The Top Restaurants in Lucknow, India

Located in the lobby at Vivanta by Taj, you can be assured of the finest dining experience in the city when you visit Oudhyana. Exquisite chandeliers twinkle down at you as you walk to your table. The extremely gracious and knowledgeable wait staff will serve you the very best in Awadhi and Mughlai cuisine. From the melt-in-your-mouth kebabs to the rich parathas and delicious biryanis, every dish is delectable and expertly spiced, adding richness and intensity to every bite without overpowering the flavor.

With its worn wooden furniture, rustic metallic racks, old heavy spotlights and bare filament bulbs, the Vintage Machine offers diners an old-school British pub throwback in the heart of Lucknow. The Vintage Machine serves a range of cuisines with a focus on Italian, including tasty pizzas, lasagnas, pastas, and sandwiches. With its nostalgic décor, hearty food, and welcoming service, this is a great stop for a slice of quirky comfort as you’re wandering Lucknow.

Momos are a type of dumpling native to Tibet, filled with meat or vegetables and eaten with a variety of sauces. First catching on in North India, their popularity is spreading fast across the country and they’re quickly becoming India’s new favorite comfort food. Nainital Momos is here to meet this demand with the very best momos in Lucknow, perhaps even in the entire state. They keep things very simple with a tiny venue serving around five or six types of momos, but with one bite, you’ll see that in this case, less is definitely more. Try the Tandoori momo and see what Lucknow’s new momo madness is all about.

This is where Lucknow comes together over a steaming hot cup of tea or coffee, where morning newspapers are read alongside warm rolls, and friends catch up on the big game the night before, the new minister in the cabinet or the latest celebrity scandal. If you don’t have time to linger, not to worry, they also have bar tables so you can stand while sipping your tea or espresso. Apart from the tasty tea, their deceptively simple bun makkhan (bread butter) is a delicious way to start the day here, or an ideal snack to tide yourself over as you walk the city. If you want something more lunchy, go for their lip-smacking samosas.

Located in the Mahanagar area in a basement venue with an unassuming entrance, the Cellar is one of Lucknow’s unsung greats. For many years now, they’ve quietly but skillfully served authentic Italian comfort food and Continental cuisine to the people of Lucknow, along with a few other surprising menu items. Their bare brick walls are made welcoming by warm, cozy lighting. You’ll feel like you’re tucked away from the world enjoying a well-kept secret. Go for the lasagna bolognese, hot pepper chicken pizza, or lamb sizzler, then complete your meal with a slice of rich walnut pie.

Auspiciously located on the rooftop of Hotel Lineage, Urban Terrace offers terrific, sweeping views of Gomti Nagar while you dine on their North Indian and Continental fare. We’d recommend starting with the seekh kebabs or the paneer (cottage cheese) chili, then moving to their lal maas (a Rajasthani lamb dish), though they also have excellent pasta selections. As your meal winds down and you watch the city come alive at night, treat yourself to a nightcap from the bar and a bite of their Gulab Jamun (a sweet milk dumpling ball of spongy, syrupy goodness).

Jain Chaat Centre is a fixture in Lucknow, treasured by locals for its fantastic snacky street foods. First-time visitors may be sceptical of this small, unadorned venue, but they’ll change their tune when they take a bite of the food. Try the aloo tikki (potato-onion cutlets) served piping hot right from the pan with cool yoghurt and tamarind chutney, papdi chat (crisp fried dough) with big dollops of curd, or the decadent dahi badas (lentil dumplings dunked in thick, creamy yogurt).

The Green Restaurant in Gomti Nagar is an all vegetarian restaurant, popular with families because of its warm ambiance, competent service and multi-faceted menu. They offer a mix of cuisines, including South Indian, North Indian, Chinese, and fast food. The satisfying dishes bring a lot of repeat customers back for more, so the space is often crowded with big families and groups.

Bombay Pav Bhaji in Lucknow has made a name for itself from its pav bhaji, a type of vegetable curry that’s a famous street food in Bombay (Mumbai). This restaurant offers seating but leans more towards takeaway, as most patrons prefer to eat in their cars (which can be parked right beside the restaurant). Their delicious pav bhaji will ignite your taste buds, and they also serve a few Chinese dishes. This is an unexpected taste of Mumbai in the heart of Lucknow, and the prefect snack to fuel your evening’s adventures.

Chung Fa is one the oldest restaurants in Lucknow, and the best place to visit for high-quality Chinese food. The authentic Chinese furnishings, cheerful owners and warm service come together for a truly delightful dining experience. Highlights on this menu include the chili chicken, the chicken drumsticks, and the Singapore noodles.

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