8 Best Restaurants in Delhi, India

Served amid stone walls, rough-hewn dark-wood beams, copper urns, and blood-red rugs, Bukhara's menu hasn't changed in years, and its loyal clientele wouldn't have it any other way. The cuisine of the Northwest Frontier, now the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, is heavy on meats, marinated and grilled in a tandoor (clay oven).

Count on this award-winning, popular joint for delicious pizza and pasta—most of Delhi does—but if you're looking for something more substantial, mains like pan-seared lamb chops are also excellent, so make sure to ask about the daily specials. With classy interiors and attentive service, the setting is suited to a wine-soaked lunch or cozy dinner for two.

Like the nawabi (princely) culture from which it's drawn, this restaurant has a food selection and style that are subtle and refined. Chef Imtiaz Qureshi, descended from court cooks in Avadh (Lucknow), creates delicately spiced meals packed with flavor: dum ki khumb (button mushrooms in gravy, fennel, and dried ginger), kakori kabab (finely minced mutton, cloves, and cinnamon, drizzled with saffron), and the special raan-e-dumpukht (a leg of mutton marinated in dark rum and stuffed with onions, cheese, and mint).

At this beautifully designed Thai restaurant, you can dine on zingy salads, delicious stir-fries, and velvety curries, surrounded by fine tapestries and traditional paintings.

At this internationally acclaimed Modern Indian restaurant, Chef Shantanu Mehrotra seamlessly blends Indian and global flavors and preparation methods, creating innovative offerings such as the pork belly tikka. Choose the chef's tasting menu for six wildly modern dishes created with typically Indian ingredients and paired with complementing wines.

One of Delhi's most popular Italian restaurants, La Piazza has been serving fine thin-crust pizzas and pastas for more than 40 years. The casual, trattoria-style restaurant is a go-to spot for celebrations, hangouts, date nights, and languorous Sunday brunches---perfect for people-watching.

This Japanese restaurant at The Leela Palace offers excellent fish and impeccable service in a luxe ambience. Look for its signature Crystal Buddha elevated over a pool of rose-petal water, with a beautiful 800-pound Japanese Bonsho bell suspended from the ceiling.

Modeled and decorated after its namesake luxury train, this small restaurant at the Taj Palace offers elevated modern European cuisine in a plush, lamp-lit interior. The service is immaculate, and live piano recitals add to the charm. Both prix-fixe and a la carte menus are available.