The 21 Best Indian Restaurants in Edinburgh for a delicious meal

By Alex Brickmen | Updated on

Scotland's capital and the second-largest city has plenty of appeals, thanks to the stunning location of the famed Castle Rock and the distinct character of the historic Old Town and modern Georgian New Town districts. Tourism is a major economic staple - the Edinburgh Festivals alone attract over four million tourists in August - and Edinburgh restaurants play a role as well.

There's no reason to go for typical touristic spots when there are five Michelin-starred businesses and a good assortment of coffee shops, cafés, and bistros catering to every taste. Whether you're looking for gourmet dining in Edinburgh or the newest pop-up restaurants and coolest pubs, this extensive list of Edinburgh restaurants has something for everyone.

If you're searching for something enjoyable, have a look at our list of the top restaurants in Edinburgh, which includes some of the greatest restaurants that Scotland's capital has to offer. If you're planning a weekend getaway to Edinburgh, start your day off properly with one of the fantastic breakfasts in Edinburgh.

It should come as no surprise that Indian cuisine is one of the most popular in the United Kingdom, and Edinburgh is no exception. It is complicated, if not impossible, to find something nicer than a decent curry. So we did some research and discovered the 21 top Indian eateries in Edinburgh.

21 Best Indian Restaurants in Edinburgh

Here is a list of 21 best Indian restaurants in Edinburgh:

01. Vinyasa

Vinyasa is an Indian restaurant located at 34 St. Mary's Street in Edinburgh. They have a diverse menu. They serve wonderful Indian cuisine and are confident that you will find something to your liking. The restaurant is well-known for its superb Indian food, as well as its friendly staff and lively atmosphere.

It makes everything by hand, using only the highest quality ingredients and the freshest veggies. Each dish represents a different flavour, pleasure, affection, or essence. At Vinyasa, they combine flavour and emotion to create a one-of-a-kind delectable experience. For their valued clients, they provide a lunch buffet, supper, and takeaway.
Address: 34 St Mary's St, Edinburgh EH1 1SX, United Kingdom

02. Passage To India

Look no further if you're seeking a high-quality Indian restaurant in Edinburgh's city centre. Passage to India is ideally suited for you to enjoy a great supper amid the city lights, with excellent transit links. Be one of their thousands of pleased customers and experience their award-winning chefs' home-style Indian food.

All of your meals are prepared from scratch by Passage To India chefs using traditional techniques and ingredients. They take great delight in making special meals that allow you to have a tiny taste of their cuisine since they adore offering their clients the greatest Punjabi food in Edinburgh.
Address: 20 Union Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3NQ, United Kingdom

03. Pataka

Pataka is an Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Edinburgh's Newington neighbourhood. Murgh tikka, pakoras, and samosas are among the appetizers, and Jaipuri Chicken, Lamb Pasanda, and Ginger Murgh are among the main dishes on the extensive menu, which also includes classic kurmas, bhunas, and biryanis.

The beverages menu includes lassis, soft drinks, beers, and spirits, as well as aperitifs. Pataka is located at 190 Causewayside, ten minutes walk from The Meadows Park and ten minutes driving from Edinburgh Waverley Station.
Address: 190 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PN, United Kingdom

04. Voujon

Voujon, situated at 107 Newington Rd, provides delectable Bengali and Indian food close to Edinburgh's well-known public park The Meadows. A broad menu includes appetisers such as Meat Samosa and Murgh Kebab, as well as staples like bhunas, dansaks, and biryanis, as well as specialties such as Sahai Chasni and Red Fort Chicken.

Voujon is praised by diners for its diverse beverage menu and separate wine list. Edinburgh Waverley Station is an eight-minute drive away, while Edinburgh Castle is a nine-minute drive away.
Address: 107 Newington Rd, Newington, Edinburgh EH9 1QW, United Kingdom

05. Tanjore

Tanjore brings the distinct flavour of South Indian food to Edinburgh's Southside and Holyrood areas. Starters include dal, papdams, and idli, while the main course menu includes classic Tanjore curries, dosais, and Biryanis, as well as a children's menu and a plethora of vegetarian alternatives.

Tanjore, situated at 6-8 Clerk Street, offers a variety of soft drinks and is highly recommended by diners. The restaurant is a six-minute drive from Edinburgh Waverley railway, while Edinburgh Castle is a seven-minute drive.
Address: 6-8 Clerk St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9HX, United Kingdom

06. Zest

Zest is a top Indian restaurant in Edinburgh City Centre. Much of their business comes from repeat customers and their recommendations. The customers may expect genuine Indian and Bangladeshi dishes from them. On weekdays, they provide a special business lunch.

Fresh herbs and aromatic spices are often stir-fried for the utmost freshness of flavour and variation of texture. Zest is a fun and relaxed restaurant where guests can unwind and have a delicious meal. Real Indian cuisine is meant to be enjoyed together.
Address: 15 N St Andrew St, Edinburgh EH2 1HJ, United Kingdom

07. Rustom Restaurant

It is an Indian dining establishment In Edinburgh's city centre, you may go on a sensory trip through the streets of Lahore and Mumbai. They provide a genuine Indian and Pakistani dining experience that includes everything from street snacks to age-old family specialties.

Rustom offers diners a "tour of taste and scent over the streets of Lahore and Mumbai." This means a combination of street cuisine and classic standbys like chicken tikka masala and lamb bhuna. If you choose to be a little more daring, Rustom's menu encourages greater investigation.
Address: 2 Grosvenor St, Edinburgh EH12 5EG, United Kingdom

08. Chaskaa

Chaskaa is an Indian restaurant on Edinburgh's Leven Street. They specialize in offering famous traditional Indian and seafood from various parts of India. The secret is a perfect combination of Indian spices, locally produced Scottish ingredients, and the magic that its award-winning chefs do in the kitchen.

In Edinburgh, Scotland, they are best recognised for their freshly cooked, tasty, and genuine Indian food. With great ratings from the customers and their ongoing support, comes the responsibility of ensuring that they maintain the standards and keep all customers pleased.
Address: Chaskaa Indian Restaurant, 30-32 Leven St, Edinburgh EH3 9LJ, United Kingdom

09. Roti

Roti is a family-run restaurant that was founded on January 1, 2017. They come from a line of popular restaurants in Edinburgh run by Mohammed Din. The major goal at Roti is to provide a delectable and flavourful menu made from authentic traditional recipes, culminating in quality Indian and Pakistani food.

The traditional cooking styles ensure that all ingredients, including fresh herbs and spices, are fully flavourful. The highly skilled staff takes great delight in using the best ingredients in all recipes, which are prepared daily. They will never let you down if you try one of Roti's savory chaats, delectable tandoori delicacies, flavourful biryanis, or the most appetizing curries!
Address: 42 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1LL, United Kingdom

10. Gautam's

It is a family restaurant specialising in genuine Nepalese and Indian cuisine prepared to the highest standard by industry leaders with over 50 years of combined expertise. They take pleasure in providing courteous service and the best-tasting meals in town. They offer Take-Away, Delivery, and Outdoor Catering for groups of all sizes. So, whatever the occasion, contact Gautam's and they will take care of everything.
Address: 13-14 Dalziel Pl, Edinburgh EH7 5TP, United Kingdom

11. Ignite

Visit this restaurant for a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience as the talented culinary team takes you to the scorching heat of Bangladesh and Northern India via a symbiotic fusion of classic Asian foods prepared with a modern and distinct 'twist.' Its food stimulates the senses, while the ambient atmosphere, which is beautifully furnished with Indian and African artifacts, draws up a cross-cultural and definitely unforgettable dining experience.

They are recognised experts in making authentic Indian cuisine, with menu options including popular curries, vegetarian main dishes, and seafood platters, as well as substantial white wine, red wine, and champagne lists.
Address: 272-274 Morrison St, Edinburgh EH3 8DT, United Kingdom

12. Mintleaf

Mintleaf, located on Bernard Street in Leith, serves genuine Thai and Indian food. The restaurant is handicap accessible, child-friendly, and has two private eating rooms on the mezzanine floor, just around the corner from The Shore. As eye-catching as the design is, it's the Indian and Thai cuisine that keeps visitors coming back.

The skilful cooks at the restaurant provide all of the most renowned Indian and Thai cuisines, but they also stray off the usual path. Diners at Mintleaf may get a unique flavour of India by ordering the lamb cooked in intriguing Bengali chilies and calamansi sauce with lemon leaves.
Address: 28 Bernard St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6PP, United Kingdom

13. Gurkha Cafe & Restaurant

Gurkha Cafe & Restaurant is an Indian and Nepali restaurant in Edinburgh's centre. This famous restaurant provides a one-of-a-kind tour through India and Nepal's traditional food. Gurkha Cafe aspires to enrich the eating experience by keeping up with evolving cuisine trends in Nepal and India while retaining the originality. Its extensive experience in preparing food assures that the most delectable meals are presented with passion and knowledge.
Address: 27 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1BP, United Kingdom

14. Kahani Indian Restaurant

Kahani Indian Restaurant, which specializes in Indian street cuisine, is located only a short walk from Edinburgh's bustling centre and uses only the purest of local ingredients to offer a menu that is overflowing with flavour and appeals to everyone's taste.

The bright and airy dining area at Kahani is a tranquil haven in which to experience a delightful dining experience. The staff is helpful and professional, making the restaurant a favourite among both locals and travellers.
Address: 10/11 Antigua St, Edinburgh EH1 3NH, United Kingdom

15. Mother India's Cafe

Whether you're stopping for lunch or planning a night out at one of Edinburgh's numerous attractions, the Café is a budget-friendly and delightful alternative.

Eating out with your spouse, family, or friends is a pleasurable experience, and the Café's menu is intended to encourage that. With tapas, the entire meal is a shared experience, and the variety of freshly prepared and delectable meals on offer allows people to try both favourites and something new.
Address: 3-5 Infirmary St, Edinburgh EH1 1LT, United Kingdom

16. Dishoom

Dishoom stands as a testament to the Irani cafés that used to be a staple of life in Bombay. In gorgeous restaurants with distinct tales, Dishoom serves a lovingly chosen menu of Bombay home cuisine and award-winning beverages.

The food selection is equally fascinating, with a wide range of authentic Indian foods ranging from curries to salads. Salli Boti is Chef's Edinburgh special, a Parsi classic of succulent lamb cooked in a rich and flavourful sauce and topped with crispy salli crisp chips. It comes with a delicate and creamy roomali roti and is available as a half or whole dish.
Address: 3a St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2BD, United Kingdom

17. Namaste Kathmandu Restaurant

Located in the centre of Edinburgh, this restaurant is recognised as one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. Three times HIT List winner, recommended by 'Colins Scotland The Best,' and evaluated by Evening News, The Herald, Frommers, and Lonely Planet. TripAdvisor awarded the "Certificate of Excellence 2015 to 2020."
Address: 17-19 Forrest Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2QH, United Kingdom

18. Golden Ambal

Golden Ambal is Edinburgh's sole restaurant serving original and homey style South and North Indian food without the use of artificial colours or flavours, as well as South Indians' favourite Indo-Chinese. Enjoy a cold beer or wine in a lovely and romantic setting with soothing background music.

They’ve been serving Edinburgh for 5 years and feel the tastiest dishes are those made from scratch in mom's kitchen. They have made every attempt to deliver that real flavour from across the continent to Scotland's ancient capital.
Address: 1 Albert Pl, Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH7 5HN, United Kingdom

19. Indian Lounge Edinburgh

This family restaurant, which opened in 1983, specialised in Indian and Punjabi cuisine. They exclusively use olive oil in cooking. They buy fresh veggies every day. Try their house custom Karai meals; I can nearly assure you have never tasted anything finer.
Address: 129 Rose St, Edinburgh EH2 3DT, United Kingdom

20. The Prahna Indian Grill Edinburgh

Coming to Prahna gives the impression of a high-quality, premium facility with a stylish design. However, this welcoming and relaxing atmosphere is accompanied by high-quality meals at reasonable costs. The menu is well-balanced, with variations on Scottish and Indian classics, as well as their own spin on real Indian meals. The value here will astound you.
Address: 295A St John's Rd, Corstorphine, Edinburgh EH12 7XF, United Kingdom

21. Navadhanya

This superb establishment's cuisine is developed by award-winning chefs and employees from Five-Star Hotels and Michelin-Star restaurants. They have a single goal: to provide their guests with an authentic Indian dining experience while maintaining the utmost civility and hospitality. The cuisine will take you on a gourmet trip around India, from south to north.
Address: 32-34 Grindlay St, Edinburgh EH3 9AP, United Kingdom

Final Words

Who doesn't like the rush of scent and flavour that Indian food provides? Or the surge of adrenaline you get when you order one that is delicious? Here we have provided a 21-best list of Indian restaurants in Edinburgh. You can visit them for delicious and flavourful Indian food. They will never let you down.

Almost all Edinburgh's Indian restaurants accept takeaway food online orders through platforms such as Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats. So get tasty Indian food online or book a table.