Kolkata is popularly known as the City of Joy. If we play a quick word association game, joy in Kolkata invariably translates to gastronomical joy for most of us! With a rich history and an intermingling of cultures over the decades, it’s no surprise that restaurants in Kolkata have some of the best food in the country.
The Mughals greatly influenced the state’s culinary legacy, they passed on their love for spices, nuts, and dried fruit in rice and meat dishes. Kolkata’s cuisine also possesses a strong Anglo-Indian heritage since the city was the capital of British colonial power for close to 200 years. The city has been a melting pot of different cultures, shaping it into the food capital we know today. From vintage, almost crumbling eateries that have stood the test of time and fantastic street food, to swanky cosmopolitan joints – discovering the restaurants in Kolkata is a culinary and historical adventure.
Here are some of our top choices for the best restaurants in Kolkata:
A visit to Kolkata would be incomplete without a stop at the legendary Flury’s. A city landmark since 1927, this is ‘the’ place in town for the best cakes and light snacks over tea. Catch up with old friends over decadent cream cakes, rum balls, and crispy chicken patties. Wash all of it down with a heavenly brew of Darjeeling or Assam tea. This delightful cake and confectionery shop is one of the most iconic eateries in Kolkata.
Location: Park Street Area
Mocambo’s timelessness and great Continental food has drawn crowds since 1953. With its old-world charm and a signature menu, there’s no disputing that Mocambo is one of the top restaurants in Kolkata.
Mocambo is famous for its Calcutta rendering of Continental food. From the fantastic Baked Alaska, Devilled Crabs, Chicken Stroganoff, steaks, or prawn cocktails – the food on offer at Mocambo is a feast for the senses!
Location: Park Street Road
The delightful Mrs. Magpie cupcakery is the brainchild of Sohini Basu. It is famous for some of the best cupcakes in the city. And oh, the variety of cupcakes you will find – Nutty Praline, Peanut Butter, Raspberry Truffle, and Cherry N Cream Cheese. These bites of heaven come in both mini and large sizes.
Mrs Magpie isn’t all about cupcakes. It also offers designer cakes, light meals, and serves up a fabulous Afternoon Tea with all the accompaniments – scones, sandwiches, and of course, cupcakes!
Locations: Southern Avenue, Sector 1 Salt Lake, Park Circus Area, Lake Terrace Sarat Bose Road
Peter Cat is a favorite with both locals and visitors alike. It’s one of the best restaurants in Kolkata for a hearty lunch or dinner. The restaurant is especially famous for the indulgent Chelo Kebabs – mutton or chicken kebabs served with buttered rice and topped with a fried egg! They also have a good continental menu and a selection of classic cocktails.
Location: 18 A Park Street
If you’re looking to enjoy Bengali cuisine, the charming 6 Ballygunge Place will not disappoint. The restaurant lies inside a gorgeous three-storeyed house and is a beautiful throwback to the old days. You could try their all-day Bengali buffet or experiment with their à-la-carte menu. The Bhapa Ilish (steamed hilsa) and prawn cutlet here are crowd favorites! End your meal on a sweet note with some of their signature Bengali desserts. It’s one of the restaurants in Kolkata you should definitely not miss!
Location: Ballygunge
Visit 8th Day Café and Bakery for a quiet breakfast or afternoon of reading. This laidback café has fantastic cinnamon rolls, sandwiches, brownies, salads, and bagels. We especially love their cream cheese bagels and delicious quiches. They also brew a mean cuppa joe to go with the delightful range of light bites! If you are more of a tea person, do try their aromatic selection of teas sourced from none other than the Glenburn Tea Estate in Darjeeling.
The café is also a hub for independent musicians in the city who often stage a performance every month.
Location: Arcadia, 6, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road
When you’re on a quest for the best restaurants in Kolkata, follow the mishti (sweet) trail to this dessert mecca of the city. Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick Sweets is your destination for both traditional sweets and deliciously inventive desserts. Baked rasgulla, anyone? Some of the other popular sweets here are the mango mishti doi, the varieties of Bengali Sandesh, and the souffle will leave you in a dizzy.
Location: Multiple locations across the city
Head to the iconic Indian Coffee House for a taste of Kolkata’s intellectual life, and the best coffee in the city. Most restaurants in Kolkata have a history as old as the city, and the Indian Coffee House is the most excellent example. The grounds of this coffee house has played host to celebrated poets, academics, and intellectuals from Presidency College and College Street. Some of its more popular visitors were filmmakers such as Satyajit Ray and writers like Sunil Gangopadhyay. It remains a favorite haunt for thinkers, academics, and creatives in the city. The Indian Coffee House is the perfect place to watch life in motion.
Location: 15 Bankim Chatterjee Street
Suruchi is a popular lunch canteen managed by a self-help group called the All Bengal Women’s Union. It’s a no-frills lunch place that’s easy on the pocket and serves the best homestyle Bengali food.
The incredible lunch thali at Suruchi is a must-try! It begins with the vegetarian Shukto, followed by a mouthwatering dish of mutton, fish, or chicken that is topped off with mishti, naturally! Try and get there as early as possible to beat the crowds.
Location: 89 Elliot Road
Jimmy’s Kitchen is as timeless as the Chinese community who call Kolkata home. It is one of the restaurants in Kolkata that serves the best Chinese food! You’d be hard-pressed to find a place that doesn’t serve fried rice and pork, Hunan fish, or crab in black bean sauce which is perhaps only rivaled by the delicacies found in the early mornings of the Chinese market at Tiretti Bazaar. So if you’re craving authentic Chinese when in Kolkata, make sure to drop by Jimmy’s Kitchen.
Location: 7/A1 AJC Bose Road
For stunning sunsets and views of the Ballygunge area, visit Smoke Shack – the Radisson’s rooftop bar and lounge. With a great pool, bar, and lounge area, this rooftop restaurant in Kolkata is perfect for a sundowner with friends.
Location: Ballygunge
Saldanha Bakery is an 80-year-old family-run establishment. If you happen to visit Kolkata during Christmas, make a stop at this buzzing place. It is famous for its delicious fruit cakes with an almond icing, sandwiches, and chicken patties
Location: Nawab Abdul Rahman Street
Visit the Oval Lounge Restaurant in New Town for a panoramic view of the Rajarhat area. It is the first hanging restaurant in Kolkata. This unique restaurant can take up to 50 people at a time with plans to increase capacity soon. It’s one of the best restaurants in Kolkata for a romantic night out with the best views of the cityscape around!
Visit the Fairlawn Hotel for great snacks and alcohol at the best rates! Fish fingers, kebabs, pakodas, cutlets – you name it! The restaurant comes with an outdoor space for drinking and eating that’s perfect for soaking in the winter afternoons or evenings. It’s a favorite with actors and musicians across the city.
Location: New Market-Sudder Street area
Bar-B-Q is a popular choice for locals in Park Street. It’s the best place for a hearty meal of mainstream Indian and signature Kolkata Chinese cuisine. Their portions are incredibly generous, and the rates won’t burn holes in wallets. The Szechuan Chilli Pork and Hakka noodles are crowd favorites. And when we say crowd, what we mean is that this restaurant can house over 500 people each evening, and none of the tables are ever found empty.
Location: Park Street
For days when those pizza cravings kick in, there’s no place better than the city’s oldest pizzeria. Fire and Ice Pizzeria dishes out great hand-tossed pizzas and delicious pastas. It’s one of the best restaurants in Kolkata, where you can relax with friends over a glass of wine and indulge in some divine pepperoni or margarita pizza.
Location: Park Street Area
You can’t be in Kolkata and not try the city’s Kosha Mangsho or mutton curry. And the best place to do so is the popular Koshe Kosha. The restaurant also has the best Fish Kabiraji and the Mangsher Shingara – a delectable mutton samosa!
Location: Multiple locations across the city
A single article cannot do justice to the culinary delights of Kolkata! If you are a complete gourmand, we can’t think of a better place to visit in the country. The next time you are in town, take some time to explore the excellent cuisine at these restaurants in Kolkata. It is a heady, soul-satisfying journey that you will remember for a long time.
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