India’s 7 Most Iconic Pre-Independence Era Restaurants & Eateries

India is filled with incredible eateries, all providing a range of dining experiences to suit every taste.

From hidden gems to quirky spaces, with thousands of venues to discover you’ll be spoilt for choice! For those seeking the most iconic restaurants, cafes, and diners, we’ve compiled this brief guide to the best of the best! Do you know? These oldest cafes and restaurants in India may have expanded commercially by opening chains all over the country, but there is a magical history behind them, making you fall in love with them. So, to enjoy the original taste, you must visit these restaurants in India! where to walk through the door is like entering a time tunnel and emerging into the world of India a hundred years ago.

Here are India’s 7 Most Iconic Pre-Independence Era Restaurants & Eateries

1.    1. Karim’s Delhi

Started by Haji Kareemuddin in 1913, Karim's Delhi is India's most delicious Mughlai cuisine. Many five-star establishments have served imperial cuisine, but you'll keep coming back to Karim's for its hearty Nihari cooked all night for breakfast, rich Badam Pasanda, Paya, and Chicken Jahangiri. Karim started as a small place in Galli Kababian and Jama Masjid and today has expanded to many places. Legend has it that Karim's first cooks came from the royal kitchens of Shah Jahan and Bahadur Shah Zafar! How's that for iconic?

Average price: 800 rupees for two people

Where: Multiple Outlets

2.  2. Britannia and Co. in Mumbai

If you've ever been to Mumbai, at least one person (usually more) has told you not to leave without a bellyful of 'berry pulao' at Britannia. They will tell you that the owner, Boman Kohinoor imports fruit from Iran. The only way to find out is to go to the Ballard Estate where this beautiful restaurant is located and order the famous dish (also salli boti and creme au caramel) and hurry as the restaurant is open until 4 p.m. in the evening! Air-conditioned and light, Britannia has not changed since the day it opened its doors to British workers stationed in the area. It has original Brentwood furniture from Poland, imported by the previous generation! As the number of good Iranian restaurants in Mumbai is dwindling, Britannia is holding its own, because Irani and Parsi food is simple and delicious (by late Boman's wife die, Bachan, who was a Parsi), an international celebrity and finally an octogenarian Boman. Kohinoor, your chatterbox, often takes your order and insists that you have fresh lime soda whether you like it or not. Eventually you will fall for it.

Average price: 1200 rupees for two people

Where: Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra

3. Tunday Kababi, Lucknow

You must have heard about Tunday Kababi! If not, recommend yourself to the foodie list! Because this iconic restaurant, founded by Haji Murad Ali in 1905, continues to delight epicureans with its delicious and incomparable kababs. The founder was short of arms and therefore hence called Tunday, giving this pre-independence era gem its name. Visit the original Pool Wali Galli location at the Chowk in Old Lucknow or one of its many franchises in the city and tuck into an unforgettable plate of kebabs.

Average price: 500 rupees for two people

Where: Khayali Ganj Naaz Cinema Road Aminabad, Lucknow.

4. Indian Coffee House, Kolkata

The Indian coffee house has become a gathering place for students and an intellectual meeting place tucked away in the dark alleys of College Street (the university district of Kolkata). Rabindranath Tagore, Amartya Sen, Manna Dey, Satyajit Ray, Ravi Shankar, and many others have visited this place. Mutton escalope and chicken kabirazi are the main items on the menu, which remains affordable.

Average price: 500 rupees for two people

Where: College Square West, College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073

5. United Coffee House in New Delhi

Founded in 1942, United Coffee House was one of the first coffee houses in the capital. And dilliwalas are sensitive to such things! Retaining its pre-independence charm, this warm and welcoming place, located in Connaught Place, is a popular destination for diplomats, businessmen, and tourists. A funky restaurant, United Coffee House serves more than just coffee - delicious continental fare, Mediterranean cuisine, and Indian fare.

 Average price: between ₹2,100 for two people

Where: Connaught Place, Delhi

6. Hari Ram & Sons in Allahabad

One of the oldest street food shops in the city, Hari Ram & Sons is a popular name among locals, tourists, A-listers, and just about anyone who loves street food in the eye. This first restaurant opened in the Chowk area of ​​Allahabad in 1890. It is known for its lip-smacking dishes prepared in pure desi ghee and other dishes like samosa masala, chaat, palak ki namkeen, and khasta kachori, to name a few. Although more than a hundred years old, the hotel continues to go from strength to strength. Grab a meal here whenever you're in Allahabad and you'll know why it's worth it.

Average price: 200 rupees for two people

Where: Chowk area, Allahabad

7. Kesar Da Dhaba, Amritsar

Kesar Da Dhaba, one of the iconic Amritsar Dhaba, was founded in 1916 in Sheikhupura, Pakistan by Lala Kesar Mal and his wife. After the partition of India in 1947, he was sent to Amritsar, where he was frequently visited by Lala Lajpat Rai and Jawaharlal Nehru. The dhaba is famous for its velvety dal makhani, which is dipped in fresh cream before serving and slowly-slowly cooked overnight. The creamy palak, the stuffed parathas, and the rich phirni are a must-try.

Average price: 1000 rupees for two people

Where: Chowk Passian, Gali rajpura near Telephone Exchange, Amritsar

So, what you are waiting for? If you are going for a trip anywhere in India, Try these places and share your experience with comments here.

Happy Vacation!!!!