The best Indian restaurants in Central London

Gymkhana in Mayfair is a contemporary Indian restaurant that pays homage to the elite members' clubs of colonial India. In 2024, Gymkhana became one of the first two Indian restaurants in the UK to receive two Michelin stars. You can dine on different menus here, including tasting menus as well as a vegetarian option, all filled with dishes like curries, biriyanis and more. Enjoy wine pairings to go alongside your food, including a range of international bottles and vintages.

There's always a queue at Dishoom, which is a testament to how popular it's become since opening in 2014. All of the restaurants – including the couple in Central London – have been decorated as an ode to old Bombay cafés. The menu is made up of a fine-tuned selection of contemporary Indian dishes, such as curries, small plates, seafood and meat-based plates, including things like their famous black daal and tangy chicken ruby. This is a great place to wine and dine if you're a fan of sharing a few bits amongst the table. Cocktails are equally impressive, as is their breakfast menu and hot drinks – don't sleep on the chai.

The JKS siblings behind other successful ventures such as Hoppers and Bao launched Brigadiers in London as a barbecue restaurant and TV sports bar. Inside it's decked out with deep browns and polished wood, making it a little classier than your usual sports boozer. The food is also excellent – start with beer snacks and end with something more substantial, like ribs or chops. For drinks, expect draft beers and other pub-like drinks.

This modern Indian restaurant has restaurants in both Trafalgar and Holborn. Both are decorated with stunning memorabilia and ornaments from the owner's childhood – think plates on the walls, old love letters between his parents, and glitzy chandeliers. The menu is brimming with elevated Indian dishes like their popular Anglo-Indian chicken chop, kofta curry, and a super creative cocktail menu.

This swish Indian restaurant in Piccadilly Circus is all about modern Pan-Asian dishes, served in a sleek, upmarket space, enhanced by dim lighting and a central bar where mixologists shake up exquisite cocktails. The menu is filled with dishes like curries, tandoori plates and veggie options like spicy cauliflower. 

This once pop-up Indian restaurant now has several locations around London, including a couple in Central London. It's modern and creative, serving a menu of contemporary dishes which are perfect for sharing and made with home-grown British ingredients, such as their famous Keralan chicken which is a must-try.

The iconic Darjeeling Express is a venture by acclaimed celebrity chef Asma Khan, who heads up an all-female kitchen that cooks up traditional home-style Indian food and streetwise delicacies in the heart of London. The restaurant started out as a supper club but soon had a permanent base and even featured on Netflix's Emmy-nominated Chef's Table. Despite Khan's reputation, the prices are geared towards being more affordable. Khan was also the first chef to be featured on Vogue's list of 25 most influential women.

This Michelin-starred Indian restaurant serves a menu of classic Indian fare but with flair. Expect favourites like curries, biriyani, and tandoori dishes, as well as a lengthy wine list. You can also choose from several tasting menus, an à la carte menu and a multi-course lunch menu. Private dining and takeaway are also available.

For prime cuts of meat marinated in fragrant Indian spices and cooked in a tandoor oven, Tandoor Chop House is the ideal destination. This Central London restaurant merges a classic British tandoor chophouse with a communal North Indian eatery, offering an exquisite menu featuring food prepared in tandoor ovens. Inside, the restaurant is adorned with wood and exudes an old-school charm.

Madhu's of Mayfair is a stunning restaurant located inside The Dilly Hotel next to Piccadilly Circus. They serve a menu of creative Punjabi dishes with Kenyan influences, like cassava chips in masala spices, as well as sharing platters and lots of vegetarian options. If you're headed to the theatre, it's ideal for a pre-show meal. The restaurant itself is a work of art, adorned with crystal chandeliers and stunning artwork. It's somewhere you'd want to dress up a little.

Veeraswamy is the city's oldest surviving Indian restaurant, having opened all the way back in 1926. Its traditional vibe has earned it one Michelin star, as well as the menu, which includes options like smoked chicken tikka and tandoori tiger prawns from the à la carte menu. A special weekend lunch of traditional Indian dishes is also available.

The Delhi Brasserie has been serving Indian fare in Soho for over 30 years now, on the famous Frith Street, steps away from Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and Bar Italia. When the restaurant opened in 1985, Ronnie Scott himself was actually the guest of honour, and since then, it has welcomed notable guests like Twiggy, Lenny Henry, and Elaine Page. The restaurant has high ceilings, tall windows overlooking Frith Street, and tables draped in white tablecloths.