While at its heart, Indian food is casual and comforting, a highly skilled chef can bring the inherently seasonality, heritage, and complexities of flavour to the forefront. Indian fine dining may not have the same strong representation as its European or Asian counterparts, but it’s no less entrepreneurial and exciting. 

The velvety richness of shahi paneer The roaring heat of a vindaloo. The comfort of butter chicken or a dal makhani. Some of India’s best chefs have brought their favorite childhood dishes to kitchens around the world and turned a home-cooked classic into a Michelin Star meal. Others have elected to remain near their roots, elevating both tradition and technique to create a luxury dining experience that you can only find in India.

Go directly to the source and uncover some of the best Indian food in Delhi on Luxury Gold’s Essence of India tour. Enjoy a luxury dining experience in Delhi as well as an intimate foodie walk through the street markets with a local chef.

5 Michelin Star Chefs From India

There are few luxury dining experiences that rival a meal at a Michelin restaurant. From the elevated to the elegantly refined, these five chefs from India have proudly earned Michelin stars for their interpretations of Indian cuisine. 

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Chef Atul Kochhar 

One of the most prominent Michelin starred chefs from India, Chef Atul Kocchar was the first Indian chef awarded a star. His first Michelin star came at London’s Tamarind, followed by a second star nearby at Benares. Today, Chef Kocchar owns a number of restaurants throughout the UK and one in India.

Chef Garima Arora 

Chef Garima Arora followed Chef Kochhar’s history-making Michelin star by becoming the first Indian woman to earn the same honor. Restaurant Gaa’s modern Indian fine dining restaurant flaunts traditional Indian cooking techniques with a contemporary appeal in hopes to reform the way classic Indian food is discussed. 

Chef Alfred Prasad 

As the youngest Indian chef to receive a Michelin star, Chef Alfred Prasad maintained the Michelin star at London’s Tamarind for years. He’s famed for revolutionizing British Indian cuisine and currently oversees Shiuli contemporary, healthy Indian menu in Twickenham.

Chef Vikas Khanna

Dreams of culinary greatness fueled Chef Vikas Khanna’s journey from his home in Punjab to the Big Apple. His restaurant, Junoon, in New York City has boasted a Michelin star for eight consecutive years, impressively receiving it within Junoon’s first year. Junoon continues to let timeless tradition and contemporary interpretation fuels its Indian cuisine.

Chef Manjunath Mural

Once the head of The Song of India, Chef Manjunath Mural was the first chef to bring a Michelin star to a Southeast Asia Indian restaurant. The Song of India closed its doors in Singapore, but not before Mural’s four year run with the star. Chef Mural now continues sharing his skills in Singapore with elevated Indian cuisine at ADDA and decidedly “unauthentic” Indian cuisine at Long Beach’s Cali Chilli in the United States.  

Diners have no doubt sampled some of the finest Indian food in the world outside of India’s borders, though no one has ever eaten at a Michelin starred restaurant in India itself. Michelin  has yet to dedicate its efforts to a proper Indian guide which is why the country lacks Michelin stars. 

But that does nothing to stop many of India’s award-winning chefs from showcasing the country’s depth of cuisine in their own backyards. 

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Where to Dine With the Most Awarded Chefs in India

They may not be Michelin star chefs in India, but these notable men and women have wowed the country’s dining scene through both bold innovation and a strong command of traditional Indian culinary techniques.

Thai Naam | Mumbai

Chef Ananda Solomon

Those craving Thai food might find the best in the world at Thai Naam in Mumbai. Though Chef Ananda Solomon hails from Pune, this pioneer brought authentic Thai cuisine to India after spending years in Thailand working in both food stalls and royal kitchens. His efforts and experience were championed at Mumbai’s Thai Pavilion where the chef eventually retired. Not one to sit on his hands, he’s cooked up a new venture in the form of Thai Naam.

Thai Naam is regularly stocked with spices and produce from Thailand, offering up stir-fry and Tom Yum soups so traditional that you’d forget you hadn’t boarded a flight to Thailand at Mumbai’s international airport only a few kilometres from your table. Tasting Thai in India may initially seem like a sin, but trust that Chef Solomon’s mastery of the cuisine offers a deeply satisfying experience akin to ordering the best Indian foods in Great Britain. 

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Indian Accent | New Delhi

Chef Manish Mehrotra

Regularly regarded as one of the best restaurants in Asia, Indian Accent success is driven by Chef Manish Mehrotra at the helm. He cooked under Chef Ananda Solomon at Thai Pavilion in Mumbai and aims to reinterpret nostalgic Indian plates at Indian Accent in New Delhi.

With a sister location in New York City, Indian Accent is acclaimed for its exciting take on Indian food. The menu is an adventurous affair as seasonal produce from the region is mixed with global ingredients to leave a diner lost in the reminiscence of tradition and the joy of modern exploration. The Chef’s tasting menu is a playful assortment of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings like caramelized carrot khaman, duck ghughra, and summer corn chaat. 

Suvarna Mahal | Jaipur

Chef Raghu Deora

As the Executive Chef of Rambagh Palace, Chef Raghu Deora is charged with the unenviable task of mastering the most regal of India’s dishes. Crafting these rivaled dishes is all in a day’s work thanks to his unrivaled skill developed over a three-decade career that’s stretched from East China, Hong Kong, and Singapor to Jaipur.

Without question one should expect a luxury dining experience upon setting eyes on Rambagh Palace. This opulent estate houses Suvarna Mahal in the original palace dining room, allowing you to sample the flavors of Hyderabad, Awadh, Punjab, and Rajasthan beneath dazzling chandeliers and other Renaissance-style decor. 

The royal Indian menu is as refined as can be at Suvarna Mahal, presenting the absolute best of India on a plate. Rajasthani lamb curry and Awadhi Murgh Korma are among the main courses tempting you to ignore the eight other pages on the mouthwatering menu. Those who can make their way from the appetizers and mains down to the dessert section are rewarded with gulab jamun aur gulkand kulfi that leaves a final sweet taste on your lips to close an unforgettable meal.

Watch the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, explore Udaipur, the Venice of the East, and enjoy luxury dining experiences only found in India during Luxury Gold’s Imperial Rajasthan 13-day tour.

The breathtaking feeling of coming face-to-face with a wild animal can’t be beat: whether it’s tracking elusive tigers in India’s Ranthambore National Park, spotting majestic elephants in the Southeast Asian jungle or looking out for the Big 5 on the plains of East Africa, going on safari is one of travel’s most primeval pleasures.

That’s not to say that creature comforts should be sacrificed. When you’ve finished your game drives and binocular-based outings, head back to some of the world’s best luxury safari lodges which cater to your every need, desire, and whim. From infinity pools looking over the wild to suppers under the stars cooked just for you, here are the world’s finest luxury safari holidays.

Lion Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

Photo credit: @lionsandsgamereserve

Sandwiched between the spellbinding Sabi Sands Game Reserve and epic Kruger National Park is Lion Sands Game Reserve – a privately-owned wilderness. Small though it may be, there’s plenty of opportunity to spot the Big 5, plus 137 other mammals and over 450 types of bird.

The six luxury safari lodges at Lion Sands have facilities ranging from private plunge pools and rejuvenating outdoor showers to open-air lounges overlooking the Sabie River and wooden walkways through the bush that encourage pure connection with nature – without leaving the hotel. 

While you’re on your safari adventure, the lodge preps an exclusive “Riverbed Dinner” BBQ, where you can share the day’s sightings with other guests over a glass of carefully-selected Cape wine. 

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Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, South Africa

Photo credit: @sabisabireserve

Nearby is another private reserve, Sabi Sabi – a luxury african safari with a difference. Beyond the Big 5, keep your eyes peeled for the Sabi Secret Seven: the serval, African wildcat, large-spotted genet, civet, aardvark, pangolin and porcupine.

After a morning game drive, head back to base at Bush Lodge. Priding itself on its contemporary and colourful African decoration, take high tea with fresh fruit and sugar-scattered macarons before sipping a complimentary cocktail on your secluded patio, revelling in a calming coconut-infused African massage or kicking back in flowing, open-plan suites which allow the wildlife to serenade you to sleep.

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Nahargarh, Ranthambore, India

Photo credit: @thealsisarnahargarh

As luxury safari holidays go, Nahargarh is one-of-a-kind. This palatial hotel just beyond the bounds of big cat-packed Ranthambore National Park invites its guests to live like maharajahs and maharanis: intricate mirrors and Mughal floral accents cover the Royal Dining Hall, where plates of only the most regal Rajasthani dishes are served; think buttery roti and slow-cooked curried lamb. Outside in the sunshine, the square-shaped pool resembles a traditional bathing ghat, where marble steps into the water lead you to float away into a trance-like state.

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Aman-i-Khas, Ranthambore, India

Photo credit: @aman

Some luxury safari experiences can be just a little wild. The luxury safari tents at Ranthambore’s Aman-i-Khas are something special, with high-ceilinged bedrooms, luxuriant freestanding baths and personal butlers for each party, but it’s the experiences that set this safari camp apart.

Each day gets off to a good start with complimentary morning yoga sessions in the jungle, and the hotel encourages guests to further immerse themselves in Indian ritual by offering free mehndi (henna) sessions for women and outdoor shaves with traditional barbers for men. And, for a safari with a twist, try a guided ride through Rajasthan on a princely Marwari horse.

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Hapuku Lodge, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Photo credit: @hapukulodge

New Zealand isn’t usually known for its safaris, but these luxury safari lodges and treehouses on the coast of South Island make bringing binoculars a must. The coastal waters around Kaikoura are ideal territory for marine safaris: they’re home to a permanent population of sperm whales, plus visiting orcas, seals, and dolphins, which you can meet on a locally-operated boat tour. In the skies above the lodge, albatrosses, fintails and bellbirds soar. 

The area where Hapuku Lodge is located is known as “house of food” in the local Maori dialect, so stop by the dining room after the day’s adventures to be served platefuls of produce grown on the lodge grounds (from figs to pumpkins), plus succulent fish sourced from the market that morning. Afterwards, get comfy with some chocolates in your room’s soaking tub or custom-designed bed.

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Forest Lodge, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, South Africa

Photo credit: @grootbos

A luxury African safari destination close to buzzing Cape Town, the sand dunes around Grootbos are home to a fascinating array of plant and animal life, including endemic and vibrant fynbos (heathlands); best seen from the reserve’s open-top 4×4. Meanwhile, the marine ‘Big 5’ swim in the oceans close to the lodge – that’s whales, dolphins, sharks, penguins and seals – and cage diving to meet Great Whites is on offer. Those who prefer to play it safe can also admire the mighty swash from the comfort of Forest Lodge’s soothingly warm infinity pool. 

Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia

Photo credit: @shintamaniwild

These lodges in the Southern Cardamom National Park were inspired by the elegant Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ Cambodian safari in the 1960s. The luxury safari tents at Shinta Mani Wild, sitting pretty on the side of a serene waterfall, take notes from her effortless glamour – one is even filled with photos from her trip – but each polished-teak tent has its own personality.

From the moment you check in, an ‘Adventure Butler’ acts as a friendly, all-knowing guide to the landscape. They’ll accompany you on river safaris, camera-trapping operations, and anti-poaching patrols, but they’ll also anticipate your every need, from unpacking your luggage to folding the towels kept beside your outdoor bath.

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Rosewood Luang Prabang, Laos

Photo credit: @rosewoodluangprabang

The verdant jungles of Laos were once filled with Asian elephants – gentle giants known for their curiosity and playfulness, now only numbering in their hundreds. The luxury safari tents at Rosewood Luang Prabang (carefully created to represent both French colonial and indigenous Laotian designs) are just a 25-minute drive from Mandalao Elephant Sanctuary, where the resident conservationist Prasop works tirelessly to re-train rescued elephants for the wild. After your elephant-meeting experience, join Prasop for a cocktail to learn more about his life’s work. 

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In India’s royal state of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer rises like a city of gold from the Thar Desert. In fact it’s the forts, Jain temples and palaces carved from the distinctive yellow sandstone that give Jaisalmer its nickname as ‘the Golden City’.

As part of our Imperial Rajasthan tour, you’ll spend two unforgettable nights in Jaisalmer packed with exceptional one-off experiences. From a guided excursion to a local farmers’ market, to dining under the stars while listening to live local musicians – here’s what awaits you in India’s Golden City

Jaisalmer Fort

On your second day in Jaisalmer, your Travel Concierge will take you to the astounding Jaisalmer Fort. Looming over the city from its perch on Meru Hill, this sprawling sandstone citadel is home to a quarter of Jaisalmer’s population – mostly made of descendants of the royal Brahmin and Rajput families who once lived here. It houses the Royal Palace (Raj Mahal) as well as seven extraordinary Jain temples, all intricately carved out of the same golden sandstone.

Explore the narrow alleyways, exquisitely decorated temples and climb to the walls of the fort for sweeping views over the city of Jaisalmer and the shimmering Thar Desert stretching to the horizon.

Experience it: Imperial Rajasthan

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Gardisar Lake

Rajasthan is a place of magic made real, of palaces, temples and cities that glow like rose gold in the pink light of sunset. Gardisar Lake is among the finest sights in the state, let alone in Jaisalmer itself – and after a visit here, it’s not hard to see how the Golden City got its name.  This man-made lake, originally created in the 12^th Century by King Rawal Jaisal, is surrounded by intricately decorated little chhatri pavilions and shrines to Hindu gods and goddesses.

Fed by the Indira Gandhi Canal, it’s a serene, mirror-like oasis in the heart of this desert city. It’s especially beautiful at sunset, when the amber light creates a sequin effect on the water, and the yellow sandstone chhatris and shrines cast golden reflections.

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Jaisalmer local markets

Even in 21^st Century Jaisalmer, local markets remain the lifeblood of the city – especially within the gold walls of Jaisalmer Fort. As part of your exploration with your Travel Concierge, you’ll visit one of these local markets – and in so doing, get a glimpse into the timeless way of life that still thrives in the Golden City.

Although Jaisalmer is a desert city, season-dependent you’ll find traders selling bundles of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, arranged in colorful piles. You’ll also find hand-crafted leather goods, brightly-colored dresses and scarves, and handmade novelty items such as wooden puppets. Supported by your Travel Concierge at all times, this is a perfect opportunity to pick up a unique souvenir to bring back home with you.

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Sunset dinner with local musicians

Music is a vital part of Rajasthan’s cultural identity – its desert folk songs have been recited for centuries, passed on from generation to generation largely unchanged. There are several musical instruments that are only likely to be found within Rajasthan – including the 17-stringed kamaicha and the dholak drum.

You’ll get an opportunity to experience the distinctive and evocative sounds of Rajasthan’s desert folk music at an exclusive sunset banquet. As the sun sets over the towering sand dunes of the Thar Desert, you’ll dine on traditional – but elevated – nomadic dishes, watching the stars slowly appear in the night sky above you and listening to the music that has characterised this part of India for as long as anyone can remember. It’s a truly timeless experience that will leave you feeling even more in love with this country than before.

When you journey with Luxury Gold, you’ll not only enjoy a timeless travel experience, but unique moments that you won’t find elsewhere. In Rajasthan – and Jaisalmer in particular – you’ll find a way of life largely unchanged for centuries. Join us for an exceptional journey, furnished with fine dining, five-star hotel stays, and rich cultural experiences that will leave a lasting impression.