The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (2024)

Best-of Guides Greater London

7 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. With influences coming from the north of the country to the Kerala coast, the full range of Indian cuisine can be found in London. The quality of the capital’s options is equally notable, with seven Michelin-Starred Indian restaurants found in the city. Here, we run through each of these excellent establishments.

Updated on 06 August 2024

The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (1)

Amaya

Halkin Arcade, 19 Motcomb Street, Belgravia, SW1X 8JT London

£££ · Indian

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? COMO The Halkin is a great choice in this part of town.

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The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (2)

Benares

12a Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J 6BS London

££££ · Indian

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.

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The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (3)The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (4)

Gymkhana

42 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4JH London

££££ · Indian

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 basem*nt 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 co*cktail 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 .

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The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (5)

Jamavar

8 Mount Street, Mayfair, W1K 3NF London

£££ · Indian

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 Michelin-recommended The Twenty Two?

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The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (6)

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 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.

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The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (7)

Trishna

15-17 Blandford Street, Regent’s Park and Marylebone, W1U 3DG London

£££ · Indian

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.

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The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (8)

Veeraswamy

Victory House, 99 Regent Street, Mayfair, W1B 4RS London

£££ · Indian

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, is a recommended by Michelin and in walking distance of the restaurant.

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Copyright from top to bottom: Amaya, Richard Booth/Amaya, Lateef Okunnu/Benares, Lateef Okunnu/Benares, Marcus Cobden/Gymkhana/Gymkhana, -, Jamavar, Jamavar, John Carey/Quilon, John Carey/Quilon, DAVID LOFTUS/Trishna, Marcus Cobden/Trishna/Trishna, MW Eat / Veeraswamy/Veeraswamy, Veeraswamy

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The Best Indian Restaurants In London - The MICHELIN Guide (2024)

FAQs

How many Michelin star Indian restaurants are there in London? ›

With influences coming from the north of the country to the Kerala coast, the full range of Indian cuisine can be found in London. The quality of the capital's options is equally notable, with seven Michelin-Starred Indian restaurants found in the city.

Which London Award is best Indian restaurant? ›

VEERASWAMY. Best Indian Restaurant Award - Time Out, the leading London lifestyle magazine. One of London's 20 best restaurants - Square Meal Guide.

Which was the first Indian restaurant in London to get a Michelin star? ›

Revolutionising the concept of Indian cuisine has been the key to Atul Kochhar's success since moving to Britain as a young chef in the early '90s. He made history as the first Indian chef to receive a Michelin star for his debut London restaurant Tamarind in 2001.

Which Indian chef has a Michelin star in the UK? ›

Michelin-starred Rohit Ghai has become one of the culinary world's most in-demand chefs after a hugely successful decade on the London restaurant scene.

What area of London has the best Indian food? ›

Which area of London is best for Indian food? There are Indian restaurants in every corner of London and Brick Lane certainly has its fair share, however according to our list, the best areas of London are Soho and Mayfair.

What is the oldest Indian restaurant in London? ›

Veeraswamy is an Indian restaurant in London, located at 99-101 Regent Street. It was opened in 1926 by Edward Palmer, an Anglo-Indian retired British Indian Army officer, the grandson of an English general and an Indian princess. It is the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the United Kingdom.

Where do Bollywood stars eat in London? ›

London. A Mayfair hotspot, members-only Annabel's is also a Bollywood favourite. Last year, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Natasha Poonawalla and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja were seen enjoying sunny brunch at The Garden, an idyllic location inspired by the quintessential English garden.

Why is London famous for Indian food? ›

The British ruled India for over 200 years, and during this time, they developed a taste for Indian spices and food. This led to the establishment of Indian restaurants in the UK, gradually becoming more popular.

Does Dishoom have a Michelin star? ›

Both cuisine and service are michelin star standard. - Dishoom King's Cross, London Traveller Reviews - Tripadvisor.

Why did the London lose its Michelin stars? ›

Michelin guide director Michael Ellis told Bloomberg, "We've had issues with consistency, and consistency is a huge thing for us ... we've had some very erratic meals [there]." He explained that the major two-star downgrade was a difficult decision to make but the Michelin team felt it was the right thing to do.

Who is the Indian chef who got a Michelin star? ›

Vikas Khanna, an award winning Michelin starred Indian chef, is one of the judges on Masterchef India.

How many Michelin stars does Gordon Ramsay London have? ›

Gordon James Ramsay OBE (/ˈræmzi/; born8 November 1966) is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur, television presenter, and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall and currently holds eight.

How many Indian restaurants have Michelin stars in the UK? ›

Eight Indian cuisine restaurants received stars in the 2022 Michelin Guide. The guide also lists other Indian restaurants in the Bib Gourmand section, though those have not been awarded stars, yet.

Who is the Indian chef in Netflix London? ›

Asma Khan. On her unlikely journey from Calcutta tomboy to celebrated London chef, Asma Khan has shattered conventions and created new opportunities for women.

Who is the Indian woman Michelin star? ›

At the 2024 MICHELIN Guide Thailand Ceremony, Garima Arora made culinary history as the first female Indian chef to receive two MICHELIN Stars. She opens up about her achievements, life as a working mother, and shares her plans — and hopes — for the future.

How many Michelin star restaurants are there in London? ›

There are 80 Michelin-starred restaurants in London, up from 71 last year. A Michelin star is a mark of distinction awarded by the Michelin travel guides. It recognises the high quality of the cooking and service of a restaurant.

How many Indian restaurants does London have? ›

With over 8,000 restaurants, the city has a complete ecosystem of Indian food, with Indian restaurants having the second most Michelin Stars in the city – just after French cuisine, but there are also many options for budget travelers.

Does London have more Indian restaurants than Mumbai? ›

Did you know there are more Indian restaurants in London than there are in Mumbai and Delhi combined? 🥘 That's a whole lot of Indian food options! There are more than 8,000 Indian restaurants in the UK — London alone has 3,600 of them!

Which UK city has the most Indian restaurants? ›

While Leicester is known for its curry houses and takeaways, it was also named the city with the most Indian restaurants per head than any other in the UK, and surprisingly, second in the world.

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