The 7 Best Indian Restaurants in London

London's Best Indian Restaurants

It’s no secret that London is a multicultural paradise, and arguably the best city for foodies in the country. Indian food is just one of the many options for global cuisine on offer in London, and with estimates of over 8,000 Indian restaurants alone, you’ll never be too far away from getting your curry fix in England’s capital city.

But, how can you tell the good from the bad? In this comprehensive article, we have put together a guide of the 7 best Indian restaurants in London, so that you can simply have a quick read and get your table booked, without all the hard work. Some of the best Indian dishes in the country await you at these restaurants, from creative curries to spectacular samosas and everything in between.

1. Babur

Named after the founder and first emperor of India’s mighty Mughal Dynasty, Babur offers a truly royal dining experience. Located in Forest Hill in south London, Babur has been serving up Indian favourites since 1985 – and restaurants don’t stay open for almost 40 years if they’re not at the very top of their game.

Offering a mix of BIR (British Indian Restaurant) favourites such as butter chicken masala alongside luxury Indian dishes such as swordfish tikka and slow-cooked mutton, the mouth-watering array of dishes on offer go far beyond your average takeaway. The menu at Babur also pairs each dish with a suitable wine, so that you can truly experience Indian dining at the very top level. There is also a wide range of cocktails on offer, as well as locally-supplied craft beers.

Babur is also offering a special menu for their upcoming 40th anniversary in 2025, so keep your eyes peeled for this.

Must-try dish: Goat shoulder tikka.

2. The Tamil Prince

One of the most unique features of the Tamil Prince is that on a weekend, it is open for breakfast. But don’t get your hopes up for bacon and eggs here. Instead, you can experience some traditional South Asian breakfast favourites such as uttapam (an Indian-style pancake) and medhu vadai – a type of Indian ‘doughnut’, made with lentil and onion batter, served with coconut chutney.

However, for those wishing to have a meal out in the evening, The Tamil Prince also has a fantastic evening menu. While the selection is not the largest, you can rely on the chefs knowing exactly what they’re doing, and all food being served to the very highest standard. The cuisine reflects different parts of India, such as the south Indian style chicken curry, named after the city of Thanjavur, where it is a popular dish. Combine this with a crispy onion bhaji and cool mint yoghurt for an unforgettable dining experience. Make sure to book in advance, though – finding a table at The Tamil Prince is like gold dust if you have not booked beforehand.

Must-try dish: Tawa-grilled seabream.

3. Veeraswamy

Advertised as the UK’s oldest Indian restaurant, Veeraswamy has been in business since 1926, and serving up traditional Indian dishes to Londoners for almost 100 years. Found on the world-famous Regent Street in London’s West End, Veeraswamy is a luxury dining experience, and absolutely worth a visit.

Given its prestige in the Indian restaurant business, it is little surprise that Veeraswamy is also Michelin-star rated. There are several different menus on offer, from a set lunch menu to a private dining experience – all of which feature rich and elegant flavours of the Indian subcontinent.

From succulent tandoori green prawns to whet your appetite to spicy roast duck vindaloo, Veeraswamy offers flavours like no other. There is a huge array of vegan and vegetarian dishes, making this Indian restaurant one of the most varied in London.

Booking in advance is absolutely essential in order to get a table at this high-end luxury Indian restaurant.

Must-try dish: Dum ka paneer.

4. Chettinad

At the other end of the spectrum, for visitors wanting an authentic, no-frills, home-cooked Indian food experience, then a visit to Chettinad is a must. Named after a small village in southern India where the chefs are originally from, Chettinad serves up Indian food like you would find in India – you won’t find any chicken tikka masala here!

Another attractive feature about Chettinad is that they offer several different three-course menus, giving you the chance to try out a bit of everything on the menu if you are struggling to choose from their wide range of traditional, authentic South Indian dishes.

Start off your meal with Rasam – a tangy vegetable soup – followed by eral poriyal (juicy, aromatically-spiced tiger prawns deep-fried in a light batter), and if you have room for dessert, finish off your meal with a portion of kulfi – a smooth Indian-style ice cream.

For those searching for a genuine Indian dining experience, then Chettinad is the place to go.

Must-try dish: Kathrika Kara Kulambu.

5. The Sitara

From North India to North London, The Sitara offers some of the Punjab’s most wonderful dishes to its north London diners. Established in the 1960s when founder Sam emigrated from the Punjab region of India to London, The Sitara has been serving home-cooked authentic North Indian food for over 50 years.

The business is still family-run, with Sam’s son Raj taking on most of the day-to-day runnings of the restaurant.

The menu has been developed over the last half-century with particular attention paid to the eating habits of the customers, so you can expect to see Indian restaurant favourites on the menu from the mild and creamy korma to the scorchingly hot phaal.

The naan bread originated in northern India, so it is little surprise to see such a wide array of them on the menu – from the humble plain naan to the sweet peshwari naan, which is filled with coconut and dried fruits. They are the perfect accompaniment to any curry from The Sitara, as you will definitely want to mop up any leftover sauce from your plate, it really is that good!

However, the most unique feature of The Sitara – and you might have guessed this already given its name – is that they host live jazz music to listen to while you enjoy your Indian meal, making for a memorable dining experience.

Must-try dish: Chicken jeera.

6. Brigadiers

Located in the heart of London, just a stone’s throw from London Bridge, Brigadiers is another must-visit if you are craving an Indian meal in central London. Offering up some of Indian barbecue’s biggest hits, you can expect more than just curries on this menu.

For instance, you can order a full rack of tandoori lamb chops, simply bursting with flavour and meat so tender that it falls right off the bone. Or for the vegetarians, how about roasted kati meeti aubergine, cooked in the flames of the wood-fired oven at the back of the restaurant.

Because Brigadiers doubles up as both an Indian restaurant and a sports bar, you can also pop in for a pint and some bar snacks to watch the football on a weekend. But you won’t be getting bland peanuts, dry pork scratchings and over-priced crisps here – you can expect some of the most unique bar snacks you’ve ever come across: from crunchy poppadoms served with a selection of sweet and spiced chutneys, to fiercely hot goat belly vindaloo samosas.

Next time you’re in the city centre, make sure to pay a visit to Brigadiers – you won’t regret it!

Must-try dish: The mix-grill sizzler – perfect for sharing.

7. Gymkhana

Inspired by Indian high-class society, Gymkhana offers a luxury dining experience at its restaurant in the equally high-class surroundings of Mayfair.

Just earlier this year (2024), Gymkhana was awarded its second Michelin star, a decade after it was awarded its first one – the real benchmark of a top-end, high-quality Indian restaurant.

Diners can expect the ingredients to be of the very best standard, and many of the ingredients are also locally sourced, where possible. Kebabs might not seem like the upper-class cuisine you would normally associate with such a sophisticated establishment, but we can assure you that the salmon tikka kebab is a world away from something you’d eat after a night out!

With the decor harking back to the Raj era of Indian history, stepping into Gymkhana is like stepping back through time into a magnificent Indian palace, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were actually dining in the presence of Indian royalty.

A real treat, but one that you will never forget should you opt to visit Gymkhana any time soon.

Must-try dish: Goan prawn curry.