Finding food here isn’t hard, it’s deciding where to eat in Jaipur that’s a task. Rajasthan’s capital will have you spoilt for choice. Read on for a definitive guide to where to eat in Jaipur and 17 of the city’s best restaurants, food markets, and cafés.

Rajasthan’s capital, Jaipur, showcases the best of the Indian state’s culinary traditions. As a city known for its royal history and grandiose architecture, the decadence of Jaipur seeps into its food. Whether you’re looking for lassi or seeking drool-worthy dal, Jaipur is not a place you leave hungry.

We arrived in Jaipur with a small handful of restaurant recommendations but no real “North Star” suggestions. Strolling through the streets of India’s Pink City for 10 days gave us ample time to stumble upon the very best food in the city. We quickly found our favourite foods to eat and places to try them. We also branched out, in an attempt to include something for everyone’s budget and palette.

This definitive guide exists so that you know exactly where to eat in Jaipur. In it, I’ve included 15 of the city’s best restaurants, food markets, and cafés, as well as information about the regional food culture. By the time you finish reading, I promise you’ll have a true handle on the food scene in Jaipur.

samosa bun at Gulab Ji Chai Wale, Jaipur

tips for avoiding delhi belly ↴

There is a high probability that you will get “Delhi Belly” (traveller’s diarrhoea) or food poisoning at some point during your trip to India.

Delhi Belly tends to show up in the form of extreme cramps, nausea, fever, headache, bloating, and diarrhoea. It’s usually the result of food-borne or water-borne bacteria. Typically, travellers get over it in no more than 24-48 hours. Food poisoning is a bit more severe and usually includes bouts of vomiting.

While there’s no foolproof way to completely avoid getting sick while travelling, there are measures that you can take to mitigate your risk.

don’t drink tap water | Tap water is not potable in India, so use a Grayl or LifeStraw water bottle to filter water. This helps guarantee that you have clean drinking water and a protected stomach.
avoid ice in drinks | India can be indescribably hot, but having ice in your drink can lead to illness. Grab cold drinks from a refrigerator, but avoid having anything with ice added to it if possible.
avoid meat + dairy | India has some of the best vegan food in the world, so it’s unlikely that you’ll even miss meat and dairy, two products that are often the source of food-borne illnesses.
wash your hands | There are often wash basins or stand-alone sinks in restaurants, and you should make use of them to wash your hands before and after you eat.
take a probiotic | In preparation for your trip, it’s recommended that you take a probiotic regularly to improve your gut health.

7 foods you must try in Rajasthan ↴

Each of India’s 28 states is culturally varied, and that diversity seeps into the food. Jaipur is home to a wealth of delicious Rajasthani eats you don’t want to miss. The signature local food is typically spicy, much of it ghee-based. While some of the food wasn’t veggie-friendly, I’ve still added it to this brief list of Rajasthani classics so that you don’t miss out on culturally significant food from the region.

baati | a hard, unleavened bread, known for having a long shelf-life and requiring minimal water
dal baati churma | traditional Rajasthani dish made on religious occasions, similar to Nepali dal bhat, but served with churma (a popular sweet) and baati
laal maas | spicy curry made with mutton + yogurt, also spelt “laal maans”
kachori | deep fried pastry filled with vegetables + typically served with dipping sauces
keema baati | a dish made of minced meat, onions, tomatoes, + herbs known for its spice and served with rice and baati
ghewar | also spelt “ghevar”, a disc-shaped sweet made of flour, ghee, and sweetened syrup
kulfi | traditional Indian “ice cream” originating in the 16th century, sometimes referred to as “kulfiwallahs”
cold coffee | like a frappuccino made of raw sugar, whole milk, and instant coffee

the 17 best places to eat in Jaipur ↴

coffee, breakfast, + brunch in Jaipur

Half Light Coffee Roasters

Sometimes nothing will do except a divine coffee. Half Light Coffe Roasters do exactly that— serve flawless, barista coffee. Their blueberry cream cheese pancake bowl is a filling breakfast and their hummus platter offers something light and healthier when you’re feeling all the heavy Indian curries and fried foods hitting too hard. The coffee here is roasted to perfection, and their team of trained baristas takes absolute care of every espresso product they serve.

Note: This is a great place for online workers, as they have decent WiFi and lots of table space to work.

Curious Life Coffee Roasters

This chic café is super popular with serious coffee lovers. Started by a former member of the Indian army, Curious Life Coffee Roasters is regarded as one of the best coffee roasters in Rajasthan. Curious roasts and brews every drink to utter perfection, and it’s the ideal atmosphere for enjoying your coffee at a slow, leisurely pace. Their food menu is equally as spectacular as their coffee. Luke and I enjoyed it so much, we went three times. Their breakfast oatmeal is satiating and vegan-friendly, and Luke raved about their shakshuka.

The Hub Bistro

The Hub Bistro doubles as a restaurant and a social space. Its extensive menu is sprinkled with items as varied as sushi, ramen bowls, pizza, and Nutella pancakes. Nearly everything you could want can be found here, including space to meet new people, co-work, and attend organized events. The Hub does food well, but it does connectivity better. The staff are friendly and its a true hotspot for young Indian students and entrepreneurs.

Zolocrust

Located inside the popular ** Hotel, Zolocrust it definitely felt a bit odd eating here without being a guest of the hotel, but we were welcomed and served happily just the same. Zolocrust prides itself on being a 24-hour bakery that serves a fully vegetarian breakfast. The pastries were good, but the prices were a bit higher than typical (probably due to being located in a fancy hotel). Zolocrust makes this list for two main reasons: 1) it opens early (not the norm in Jaipur and 2) I think we ordered “wrong.” Don’t come here hangry and order something completely random off the menu as we did. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t hit the spot. I’d go back and try one of their specialty cakes!

Coffee Bond

Light, airy, and aesthetic, Coffee Bond is the café of your dreams. Their slogan “We love brewing coffee while you brew conversations” feels fitting. We stayed for hours talking about future life plans, playing Monopoly Deal and nibbling on our breakfasts in between plays. It truly felt like that café you go to catch up with a good friend. The playlist was exclusively acoustic covers of romantic 80s ballads, funnily enough, but that sort of added to the calm atmosphere of the café. Coffee Bond also has air-conditioning if you happen to be wandering around on an especially hot day.

Note: There are two other Coffee Bond locations outside of Jaipur, so if you miss eating here in the Pink City, make sure you stop by one of the Delhi locations.

lunch, dinner, drinks, + other bits in Jaipur

Masala Chowk

Eating street food gives you a real taste (pun intended) of the culture of a place. Masala Chowk is an open-air food court lined with street food vendors. The market is located just a short walk from Albert Hall Museum, and many of the stalls open early for breakfast. I’d recommend going for lunch or dinner when the market is fully open and more lively! Fresh dosas, spicy omelettes, crunchy pakodas, hot coffees, and rich lassi are just some of the delicious local dishes you can try.

Note: There is an INR 10 entry fee that goes towards the upkeep and cleaning of the market grounds.

Anokhi Café

Anokhi Café is all about health and local ingredients. Think fresh biscuits, organic salads made from locally sourced produce, and coffee sourced responsibly from South India. There were a bounty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices available, making it an inclusive dining experience. The menu is seasonal guaranteeing you are getting the freshest food available. The coffee here is spectacular, as is the food, service, and staff.

PANDIT KULFI

On a hot afternoon in the oppressive Indian heat, nothing hits the spot the way Pandit Kulfi ice cream does. Kulfi is a traditional Indian frozen dairy dessert that originated on the subcontinent during the Mughal era. Today, it remains a favourite amongst locals with a sweet tooth. Pandit sells a variety of flavours not far from Hawa Mahal, but street vendors throughout the city sell a version of the same thing called kulfiwallahs.

Gulab Ji Chai Wale

Regarded as the best chai in Jaipur, Gulab Ji Chai Wale is an affordable local favourite. With two locations (one in Masala Chowk, the other located near Bani Park) , it’s frequented by white-collar workers and young Indians alike. Gulab’s most famous dish (paired with the chai, of course) is its Bun Samosa, which is literally a vegetarian samosa placed in between a buttered bread bun. Luke reckons it might be the best thing he ate in India and that’s a mighty big call considering how much of India’s delicious cuisine we devoured.

Shri Radha Govind Pavitra Bhoujanalaya Dhaba

Shri Radha Govind Pavitra Bhoujanalaya Dhaba is a pure vegetarian dhaba that often tops internet listicles as the best place to eat for vegetarians in Jaipur. Their fully vegetarian thali sets are seriously mouthwatering, but it’s their lassi that’s the showstopper here. It’s naturally sweetened with seasonal fruit— the lassi of every foodie’s dreams.

MIMI

Come for the elevated cocktails, stay for the delicious food, and never leave the immaculate ambience. Signature dark green walls open up to millennial pink seating and a golden cocktail bar. A small courtyard illuminated by twinkly lights creates an elevated setting for late-night drinks or a sophisticated dinner. The menu combines Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisines, which normally would be a red flag (we don’t love a restaurant that tries to do too much, ya know?), but Mimi pulls it off. We ordered an array of dishes including the Szechuan rice, falafel and hummus, and the Thai green curry only to be blown away by the incredible falours of each bite.

Bar Palladio

Bar Palladio had been on my list of places to visit in Jaipur since before we’d even booked our ticket to India. my Instagram feed has long been plastered with photos of its luxe interiors paired with fancy cocktails. Every detail of Bar Palladio is photo-worthy. Unfortunately, photos don’t do the food and drink served here any justice at all, mainly because the lighting inside is super dim and only photos via phone are allowed to be taken (I had no idea). Dinner and drinks at Bar Palladio, with its exceptional service, is an extravagant experience complete with a perfected Italian menu. Sure, it’s less than cultural, but the bruschetta is the best I’ve ever had and the pasta dishes are nearly Italian standard. Visiting in winter months meant that, as the night got cold, the staff lit a small bonfire near the outdoor seating area complimenting twinkling lights. The Blueberry Virgin mocktail was outstanding, as was the Pink City cocktail.

White Town

Started by three University friends, White Town seems to be something of a hidden gem. The open-air restaurant sits next to a hostel, which was also started by the same friends. We had one of the best channa masalas either of us has ever eaten here (spicy and perfectly crunchy) and the creamy daal makhani was complimented perfectly with a stack of butter roti. They also do a decent pizza here (try the Arriabata).

Forresta Kitchen + Bar

Forresta Kitchen + Bar claims it’s the place in Jaipur for “those who believe that good food tastes better when accompanied by indulgent surroundings.” I tend to agree that Forresta’s ambience is a relaxing escape from the noise of the city’s traffic. The dim lighting adds a level of implied intimacy, making this a great date night locale. The menu is eclectic, and though the setting is quite upscale, menu items include cheese balls and jalapeno poppers. But, odd offerings aside, Forresta also serves up scrumptious Indian Tandoori platters, curries, and signature Rajasthani dishes. One thing to make note of is the upcharge— most mains start at 400 rupees, which is a whole day’s worth of food spending other places.

Burrels

Okay, hear me out: if you’re spending a short amount of time in Jaipur you’re definitely NOT going to be desperate for a Mexican/Lebanese fix. But (and it is a large “but”), if you’re staying in India for a few months, you might have a hankering for other international cuisines— enter Burrels. Sure, it’s not the real deal comparatively, but the food at Burrels is worth being on your radar for its Indian twist on Mexican fare. Regardless of the cultural mismatch, the tacos, burritos, and guacamole here are noteworthy! Service and atmosphere are on par with the fresh food, making it a nice place for a meal if you need a break from curries.

Laxmi Misthan Bhandar

Those who favour sweets should head to Laxmi Misthan Bhandaar (LMB). Housed within the chaotic Johari Bazaar, LMB serves Rajasthani favourites like traditional thali and dal baati churma.

Raman Dosawala

A pizza dosa might not sound like a food combination that would work, but Raman Doswala is a Masala Chowk food stall that has nailed it. An uttapam (South Indian type of dosa that’s thicker than a traditional dosa) is used as the pizza base and topped with cheese and pizza toppings. The crisp base of the uttapam combined with fresh veggies, melted cheese, and a hefty portion of tomato sauce makes this a winning lunchtime option.

cooking classes in Jaipur ↴

There’s nothing worse than having exceptional, authentic local food and then trotting home and being haunted by a meal you had somewhere far, far away. The best way to combat this is to book a cooking class while you’re travelling so that you can bring home recipes from your trip to satisfy your impending cravings. I highly recommend the Pink City Cooking Class! Not only is the cooking class highly rated, the home cook, Sharma is warm, knowledgeable, and shares cultural information about every dish she cooks.

BOOK | Pink City Cooking Class