Best Places To Eat In Jaipur, India

Most tourists visiting northern India incorporate Jaipur in their itinerary. Along with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur forms the “golden triangle,” a must-do travel route that introduces travellers to the charms of India’s capital, the Taj Mahal, and the ancient glory of the “Pink City,” respectively.

Unlike Agra, where an overnight stay is more than enough to visit its main tourist attractions, Jaipur requires a few days of exploration. Among the unmissable sights in the city are Hawa Mahal – the Palace of Winds, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar, a grand astronomical observatory that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Additionally, not miss out on are the majestic hill forts of Amber, Nahargarh, and Jaigarh, the Albert Hall Museum, and Birla Temple. Each of these places and many more gives the city an unmatched personality. Consequently, Jaipur is where history and culture combine with a contemporary attitude, a trademark of any modern-day cosmopolitan. 

However, while Jaipur attracts visitors with its old-world charm, it often goes unnoticed as a culinary destination. In reality, the best places to eat in Jaipur present a different side of the city. They showcase Jaipur as a fun, artistic, and laidback destination where you can savour regional and classic delicacies in some of the most awe-inspiring settings.            

Bar Palladio

Arguably among the most beautiful places to eat in Jaipur, Bar Palladio leaves a lasting impression with its interiors long before it wows you with its food. Situated inside the vintage Narain Niwas Palace Hotel, Bar Palladio is a creation of Italian owner Barbara Miolini. 

Intending to serve classic Italian fare, Barbara instituted an incredible culinary escape that celebrates the imaginative nature of Jaipur with that of Italian artistic ethos. 

Soothing and illustrative blue and white décor inside, loungers in the open, and a romantic environment help take you far away from the maddening crowds of the city and into a cosy, almost secluded hideaway. 

The menu, though, focuses on Italian gastronomic greats, from fried meatballs and gazpacho to gnocchi, spaghetti, chicken Milanese, and semifreddo. 

Bar Palladio opens from 3 PM till midnight. Popular with the locals, it’s best to make a reservation before planning your dinner date here.  

Photo credit to https://www.hotelierindia.com/

Tapri Central

Tapri Central’s rooftop location, overlooking the city garden, makes for only half of its appeal. Granted, the sunset views on cool winter evenings are to die for if you can find a seat in the open. But it is the familiarity of the comfort food they serve that eventually draws in the crowds. 

The décor at Tapri Central is quintessential hipster. Think wooden tables and benches, bold coloured walls with hanging photographs, a bookcase and other knick-knacks here and there. It’s casual without being obnoxious, comfortable for everyone, be it friends having tea and snacks or a couple out on their first date. 

The fod at what is one of the best places to eat in Jaipur consists of yummy delights with a healthy twist. There’s the daal pakwaan – steamed dry lentils on a crunchy wafer, thin-crust cold Lebanese pizza with feta and hummus, and poha – flattened rice with tomatoes, onions, chillies, and coriander. 

Want more? Then try vada pav – fried potato dumplings in a bun, rajma chawal – red kidney beans with rice, or a semolina penne pasta in white mushroom sauce. 

Of course, no meal at Tapri Central is complete without indulging in its extensive tea offerings that range from green and white to organic and herbal teas.         

Photo credit to https://www.whatshot.in/

Masala Chowk

Situated in Ram Niwas Garden, near Albert Hall Museum, Masala Chowk is a relatively new entrant in the city’s culinary scene. The fundamental concept of Masala Chowk is to create a one-stop foodie destination. While the idea took form with tourists in mind, Masala Chowk has quickly become a favourite with the locals. 

So why is Masala Chowk one of the best places to eat in Jaipur? At the heart of it, it’s because visitors can taste different types of pocket-friendly street foods in one place, without having to tour around the city. 

Now, there is plenty here, even for the most ardent of gourmands. However, you must try the samosas (fritters with fillings) from Shankar Samosewala, masala dosa from Raman Dosa, and traditional dal baati from Pawana Rajasthani Vyanjan.       

Masala Chowk is an open courtyard, so it’s not always the best choice for an afternoon lunch during the harsh summer months. On the contrary, you’ll find it chock-a-block full during the winters. 

There is ample parking next to Masala Chowk, but you must pay a nominal fee of Rs 10 to enter the premises. 

Photo credit to https://www.pinkcitypost.com/

Meraaki Kitchen

For the longest time, the only fine-dining options in Jaipur were in its five-star hotels. Meraaki Kitchen changed that, presenting food lovers with not only a classy place to eat but also one where they could relish gourmet cuisine. 

Behind this venture are Shivika Kothari and Neha Deepak Shah, who together helped assemble the alluring delicacy that forms an integral part of the venue and the menu.

Placing Meraaki Kitchen among the best places to eat in Jaipur is its location. Open green spaces, playful modern art, and seating that flows seamlessly from the inside to the outside gives the restaurant an amorous ambience. The service is professional, discreet, and yet casual enough that you can come here without having to dress up. 

While the setting of Meraaki Kitchen influences the dining experience, the food takes it up to an entirely new level. However, it would help if you went with a somewhat open mind to try some of their eccentric creations. 

To start, first-time visitors must order their dal makhani fondue, the coming together of an Indian and Swiss comfort eat. Afterwards, go with the popcorn soup, glass noodle salad, Parsi berry pulao, and the wasabi dahi papdi – an Indo-Japanese fusion snack.             

Photo credit to https://thesociallit.com/

Akuri Café

There is no dearth of cafes in Jaipur. Still, it takes guts to open a new one at the height of the pandemic. Akuri Café started operations in 2021 with the aim to serve delicious Parsi cuisine to Jaipur residents and visitors. 

Parsi and Iranian cafes are revered places to eat in Mumbai. Over the last decade, Parsi food has seen a rise in popularity across the country, primarily through the opening of speciality restaurants such as SodaBottleOpenerWala. 

In Jaipur, Akuri tries to bring the same feeling of an old-fashioned Mumbai Parsi restaurant, albeit in a new avatar. Rather than going full-blown vintage, Akuri has a more contemporary look. An old Fiat at the entrance, vintage film posters on the walls, and antique-industrial furniture give the space some character. 

The menu capitalizes on well-known Parsi gastronomic recipes. Those not aware, Parsi food tends to be primarily non-vegetarian and more comforting than stylish. 

So, Akuri works rather well for diners new to the cuisine or those craving the same. Here, the must-haves are dhansak – lentils with rice, berry pulao, Bombay sandwich, and eggs Kejriwal – the Parsi version of eggs on toast. And complimenting all the delicious food are Parsi drinks, of which Roseberry soda and the Irani shikanji are paramount.    

Photo credit to https://www.dineout.co.in/