The best restaurants Delhi

If there's a queue in front of this little sign, nothing could be more normal: it's the ransom of success! The kekabs and rolls are so good that they deserve a little patience. The concept includes roasts or bread patties stuffed with vegetables or marinated meats. We advise you to succumb to the chicken tikka roll unless a big hunger leads you to a biryani. The purists have found fault with the purchase of this canteen by the Mughlai chain. They take refuge in the nearby Rule The Rolls, which is run by the sons of Khan Chacha.

Opened since 2009, this restaurant still holds the top spot and is considered by many to be the best restaurant in the capital. The chef, who has learned his trade in the great hotels of Asia, revisits Indian cuisine by pulling it upwards. Here, the combinations of spices are subtle, the cooking perfectly mastered and the flavours confusing, but exciting. The room echoes the modernity and elegance of the plates: sand and gold tones, enhanced by a few works of art. Reservation required.

The vegetarian or carnivorous grill temple welcomes its guests in a pleasant retro-character frame. The restaurant, with its buffet formula, will vary the dishes, but you will always find chicken, shrimp, fish, paneer or roasted peanuts. On tables, sauces and condiments are ready to accompany your dishes. Some evenings, servers and chefs invest the scene and sing some songs to entertain customers. Ambiance club, but in the restaurant!

Impossible to miss the door of the entrance of this restaurant with the doorman proudly displaying a majestic glossy moustache and a suit worthy of the greatest Rajput warriors. Inside, the setting is kitschy. A dark pirate cave atmosphere, a tree planted in the center of a pasteboard rock, 3D murals, shards of mirrors and adobe walls decorated with naïve paintings mix genres. However, the restaurant serves excellent North Indian cuisine with tasty curries and spicy kebabs.

The Taj Mahal, with its image of luxury and excellence, is going all out. The setting mixes sumptuous pieces of ancient art with modern furniture and lighting. The clash of eras and flavors also occurs on the plate. If the menu seems to propose classic dishes, the visual, olfactory and gustatory reality is quite different. The name chosen refers to the edible gold leaf, struck so finely that it can barely be felt on the tongue. And when it comes to finesse, the chef knows how to do it.

The Parsis, who came from Persia many centuries ago, settled in Bombay. Until the opening of the "Soda Bottle Opener" it was here that one could enjoy the best Iranian influenced cuisine. But now Delhi is trying to steal the spot from its enemy sister. You can try the berry pulao, a rice served with meat and berries or the roast mutton with Parsi spices. We also loved the setting, which revives an old cafe with bistro tables, woodwork and mirrors.

This legendary restaurant has the reputation of serving the best biryani and kebab in Delhi. And it's been going for 40 years! The setting has been recently renovated and Delhiites are flocking to the place which is vaguely reminiscent of American diners. A bench runs along the wall of the room, while on the other side there are "corners" for 6. A must to get acquainted with the cuisine of the country or simply to enjoy dishes that have been forgotten elsewhere. The service is efficient, but you often have to be patient.

Not so easy to find a nice restaurant around Connaught Place without loud music. Fortunately, a few nostalgic Hyderabad biryani lovers have opened this canteen on the outer circle. No fuss for this little address, but a setting that follows the codes in vogue at the moment: a touch of industrial, school chairs and old tiles. The biryani, tasty and fragrant, is steamed, as tradition demands, and comes in a vegetarian or meat-based formula. It's often full, and it's best to reserve your table.

If the address may seem unattractive (a shopping mall), don't turn back. This extraordinary fish and shellfish restaurant occupies a building all by itself. The interior, a little dark but very comfortable, is inspired by the Middle East. The menu draws from the Indian coastal repertoire with spice blends from Goa or Kerala. It is the occasion to taste clams, cuttlefish or shrimps prepared in different ways. Delhi has few seafood addresses and this one is worth the detour.

Sam's Cafe is another mythical place of Pahar Ganj. If the dining room does not have any interest, everyone can take refuge on the roof and its terrace as a garden. With a fine selection of Italian, Israeli, Chinese and cooked meats in the tandoor, the chef knows how to attract tourist customers who are in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the result is not up to the map, and we've stayed on our hunger a little. Prefer to enjoy a fresh drink at the end of the day.

More elegant than Old Delhi's, the waiters' uniforms match the burgundy of the two rooms. Here, we recommend the chicken afghani, whose spicy note you will calm down with a cucumber raita or the spicy mutton with its subtle perfume. Finally, the kulfi refreshes the palate with icy notes of pistachio or almond. Like the one in Old Delhi, this restaurant is a safe bet. It is advisable to make a reservation on Thursday evening because many people, after listening to Sufi songs at the dargah of Nizamuddin, meet here.

Hidden in a shopping mall, this café pays tribute to the number one activity in this trendy neighbourhood: fashion. In this inspired place, big strings, allegory of thread, separate the spaces. Low or high tables, bright colours, decorated walls and of course a rack displaying cutting-edge creations create a young and cosy atmosphere. The card plays an international score with burgers, pizzas, sandwiches. On the beverage side, coffee is available in all its forms. Pleasant at any time of the day, Threads is often taken by storm at lunchtime.

The reputation of this restaurant is well established, and the queue on Sundays is as long as a traffic jam on Ring Road at rush hour. Specializing in South Indian cuisine, the short menu features mainly idli (steamed buns made from black lentil flour and rice) and dosa (crunchy pancakes), the two mainstays of Dravidian Indian breakfast. While the chain has 26 establishments in Delhi, this one has the best reputation and is the most popular. And you can visit at any time of day!

This is the Shanti home restaurant on the top floor with a panoramic view of the city. It is tastefully arranged (seesaws, small tables delicately set, sofas) and you will taste the spécialites of northern India cooked in front of you (here everything is fresh and of excellent quality). In the evening, a multitude of candles will accompany your head-to-head. Romantic atmosphere to wish! Beautiful wine card and impeccable service.

Daryaganj claims credit for butter chicken and dal makhani, two iconic specialties of Indian cuisine. The restaurant was originally founded in the Daryaganj district of Delhi, which was home to a large number of refugees fleeing Pakistan at the time of the partition of the country in 1947. Kundan Lal Jaggi was one of them and imported to Delhi his culinary knowledge inherited from the great Mughal tradition in Peshawar, where he was originally from. Daryaganj has several shops in town, which belong to the descendants of Lal Jaggi.

Khan Market is becoming increasingly gentrified and is probably one of the most expensive areas in Delhi for trendy restaurants. Di Ghent is part of this trend, with oh! surprise! a Belgian-inspired bobo café. You can come and enjoy waffles and fries (if you feel nostalgic for the country), but also expensive sandwiches and salads. Fortunately, the result is quite convincing, with sourced and organic products (of course), iced teas and refreshing fruit or citrus drinks.

In a quiet street in the trendy Hauz Khas district, this sandwich shop is a credit to the place. You can enjoy big grilled sandwiches or fresh bread with crunchy vegetables and steaming meats. We are closer to the American concept than to the ham and butter, which probably explains the rather high prices. The room is small and decorated with very contemporary paintings. The service, pressed by the crowd, is often overwhelmed. You can also enjoy delicious coffees and espressos prepared by the trendy Blue Tokai Coffee Roaster.