--- title: "Condé Nast Traveler x District Top Restaurant Awards Unveiled" url: https://newscentral.site/conde-nast-traveler-x-district-top-restaurant-awards-unveiled/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Travel" published: 2026-10-31T10:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-31T22:06:38.365Z id: 3eea563d-7814-46ec-94a0-67d24d2ac951 source: "Conde Nast Traveler https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-50-best-restaurants-in-india" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/conde-nast-traveler-x-district-top-restaurant-awards-unveiled/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Condé Nast Traveler x District Top Restaurant Awards Unveiled The seventh edition of the Condé Nast Traveler x District Top Restaurant Awards has been released, featuring 50 top restaurants in India. The highly anticipated list of India's top restaurants has been unveiled, showcasing the country's vibrant dining scene and its talented chefs, bartenders, and restaurateurs. The seventh edition of the Condé Nast Traveler x District Top Restaurant Awards was powered by Visa and features a diverse range of eateries across the nation. This year's ranking of the top 50 restaurants in India has become a definitive benchmark for the country's culinary landscape, highlighting the innovative ways chefs are shaping the way Indians eat and drink today. The list is a testament to the growth and evolution of India's dining scene over the years. The awards ceremony was held at The Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, in Goa, where top restaurants from across the country were celebrated in style. The event marked a significant milestone in recognizing the hard work and dedication of India's culinary professionals. Mumbai and Goa have emerged as strong contenders, with each placing 13 restaurants among the top 50. Bengaluru follows closely behind with six restaurants on the list, while Chennai and Kolkata hold four spots apiece. New Delhi takes three positions, and Shillong doubles its presence with two restaurants featured in the top 50. The remaining five spots belong to Kasauli, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Gurugram, and Karaikudi, each claiming one restaurant among India's best. This spread marks a shift from past years, indicating a more widespread recognition of regional dining scenes beyond major cities. Goa has pulled level with Mumbai for the first time, a testament to the state's growing reputation as a culinary destination in its own right. The once-reputation of Goa as a holiday detour is no longer applicable, as its dining scene continues to mature and gain international recognition. The top restaurant in India this year is NAAR, located in Kasauli. This intimate eatery seats just 16 guests in a cluster of wood and slate huts, offering six menus inspired by the Himalayas' six seasons. Chef Prateek Sadhu and Kamlesh Negi work together to create dishes cooked over a juniper-smoked hearth, making it a unique dining experience that is definitely worth the effort required to reach this remote location. Getting to NAAR involves a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Chandigarh, but guests are rewarded with a truly unforgettable meal and breathtaking scenery. The restaurant's isolated location only adds to its charm, making it a must-visit for foodies and adventure seekers alike. The Table in Mumbai has been a culinary institution since 2011, and its head chef Louis Gomes has come full circle from his early days as a line cook to now anchoring the kitchen that serves up both classic dishes like the SoBo Salad and smoked goose-fat pâté. Chef Will Aghajanian led a bold reset of the menu in 2023, introducing new flavors and combinations that have taken the restaurant by storm. The menu is constantly evolving, with some dishes being added or removed seasonally to keep things fresh and exciting for regular customers. One of the unique features of The Table's dining experience is its tasting menu, which is only available on request and not printed anywhere in the restaurant. This adds an air of exclusivity to the meal, making it feel like a special occasion. The price tag for this culinary adventure is steep at 4,200 rupees per person for tables of two to four, but for those who can afford it, the experience is well worth the cost. Moving on from Mumbai to Bengaluru, we find FarmLore, a restaurant that's situated in a picturesque setting at the end of a road surrounded by mango and coconut groves. The property supplies most of what ends up on the plate, with chef Johnson Ebenezer's tasting menu changing seasonally to reflect the best of what's available. The dining room is small and intimate, seating just 18 guests who are treated to a warm ambiance lit by two wood stoves that burn mango wood cut from the property itself. The menu is a reflection of the farm's bounty, with dishes like charred lettuce with smoked ghee and lamb cooked for 18 hours with horsegram. The restaurant also has a private dining room called Omnisense that connects directly to the R&D kitchen, where the team tests out new dishes before they make it to the main menu. This is the perfect place for adventurous eaters who want to try something truly unique. FarmLore's commitment to using locally sourced ingredients and its focus on seasonal cuisine make it a standout in Bengaluru's culinary scene. With its small but perfectly formed dining room and innovative menu, it's a must-visit destination for foodies and nature lovers alike. Sienna Calcutta has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2010 as a pottery store in Shantiniketan. Today, it is one of Kolkata's most compelling cultural projects, built around the concept of Bengal's maati and manush - its land and people. The café's menu showcases the city's markets and kitchens, with creative dishes such as bhetki à la Kiev made with radhuni butter and choto maach bhaja served with a fish egg aioli. This unique blend of flavors and ingredients has earned Sienna Calcutta a spot on our list of the 50 Best Restaurants in India. In its inaugural year, 2023, Sienna Calcutta debuted at number five, a testament to its growing popularity among foodies and nature lovers alike. For those dining alone, the omakase experience is highly recommended - it's not listed on the menu, but the kitchen will send out smaller portions of their à la carte dishes, allowing you to try more without filling up on rice. Located in the heart of Kolkata, Sienna Calcutta offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city streets. Its small but perfectly formed dining room provides an intimate setting for a memorable meal. Izumi Assagao is another standout restaurant on our list, with its Goa outpost situated inside the lush boutique guesthouse Botanique in Assagao. This indoor-outdoor setting brings together the best of both worlds, and the attention to technique that chef Nooresha Kably has honed during her training at the Tokyo Sushi Academy and ramen school in Yokohama is evident. The sushi at Izumi Assagao is a masterclass in culinary expertise, with nigiri made from Japanese rice sourced from Himachal and meant to be eaten by hand. A separate yakitori bar offers an additional dimension to the menu, while chef Raffael Kably's spicy prawn yaki udon is a must-try for adventurous eaters. For something truly special, ask chef Raffael Kably to grill the hamachi collar if it's available in the kitchen - it's a treat not to be missed. With its focus on technique and high-quality ingredients, Izumi Assagao is a culinary destination that should not be overlooked. Indian Accent, located at The Lodhi in New Delhi, has been revolutionizing Indian cuisine since its opening in 2009. Chef Shantanu Mehrotra, who has been with the restaurant since day one, now leads the kitchen and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with traditional Indian flavors and ingredients. The tasting menu at Indian Accent showcases the kitchen's creativity and skill, with dishes such as blue cheese naan, pork ribs glazed in meetha achaar, and kala khatta sorbet served in a miniature pressure cooker. For those looking for a truly memorable experience, tables 26 or 27 offer a unique perspective on the glass room, complete with sun or moonlight casting an ethereal glow over the water below. The team at these restaurants are willing to go the extra mile for customers, including recreating dishes from previous menus that may have been removed. Bomras in Goa is a testament to this dedication, where chef-owner Bawmra Jap has built a loyal following over 16 years with his unique take on traditional Kachin cuisine. Jap's menu features a range of innovative dishes, such as tea leaf salad and tiger prawn ceviche, but it's worth asking about the off-menu options that he often cooks for friends. These secret dishes are not listed on the printed menu, but Jap is happy to share them with customers who ask, offering a chance to try something truly unique. In fact, Jap's off-menu offerings can be just as impressive as his regular dishes, with options like spicy chicken feet salad and slow-roasted pig's cheek sure to tantalize the taste buds. On Sundays, Bomras takes things up a notch with its experimental khowsuey variations, offering customers a chance to try something new and exciting. Despite the constant innovation, one dish remains a staple at Bomras: the tender coconut panna cotta with passion fruit, a dessert that has earned the restaurant a reputation for having one of Goa's most reliable sweets. Avartana in Chennai is another restaurant that pushes the boundaries of South Indian cuisine, offering a range of tasting menus that showcase the region's unique flavors and ingredients. The kitchen at Masque has undergone a significant transformation under the leadership of Chef Varun Totlani, who rose to head chef in 2022 after joining as a commis. The restaurant's original warehouse space has been completely revamped, giving it a new and modern feel. The dining room now resembles a fusion of Gotham City and Art Deco styles, with the kitchen, once hidden from view, now visible for guests to see. This redesign allows diners to witness the culinary magic firsthand as they enjoy their meal. One of the highlights of dining at Masque is the 10-course tasting menu, which showcases ingredients sourced from across the country. The menu features an array of unique and exotic flavors, including Himachal ferns and Ladakh apricots, carefully foraged to create a truly immersive experience. Mid-meal, guests have the opportunity to step into the kitchen and participate in the culinary process with a counter course. This interactive element adds a new layer of excitement to the dining experience, allowing diners to get up close and personal with the chefs at work. The menu is not set in stone; if there's a particular dish from a past menu that you're craving, simply mention it when booking and the kitchen will often work it back into the meal. This flexibility has led to some remarkable experiences for regulars, including one guest who arranged an entire baby shower meal built around their favorite dishes. The restaurant's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction is evident in its willingness to accommodate special requests. Another guest even had the opportunity to cook alongside Chef Totlani himself at Masque Lab. For those seeking a more private dining experience, ask about booking the newly refurbished wine cellar table. However, it's worth noting that this isn't something that can be simply booked; instead, guests must inquire about availability in advance. The team at Sanchez's restaurant is key to a successful dining experience, as it requires collaboration and communication to ensure that every guest has an exceptional meal. Most nights, the restaurant is bustling with activity, resembling a sold-out concert, and chef Sanchez himself can often be found working the pass in the center of the room, expertly coordinating the kitchen's efforts. The menu at Sanchez's features modern Italian cuisine, characterized by its focus on using high-quality ingredients that have been carefully selected for their flavor and texture. The dishes are designed to showcase these ingredients in a straightforward yet elegant way. Pizza is a major highlight of the restaurant, with a dough that has been perfected over years and toppings that are carefully balanced to create a perfectly cooked crust that is both crispy at the edges and charred just enough. The roast chicken is often overlooked, but it's a simple yet satisfying dish, while the tiramisu is a popular dessert that's made fresh tableside with a layer of tempered chocolate. For special occasions, guests can even request a custom birthday cake made from the same tiramisu recipe. Guests who inquire about availability in advance may be rewarded with an unforgettable dining experience at Sanchez's restaurant, where the team works tirelessly to create exceptional meals that showcase their skills and attention to detail. --- Source: [Conde Nast Traveler](https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-50-best-restaurants-in-india) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/conde-nast-traveler-x-district-top-restaurant-awards-unveiled/