Delhi, the capital city of India, has a long history. The city, which has been the centre of India’s politics for the last thousand years, has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous empires and dynasties. And the culture and food habits associated with all those dynasties have left a decisive historical impact on their gastronomic identity. From Mughals, British and Chinese to Italians, Koreans and Japanese, each one of them had a pronounced culinary influence on the country’s capital, and nobody knows when this cross-cultural dynamism led to the permanent transformation of Delhi’s local cuisine. However, the effect of this cultural mish-mash on Delhi’s food habits is evident in the variety of Indian, oriental and continental cuisines that are served in the city by the thousands of restaurants to the millions of food-lovers in the capital and around the world. This article, which lists the 10 most iconic restaurants in Delhi, is a tribute to this multi-cultural heritage of Delhi’s unique food scene. Some of these restaurants are hundred years old and serve dishes that are etched in time, while there are other relatively newer places on the list that impress foodies with variety and experiment. So, go through the list and decide which among them you want to visit with your family, friends or spouse this weekend.
The list of restaurants in Delhi
1. Indian Accent
Ranked at number 22 on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and at number 1 on the list of Best Restaurants in India by San Pellegrino, Indian Accent from The Lodhi, one of the finest 5-star hotels in Delhi, is a place worth dining at, at least, once in your lifetime. The restaurant is famous among foodies for adding contemporary twists to the most popular and traditional Indian dishes. It uses global ingredients to complement the flavours and tastes of desi dishes. Take their popular snack, Avocado Bhel, for example. Let’s not talk about the décor and ambience of this place, as that would be an underestimation of the opulence and grandeur of a 5-star hotel.
Address: The Lodhi, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003
Cost for two: ₹6000/- (approx.)
2. Bo Tai – Switch
Visit this place to witness creative décor at its best. Located in Janpath, CP, this restaurant is as much famous for its classy décor and ambience as it is for the scrumptious food and lip-smacking cocktails. It has a breathtaking indoor space and a marvellous courtyard beautifully complemented by expensive pastel-coloured upholstery on stylish wooden chairs. The restaurant specialises in Chinese, Thai and Sushi and has a well-deserved reputation for serving luscious artisanal cocktails.
Address: Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi -110001
Cost for two: ₹3000/- (approx.)
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3. Rooh
With a beautifully refurbished 150-year-old haveli, built in the Islamic style of architecture, and a lavishly revamped terrace that offers a breathtaking view of the Qutub Minar – this upscale restaurant and bar in Mehrauli is an interesting and quirky mix of ultra-luxe cosmopolitan and intrinsic Indian. The restaurant takes its inspiration from the Middle East, which is reflected in its décor, furnishing and the use of crockeries. The menu served here is as distinct as its theme with a special focus on gourmet seasonal dishes and craft cocktails. The alchemy of western techniques in popular Indian delicacies is sure to leave you impressed. If fine dining is an experience or efficacy of culinary art, then this restaurant certainly knows how to make that experience memorable.
Address: Mehrauli, New Delhi – 110030
Cost for two: ₹5000/- (approx.)
4. Karim’s
A favourite with celebrities like writer and novelist, Khuswant Singh, ex-Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Pakistani presidents Imran Khan and Gen. Pervez Musharraf, this restaurant, opposite Jama Masjid, doesn’t need any introduction. Having been there since 1918, this century-old restaurant is famous for serving authentic Mughlai dishes prepared with original recipes from the royal Mughal kitchen. It is said that the restaurant, which is a flag-bearer of Delhi’s rich culinary heritage, was established by Haji Karimuddin, whose father was a royal chef in the grand kitchen of the Mughals. So, visit this place to taste the best of Mughal cuisine and let history unfold its delicious mysteries to your discerning palate.
Address: Gali Kababian, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi -110006
Cost for two: ₹1000/- (approx.)
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5. Andhra Bhavan Canteen
Delhi being the nation’s capital is home to many state Bhawans or guest houses maintained by the different states of India that serve the finest of provincial cuisines through their canteens at the most affordable rates. And the best part is that these mouth-watering delicacies can be enjoyed as much by the common people as by the VIPs and VVIPs. Andhra Bhawan Canteen is also one such place where you can taste the most delectable of delicacies from the state at highly subsidised rates. Come here at lunchtime on any given day, and you’d be surprised by the size of the crowd and the vibe of the place. The canteen is worth visiting for foodies who love Hyderabadi Biryani and are a fan of authentic South Indian fare.
Address: Ashoka Road, New Delhi -110001
Cost for two: ₹500/- (approx.)
6. Shang Palace
A legendary destination for regional Chinese fare, Shang Palace from Shangri-La Eros hotel is a restaurant you must visit if you are a diehard Chinese food lover. The upscale, glossy and contemporary restaurant with lavish décor and seating arrangements is one of the very few places in Delhi that serve authentic Yunnan, Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine prepared with the finest quality original ingredients. The restaurant is a vivid extension of the Dubai and Istanbul chapters, and it truly lives up to its global reputation. Plan a dinner here, and it would be an experience to cherish.
Address: Connaught Place, New Delhi -110001
Cost for two: ₹4000/- (approx.)
7. Thyme
A magnificent fine-dining restaurant at the majestic Hotel Umrao in kapashera – Thyme is a cherry on top of Delhi’s multi-cuisine culinary heritage. The restaurant serves popular dishes from around the globe and is known for its extensive buffet spreads. Come here for a lazy lunch on a weekend and enjoy the truly global fare in a premium environment.
Address: Samalkha, New Delhi -110037
Cost for two: ₹3000/- (approx.)
8. Leo’s Pizzeria
An icon in its own right and an indispensable part of Delhi’s glorious global food scene – Leo’s Pizzeria is a place every pizza lover should visit at least once to learn and experience the authentic taste of real wood-fired pizza, not the commercial variety you would find in Domino’s or other places. The pizza restaurant is beautifully decorated with fairy lights, polished wooden tables and benches. With its southern European décor and a warm colour tone inside the restaurant, Leo’s resembles an Italian café in the true sense.
Address: Vasant Vihar, New Delhi -110057
Cost for two: ₹1500/- (approx.)
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9. Kiara Soul Kitchen
Regarded as one the finest fine-dining restaurants in Delhi, this highly-acclaimed fully vegetarian eatery serving contemporary Indian and oriental cuisine has reserved a special place in the heart of every food lover. The award-winning restaurant with stunning décor serves refined pan-Asian delicacies with an innovative approach to cooking. The food prepared at this restaurant is gluten-free, vegan and Jain-specific. And the best part is that no added preservative or unnatural colour is used to enhance the aesthetics of the food here. All the dishes served here are cooked with minimum oil and the freshest of ingredients. So, no need to compromise your health while you enjoy the refined taste of some of the best dishes in the world with your family.
Address: M Block Market, New Delhi -110048
Cost for two: ₹1800/- (approx.)
10. The Imperial Spice
People who swear by delectable food, exceptional fine dining experience and extraordinary hospitality, and value them more than gaudy décor, this restaurant in Connaught Place should be their indisputable destination for a weekend dinner. The well-decorated restaurant serves popular North Indian and continental dishes with a contemporary twist that appeals to all the five senses of the diners through subtle flavours of pure ingredients. The restaurant also has one of the broadest collections of wines in the city and has earned a reputation for itself in serving lip-smacking artisanal cocktails, which makes it one of the best restaurants in Delhi for party.
Address: Connaught Place, New Delhi -110001
Cost for two: ₹3000/- (approx.)
Conclusion
As per one survey, Delhi has close to 1 lakh restaurants and cafes of various sizes and budget ranges that provide a plethora of diverse dining experiences to food lovers of all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Therefore, calling the city a foodie’s paradise is not an exaggeration at all. This article is a collage of these varied culinary experiences and gastronomic extravaganzas. Above all, it is a record or a document of Delhi’s multicultural heritage. The restaurants mentioned above are not only unique in the way they distinctly hold on to the city’s rich culinary traditions, but they also serve a clientele that is as colourful as the city itself.
