The best Indian restaurants in the City of London

Muyura is a contemporary Indian restaurant in Barbican that specialises in authentic Indian dishes made with the freshest ingredients. The space is sophisticated and plush, with teal walls, chandeliers, and crushed velvet seating. The menu is broken down into sections, including appetisers, mains, and sides, which focus on dishes cooked using grill and tandoor methods. Classic favourites take centre stage, like butter chicken and lamb shank rogan josh, alongside grill specialities like Peshwari lamb chops, best served with fresh bread, like truffle naan.

Dishoom has restaurants located all over London, including on the periphery of The City in Shoreditch. This branch is one of the first, decorated in a Bombay café style with a soundtrack to match. Dishes are rich and aromatic, including classics like the signature black daal, chicken ruby, gunpowder potatoes and much more. The chai lattes are a hit, as is the breakfast, which has gained popularity with dishes like bacon naan with chutney ketchup.

Brigadiers is a restaurant between Bank and Mansion House known for its live-fire cooking techniques. It is inspired by military mess halls and has several screens showing sports, adding to its lively atmosphere. The dishes blend street food classics with those cooked on the grill, such as BBQ butter chicken wings and goat tikka bun kebabs.

Gunpowder is a cosy restaurant run by former Tamarind chef Nirmal Save with just two tables, serving aromatic small plates from across the Indian regions. The name Gunpowder pays homage to the chef's daily-made spice mix, while the menu features recipes passed down through generations. Dishes are designed to be shared, with highlights including Kashmiri lamb chops – a recipe from the owner's mother-in-law. There are three branches of Gunpowder in total in Spitalfields, Tower Bridge and Soho.

The Cinnamon Kitchen in Devonshire Square in the City of London is a venture by renowned chef Vivek Singh, located in an atmospheric old warehouse. The menu comprises dishes made with traditional Indian flavours and modern British influences, like tandoori chicken breast tikka and green pea kachori chaat.

For Mughal cuisine with a twist, try Anokha London on Creechurch Lane. This modern Indian restaurant was the winner of the British Curry Awards thanks to its contemporary take on classic Indian cuisine. It's set inside an old grade II-listed tea warehouse built in 1729, aptly owned by the famous East India Tea Company. Inside, it's glam with moody lighting and checkerboard flooring.

The Rajasthan I, II, and III are cosy Indian restaurants just a short walk from the iconic Tower of London and Tower Bridge. They all specialise in traditional Rajasthani cuisine, offering a variety of dishes such as biryanis, vegetable sides, rice, and bread, all prepared using authentic recipes inspired by Rajasthan's culinary traditions. Each restaurant is a little different but has a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service to match.