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Jaipur, the capital city of the Indian state of Rajasthan, still bears the visible signs of the royal family which once ruled the region and founded the pink city in 1727, so called because of distinctively colored buildings. Gourmet experiences are waiting to be enjoyed inside its hotels and fairytale-like buildings with their colonnades, gardens, courtyards, and museums.
Sumptuous hotels and majestic restaurants usually go hand in hand with unaffordable prices but not so here, thanks to a favorable exchange rate, so all you have to do is follow our indications.
From 0 to 25 Euro
The Revolving Jaipur restaurant housed inside the OmTower, Rajasthan’s one of the highest building, might be a tad touristy but an experience not to be missed if you wish to enjoy a 360 degree view of the city in all of its regal beauty. The cuisine is a fusion of North Indian, Chinese, continental and Rajasthani cuisines.
Cinnamon serves a delicious cuisine inside the luxurious Jai Mahal hotel, and is a real must if you want to try an authentic Rajasthani meal at the height of its splendour. Rajput architecture pervades the venue together with its gourmet theatre, listed as one of the best restaurants in Jaipur. Traditional lamb is a real speciality, cooked with Mathania chilli peppers, yogurt and spices or ricotta gnocchi filled with dried fruit and aromatised with a light saffron sauce. Use up your budget to indulge in a couple of courses and something to drink.
From 25 to 50 Euros
Samode Haveli is a venue nestling inside the walled city and is actually a former royal residence of Indo-Saracenic architecture, known for its impeccable hospitality. What was once the royal family’s dining room is now a restaurant decorated with hand-painted frescoes and silver columns serving the traditional fare of Rajasthan, the Mughlai, typical of Northern India. Here, the must-tries are the Murg Makhani or Butter Chicken, cooked with ginger, yogurt and spices or Laal Maas, a traditional dish of Rajasthani mutton with its bright red colour and intensely hot flavour. Both dishes are served with Indian bread or rice as tradition demands. A lavish meal is priced at around 40 Euro.
Thought to be one of the best restaurants in Jaipur, the Rajput Room is located inside the Rambagh Palace, a former residence of the Maharaja and widely known as the gem of Jaipur. The palace butlers will even help you organize outings in vintage horse-drawn carriages. In a dining room embellished by a huge purple arabesque patterned carpet, you will be served delicious traditional dishes and International cuisine. Fish Tandoori with a selection of hot breads, which in India is a course in itself, is priced at around 40 Euros.
The ITC Rajputana is one of the finest hotels in the collection of the ITC Group. Owing to its magnificence, it is well worth taking a peek inside, followed by a visit to one of its three fine dining establishments. The Peshawri, serving north-western cuisine, the Jal Mahal, offering a buffet of Indian and International dishes, and the Jaipur Pavilion cafeteria, which is open all around the clock to serve a menu of Indian, Chinese and continental food. You will also find a lobby bar and a spectacular pool-side lounge. We have included it in this budget bracket because this experience can be enjoyed to the utmost, if only for a snack, an afternoon tea or a cocktail, immersed in luxurious surroundings like a real Maharaja.
From 50 to 100 Euro
What can we tell you about 1135 A.D.? It is impossible to describe the lavishness of these interiors with their saffron and turmeric coloured vaults. Be sure not to miss the Chicken Tikka, Paneer Lababdar and Paan ice-cream. On this high-end budget, you can really live it up with a second helping of giungla maas, mutton cooked with red chillies and ghee, one of the venue’s most popular dishes.
Baluchi, which is an exclusive Pan Indian restaurant, offers an opportunity to enjoy closely guarded curry recipes made from Indian sourced meats marinated in rare herbs and exotic spices. Here the constantly repeated mantra is “We serve what we grow” to testify to the transparency of the ingredients. There is also a selection of dishes without garlic or onion and, as in almost all Indian restaurants, a meatless menu. The vegetarian kebabs are truly unique, like the Tawe Se signature dish with its mix of mushrooms ranging from morels to ovuli (Caesar’s mushrooms). Crown your meal with one of the elegant desserts such as the Gulabki Kheer, a reduction of aromatized condensed milk with rose petals.
Looking out onto the Aravalli hills, the top floor Mohan Mahal restaurant at JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa. offers a unique culinary experience under the stars and is entirely lit by candles which reflect in the mirrored walls. Choose the Dal Panchmed, a mix of different lentil varieties cooked with garlic and cumin, and top it with a traditional Rajasthani dessert containing condensed milk. The main courses with a starter and a selection of breads will come to around 80 Euro, combined with a full immersion in sheer luxury.
