Delhi has always had a reputation of being the gourmet's delight. The variety of great food in the capital city is astounding. But the sandwich scene specifically has had a quiet moment over the last couple of years, new places opening, older ones holding their ground, and the city population slowly realising that a well-made sandwich is genuinely hard to beat for a quick meal. Dumbo Deli, Novelty Dairy to Shack Coffee, here are five best sandwich spots in Delhi worth knowing.
Dumbo is the newest one on this list and probably the most specific in what it's going for. The setup is modelled on a Florentine sandwich counter, schiacciata bread instead of focaccia or ciabatta, Italian tomatoes on the shelves, and whole black truffles on the counter. At night, it turns into a small bar with around six cocktails on offer.
The sandwich to get is the Viola - nduja, burrata, arugula and prosciutto. The Tuscan Truffle with truffle pecorino cream and stracciatella is worth ordering, too. Get a scoop of whatever their softy flavour of the day is before you leave.
Price: Around ₹1,000 per person
Timings: Wed–Mon, 12:30 pm–4 pm and 5:30 pm–10:30 pm. Closed Tuesday
Almost 70 years old and still going. Novelty is nothing like the newer sandwich shops around town, no artisanal bread, no elaborate fillings, no frills at all. Almost everything is made in-house, including the eggless mayo, the chicken, the pork ham, and a very good spicy green chutney.
You pick your bread, your filling, toasted or not. The toasted pork ham in brown bread is the one to get. So is the vegetarian sandwich in plain white bread. At under ₹300 a head, it's also one of the best value meals in the city.
Price: Under ₹300 per person
Timings: Tue–Sun, 8 am–2:30 pm and 4:30 pm–9:30 pm.
Shack Coffee is a small café known for good coffee and comforting sandwiches. The pressed portobello panini is one of their standout items, especially if you want something light but filling. The café has a relaxed setup, and many people end up staying longer than planned as a result.
Price: Around ₹650 per person
Timings: Daily, 10 am–7 pm
Wenger's has been around long enough to be a reference point for every bakery that came after it. The chicken and bacon club sandwich, creamy chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickle, a fried egg, three slices of bread and a side of fries, is as reliable as it gets. The vegetarian club is good too.
Price: Around ₹400 per person
Timings: Daily, 10:45 am–7:30 pm
Pete's is run by the people behind Artisan Meats, which means the cured meats are exactly as good as you'd want them to be. The NYC Chopped Cheese in a hoagie roll is the standout; the bread holds together properly, which matters more than people give it credit for. The pastrami on ciabatta is the crowd favourite.
Price: Around ₹1,000 per person
Timings: Mon–Tue 12 pm–9 pm, Wed–Fri 12 pm–10:30 pm, Sat–Sun 11 am–10:30 pm