The best Indian restaurants in Dubai for a stellar meal out

Carnival by Tresind brings you fun, flair, flavour and folklore in one fancy package. With a colourful, organic dining space in the heart of DIFC, Carnival is more than just somewhere to eat or a great night out – it’s a testament to the creative art of preparing great Indian cuisine. Showcasing the passion and theatrical nature of the chefs, it’s been recognised as one of the UAE’s Best Indian Restaurants by the BBC Good Food Awards, and featured in the MICHELIN Guide. Try the Carnival experience menu to make the most of your night – five courses including injipuli prawns with palm sugar caramel and lamb pepper fry with Malabar paratha.

Head to Trèsind Dubai in Soufouh for award-winning Indian fine dining with a progressive twist on classic recipes. Recommended by the MICHELIN Guide, Gault & Millau UAE and MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, the literally translated “Very Indian” delivers what it promises and more. Renowned for bold flavours and innovative food combinations. Choose from the chef’s degustation menu or chef’s tasting menu to sample as much as possible. Think blossom chaat with pumpkin mash, Blackmore wagyu steak with chimichurri truffle, and duck ghee roast with coconut and toasted cashews. All served in a dynamic, contemporary space to engage all the senses.

Dubai Hills is home to the Indian tapas bar Revelry, where you can sample the vibrant “Seasons of India” in small plate form from chef Rahul Rana, ideal for sharing. Try the spiced truffle ghewar with pickled mushroom, chicken tikka dim sum or crab pakora to start, followed by lamb nihari or Kashmiri chilli prawns. Wash it all down with a Hindi-inspired cocktail from in-house mixologist Vince Varghese – perhaps an Amrood with whiskey, guava and falsa berry, or a Katahl with jackfruit, rum, bitters and honey. Every sip and every bite is a celebration of flavour. With hanging plants overhead and a sleek, wooden interior that evokes a vintage feel, it’s the perfect spot to kick back with cocktails and hearty food.

The Marriott hotel Marquis Dubai in the Business District boasts the Rang Mahal restaurant on the fourth floor, a must-visit gem that just received a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2024 award. As one of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai with a view, the setting is both vibrant and grandiose, encapsulating the warmth of the spices in the surroundings as well as on the plates. Try juicy ghee roast prawns or the royal household recipe for minced lamb kebabs. After work, pop into the bar and lounge to take advantage of the naan mahal deal – two drinks and one bar bite for a set price. Or loosen your belt and take on Limitless Mondays – all-you-can-eat with optional house beverages for two hours.

An epicurean oasis on bustling Sheikh Zayed Road celebrating cultural richness and international culinary diversity, Bistro Aamara brings you the best of India with influences from other countries on the famous Silk Route. Featured in the 2024 MICHELIN Guide and Bib Gourmand, allow executive chef Ritwik Sarkar to take you on a journey to the heart of the motherland at one of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai. Start with juicy wagyu beef tartare with oscietra caviar, then try the lobster tail with Caesar poriyal or classic lamb biryani. Finish with a signature cocktail – the refreshing cinnamon-infused Mango Brava is perfect on a warm evening.