Best Indian Restaurants in Bristol

Sometimes a bog-standard curry just won’t do, so we’ve scoured the city's streets to find the best Indian restaurants in Bristol where you can feast on authentic, flavoursome, and (in some cases) award-winning Indian cuisine...

By Charlie Walker | Updated Nov 2 2023

A delicious spread of Indian food is shown. On the left, there's a bowl of richly spiced curry garnished with fresh cilantro and a spoon. On the right, there's a basket filled with folded pieces of golden-brown naan bread. Both are served in metal dishes. — Dhamaka Restaurant

1) Dhamaka Restaurant

Top-view of a variety of Indian dishes placed on a grey marble surface. Visible are dal makhani, garlic naan, butter chicken, steamed rice, samosas, pakoras, mixed salads, papadums, chutneys, raita, and sauces, all artfully arranged in bowls and plates.

Find Dhamaka at 15, Clare Street, Bristol, BS1 1XH.

Dhamaka Restaurant prides itself on representing the culture of India through its colours, its 'easygoing' food and its warm service. As a restaurant, the food is primarily representative of India's street foods with (delicious) specialities such as Punjabi Samosa, Dahi Papdi Chaat and Cauliflower Manchurian. The perfect destination to share some wonderful food (and cocktails which are 2 for £12 before 7 pm, everyday) with a group!

2) Urban Tandoor

A close-up of a gourmet dish featuring a seared piece of fish atop a mound of mashed potatoes, garnished with a vibrant pink flower and microgreens. The dish is surrounded by a creamy yellow sauce with pieces of seafood and green leaves.

Find Urban Tandoor at 13 Small Street, Bristol.

Urban Tandoor has been making waves as one of Bristol's best Indian restaurants since its opening in 2014. They were awarded the Good Food Award in 2015, before making it onto Tripadvisor’s ‘Best Curry Houses in the Country’ and The Sun's ‘Top 10 UK Curry Houses’. Cooking with only the freshest ingredients containing no artificial colours and less oil, they have earned their reputation as the pioneers of light, fresh, authentic Indian cuisine.

Urban Tandoor also weave their unique approach into the dining experience, using recipes from gourmet homes and street stalls across India’s regions. Don’t forget to wash it all down with their selection of Soul Tree Indian wines.

3) The Mint Room

A table filled with a variety of Indian dishes including kebabs, curries, rice, naan, a small salad, a glass of wine, and dessert boxes tied with yellow ribbons. The vibrant and colorful spread features both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.

Find The Mint Room at 12 - 16 Clifton Road, Bristol.

The Mint Room is anything but your average curry house. Their dashing interiors and impressively stocked bar provide the perfect backdrop for their range of themed events, including previous Bond-themed New Year's Eve nights. The menu alone makes any evening at The Mint Room an event in itself, dishing up contemporary meals with a twist from tandoor-marinated quail to kaffir lime scallops and masala lamb shank.

There are sharing plates available for the smaller appetites and a range of refreshing desserts with eclectic flavours to put a sweet end to any dining experience!

4) Joy Raj Restaurant

A plate of grilled meat garnished with sautéed onions and fresh cilantro, accompanied by sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and lemon wedges. The dish is presented on a bed of lettuce.

Find the Joy Raj Restaurant at 1 Regent Street, Clifton

Clifton Village's beloved Joy Raj Restaurant has origins that span back 20 years with some excellent cookery that covers areas in Indian, Bangladesh and Pakistan. With 50 seats in the restaurant, we recommend booking to secure a table where you can sample our favourite dishes including their super tender minced lamb samosa and Roshan chicken tikka bhuna. Here's to another two decades in business!

5) Nutmeg

A bowl of spicy curry garnished with whole red chilies, curry leaves, and julienned ginger. The curry has a rich, thick texture and a deep reddish-brown color. The bowl is placed on a dark wooden table next to a plate and a stainless steel container.

Find Nutmeg at 10, The Mall, Clifton.

Another Clifton native and champion of regional Indian cooking, Nutmeg takes inspiration from the 29 states that make up India. Founded in 2016, operators Raja Munuswamy and Arvind Pawar have turned Nutmeg into one of Bristol's foodie treasures and achieved a very respectable 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor. We recommend the absurdly delicious duck curry...

6) Ganesha

A close-up of an Indian meal featuring three dishes in metal serving bowls and plates. There are curries topped with cilantro and a bowl of creamy soup, accompanied by a large serving of yellow rice and a serving of white and yellow rice, garnished with cilantro.

Find Ganesha at 54 - 56 Bedminster Parade, Bristol.

Ganesha stands as one of the strongest surviving gems lighting up the Bedminster Parade. After opening in 2008, this family-run, 70-cover restaurant outlived both a recession and the uncertainty of their owners having never run a restaurant before. Today, after having doubled in size, it serves as one of Bristol’s most talked-about curry houses, with silk sari drapes, ribbons, and fairy lights creating the perfect atmosphere to enjoy their delicious food all year round, including Christmas and Boxing Day.