India's Best Restaurants in 2026: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru or Goa—Who Dominates the Rankings?

The seventh edition of India’s Top Restaurant Awards is here, along with the list of the fifty best restaurants and bars in the country. At the top is Naar in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, up from the previous year’s spot in fifth place. Last year’s victor, The Table in Colaba, Mumbai, came second this time. Papa's in Bandra is third. Here’s how many entries every city had in this year’s list.

Naar is the brainchild of chef Prateek Sadhu. Its pedigree already extends beyond India; it bagged the 30th spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, after ranking 66th the year before. After such a big jump, the top spot in the national list was only natural.

The runners-up are Mumbai institutions of very different temperaments. The Table has been a Colaba favourite since 2011 with a globally influenced, farm-to-table menu. Papa's, led by chef Hussain Shahzad, seats just 12 guests for a 12-course menu. Monthly reservations here tend to vanish almost as soon as they open. 

Mumbai and Goa are co-champions this year with 13 restuarants each. You could still argue that Mumbai edges just a little bit ahead on prestige because two of its tables stand on the podium. Bengaluru's six is… surprising, given how the city ranked in Eater’s list as one of the best places in the world for its food scene this year. But the biggest eyebrow-raiser is Delhi: Indian Accent has topped this ranking in earlier editions, at least three times, yet the capital now holds three places (four if you generously count Gurugram). Chennai and Kolkata, with four each (out of which two of Kolkata’s entries are by Sienna), are closing in on the top list. Jaipur, Gurugram and Karaikudi have one entry apiece.

Interestingly, Shillong is turning out to be the new food destination. Rynsan placed No. 32 and Nonna Mei No. 44; both are from this city. Rynsan serves modern interpretations of Meghalayan and wider Northeast cuisines inside a restored Assam-style bungalow, while Nonna Mei, from chef Niyati Rao, offers an Italian menu on Meghalayan ingredients. Rao's Ekaa also appears on the list, at No. 34. 

At Naar, Kasauli, the best way to eat is through the tasting menu. Look out for the Tichoni broth, Maki Point-inspired lamb or Solan mushroom skewer, and the bichubutti with smoked duck or bottle gourd. The Askalu-inspired bite with smoked yak cheese, pickled chilli and orange marmalade is another well-loved choice. 

At The Table, Mumbai, the most beloved dishes are the taglierini pasta, zucchini spaghetti, asparagus risotto, crab cakes, truffle fries and avocado toast. If you're looking beyond the familiar picks, check out the Lyon onion soup, coal-roasted vegetables with romesco and hazelnut, and sugar snap peas with avocado and mustard-leaf vinaigrette from the current menu. 

At Papa's, Mumbai, dishes change with the tasting menu, so there isn't a conventional à la carte list to work through. Still, a few creations have become closely associated with the restaurant: Bugs Bunny, made with rabbit and weaver-ant tare and served with jowar pita and amla kosho; the Kashmiri Wellington; the duck with Indrayani rice; and the lamb Wellington, slow-cooked for 14 hours. 

At Farmlore, Bengaluru, go for the tasting menu instead of individual items. Some of the current courses worth taking the trip for are the Seataphor 4:26, pairing Rameshwaram prawns with sesame chutney and kelp froth, Meen 12:25, featuring red mullet, soppu saaru and farm-grown pumpkins, Nimadhi, with carrot sorbet, coriander, dill and moong dal, and Pachai & Manjal, made of charred greens, kal passi, lotus root and cured egg yolks. The menu changes with the farm and the season, so it’s best to ask for the chef’s specials and suggestions.

At Sienna Calcutta, the food uses traditional Bengali ingredients and explores the limits to which they can be taken. The Ros omelette, for example, comes with bone marrow jhol, golda chingri is paired with ghilu hollandaise, and the makha sandesh with komola kheer is among the restaurant's current must-try dishes.  

Condé Nast Traveller first curates a shortlist of more than 1,000 restaurants nationwide. Of course, restaurants can nominate themselves too. A 105-member jury of critics, writers, chefs, designers and other tastemakers then votes privately in two rounds to settle the final 50.

1. Naar, Kasauli

2. The Table, Mumbai

3. Papa's, Mumbai

4. Farmlore, Bengaluru

5. Sienna Calcutta, Kolkata

6. Izumi Assagao, Goa

7. Indian Accent, The Lodhi, New Delhi

8. Bomras, Goa

9. Avartana, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai

10. The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai

11. Masque, Mumbai

12. Americano, Mumbai

13. Inja, New Delhi

14. Amar Khamar, Kolkata

15. Nāvu, Bengaluru

16. The Second House, Goa

17. Theta Theta Telugu, Hyderabad

18. Praça Prazeres, Goa

19. The Johri, Jaipur

20. Comorin, Gurugram

21. Kopitiam Lah, Bengaluru

22. Naru Noodle Bar, Bengaluru

23. Cavatina by Avinash Martins, Goa

24. Kaspers, Mumbai

25. Larder and Folk, Goa

26. Padaria Prazeres, Goa

27. Hosa, Go

28. Grumps, Goa

29. Bandra Born, Mumbai

30. Rannaghôr by Sienna, Kolkata

31. Petisco Kitchen & Bar, Goa

32. Rynsan, Shillong

33. The Restaurant, The Bangala, Karaikudi

34. Ekaa, Mumbai

35. Trishna, Mumbai

36. Aeseo, Chennai

37. Megu, The Leela Palace, New Delhi

38. La Loca Maria, Mumbai

39. Kappa Chakka Kandhari, Chennai

40. Baan Baan Phadthai, Bengaluru

41. Jamun, Goa

42. Lupa, Bengaluru

43. Trēsind, Mumbai

44. Nonna Mei, Shillong

45. Mister Merchant's, Goa

46. O Pedro, Mumbai

47. Seefah, Mumbai

48. The Farm Restaurant, Chennai

49. For the Record - Vinyl Bar, Goa

50. Nutcase Etc., Kolkata