adapted;
- do not rely only on a blogger’s historic menu photograph;
- leave additional time if the kitchen needs to discuss alternatives.
Booking and bill advice
- Book destination restaurants as early as their reservation calendar allows.
- For a theatre night, tell the restaurant the performance time and leave time to pay and walk to the correct entrance.
- Check cancellation charges, deposits and minimum spends before confirming.
- London menus may add a discretionary service charge, commonly shown separately on the bill.
- Confirm whether a tasting menu must be taken by the whole table.
- At small-plate restaurants, ask how many dishes are realistic before over-ordering.
- Check the current menu price on the official website; price labels in this guide are comparative, not quotations.
Our shortlist by traveller
- One memorable meal: Gymkhana, if the price and reservation work.
- A quieter refined dinner: Trishna.
- Near Buckingham Palace: Quilon.
- Before the theatre: Veeraswamy’s timed menu, Dishoom, Kricket or Darjeeling Express, depending on the theatre.
- Vegetarian: Rasa for Keralan food; Saravanaa Bhavan for South Indian variety.
- Quick and inexpensive: Shree Krishna Vada Pav.
- A lively group meal: Brigadiers.
- A convenient first experience: Dishoom, followed by a more regionally specialised restaurant if the trip allows.
Continue planning
- Return to the Eat in London hub
- Choose where to stay in London
- Browse Covent Garden and Soho
- Browse the City and Shoreditch
- Plan a three-day London visit
Restaurants, official links and editorial recommendations checked on 28 July 2026. This guide is independent and contains no paid placements or affiliate booking links.
Watch the restaurant tours
These two videos offer a closer look at several restaurants in this guide as well as some additional options. Pressing play loads YouTube’s privacy-enhanced player; you can also follow the timestamp links below each video.
