16 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).

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.

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.

Named after Chinese treasure ships, this rooftop restaurant at The Oberoi serves a good variety of Chinese regional fares with eyefuls of one of the greenest parts of Delhi---the Delhi Golf Club. The service is attentive and accommodating.

Translated into "South," Dakshin serves a delicious array of cuisine from the southern Indian states. Start with rasam, a traditional South Indian soup with tamarind and tomatoes, and papadams with a range of chutneys; then go on to enjoy a wide variety of coastal Indian food, including seafood curries, spicy prawns, and Chettinad chicken. Appams and Malabar parottas are perfectly made to mop up the flavorful masalas.

Since it was conceptualized with the inauguration of the Taj Mahal New Delhi in 1978, House of Ming has been the preferred Chinese restaurant of many Delhiites for elaborate family meals, cozy date nights, and high-profile corporate lunches. With more than 120 dishes on the menu, there’s adequate representation from Sichuan, Hunan, and Cantonese cuisines.

Located in a quiet, tony neighborhood, INJA serves an array of dishes cooked with Indian spices and Japanese techniques. The tuna and pomelo chaat with shiso leaf tempura, raj kachori (puffed puri) with Alaskan king crab, and lobster rasam chawanmushi (a Japanese savory custard) are absolutely brilliant takes on Japanese-Indian fusion.

After an extensive renovation and expansion project, Jade at The Claridges New Delhi reemerged with a fresh look that offers a symphony of colors reminiscent of old Chinese towns, with brass accents, malachite pillars, and dancing dragons on the ceiling. The food is even better than before---try any one of their dim sum offerings.

A favorite amongst the city's fashionable set and couples celebrating special occasions, this rooftop restaurant at The Leela Palace serves delicious Franco-Italian fare with a twist. The menu celebrates some of the freshest and finest produce of the season from Italy and France---try any of their handmade pastas.

In the shadow of the Qutub Minar, this sprawling Mediterranean restaurant with elegant white-on-white decor is reminiscent of Santorini. Delhi's most fashionable congregate here for a sumptuous Sunday brunch, and it's one of the best spots for French cheese platters, hearty Italian soups, and hand-rolled pastas.

Although a fine-dining restaurant, Sorrento has an easygoing vibe that will instantly transport you to a trattoria in Italy. It offers an extensive menu of antipasti, handmade pastas, pizzas, and succulently grilled meats, and may just be the top choice for your Italian craving in Delhi. The charming al fresco seating overlooking the spacious lawn is ideal for enjoying balmy evenings or sunny lunches.

This contemporary Indian restaurant at Taj Mahal New Delhi churns out traditional dishes presented with a classic fine-dining spin. The white-tablecloth setting is cozy, but luxurious, serviced by attentive staff.

This is one of the best spots to enjoy Chinese fare in Delhi. Try the truffle edamame dumplings, mapo tofu, and any prawn-based dishes, paired with the handmade noodles---they're an in-house specialty.