Aug 24: Culinary Culture unveiled theUltimate Restaurant Ratings 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai,recognising103 restaurants across 10 Indian citiesin the third edition of India’s first and only independent star-rating platform for restaurants.
The 2026 ratingsrecognised74 restaurants with3 Ultimate Stars, 24 restaurants with 4 Ultimate Stars and five restaurants with the highest distinction of 5 Ultimate Stars.
At the top of the ratings,Farmlore, Bengaluru;Avartana, Chennai; Indian Accent, Delhi NCR; and Papa’s, Mumbairetained their 5 Ultimate Stars. The biggest movement of the evening came fromMasque, Mumbai, which was promoted from 4 to 5 Ultimate Stars, joining the country’s highest-rated restaurants.This year also saw19 restaurants enter the Ultimate Restaurant Ratings for the first time, whileSienna,BandraBorn and The Tablewere promoted from 3 to 4 Ultimate Stars.
The ceremony returned to Mumbai, where the Ultimate Restaurant Ratings were first unveiled in 2024, following last year’s edition in Bengaluru. Leading chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality figures travelled from across India to attend the annual Ultimate Star Revelation Ceremony, which has quickly become one of the country’s most significant gatherings of the restaurant industry.
Spanning Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai, the Ultimate Restaurant Ratings evaluates restaurants anonymously and afresh each year. Restaurants can retain their stars, gain a star or lose a star based entirely on that year’s evaluation. Restaurants do not pay to enter or participate, and the results remain strictly confidential until they are revealed at the annual ceremony.
Vir Sanghvi, Chairman of Culinary Culture, said:
“When we created the Ultimate Restaurant Ratings, the idea was simple: India deserved a restaurant rating system that was independent, anonymous and based entirely on merit. Three years later, what has been most gratifying is the seriousness with which restaurants and diners regard these stars. Every restaurant is evaluated afresh every year. Nothing is guaranteed and past success does not protect a restaurant if standards fall. Indian restaurants are getting better every year, and the 2026 ratings demonstrate just how exciting and diverse our restaurant culture has become.”
Raaj Sanghvi, CEO of Culinary Culture, added:
“When we launched Culinary Culture six years ago, our ambition was to help change the way India celebrates and experiences food. The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings is a powerful example of how far that journey has come. In just three editions, we now recognise 103 restaurants across 10 cities, and the country’s leading chefs and restaurateurs travel from across India to be in the room when the stars are revealed. We have built much more than an awards platform. We have created a credible national benchmark for restaurant excellence and a community that brings together the people shaping the future of Indian hospitality. None of this would be possible without our partners, who have believed in our vision and supported us in building a platform whose independence and integrity remain non-negotiable.”
Mr. A Venu Madhav, CEO of Fresh and Honest Pvt. Ltd. (Lavazza India), said:
“Lavazza is proud to partner with Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings, which stands as India’s first and only annual star rating system for restaurants. Lavazza has long been committed to quality and craftsmanship, values that align perfectly with the goals of the Ultimate Restaurant Ratings. Our longstanding tradition of excellence in the coffee industry complements the mission of this pioneering platform in its quest to recognize and reward culinary brilliance.”
The Ultimate Restaurant Ratings 2026 is proudly supported by Lavazza, Johnnie Walker, Veeba, Vedica and Fratelli Vineyards, partners that share Culinary Culture’s vision of elevating India’s F&B industry.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NIGHT
5 ULTIMATE STARS – THE ULTIMATE
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Bengaluru: Farmlore
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Chennai: Avartana
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Delhi NCR: Indian Accent
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Mumbai: Papa’s, Masque
SPECIAL AWARDS 2026
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Iconic Restaurant of the Year by Vedica: The Sea Lounge at The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai
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Restaurant Manager of the Year by Veeba: Damini Maini, The Bombay Canteen
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Opening of the Year by Fratelli Vineyards: Nisaba
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Sustainable Restaurant of the Year by Lavazza: Palaash
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Mixologist of the Year by Johnnie Walker: Pankaj Balachandran
4 ULTIMATE STARS – EXCELLENT
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Bengaluru: Karavalli, Lupa, Naru Noodle Bar
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Chennai: Kappa Chakka Kandhari, Southern Spice
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Delhi NCR: Bukhara, Dum Pukht, INJA, Megu, The China Kitchen, Kikli
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Goa: Cavatina, Hosa, Praça Prazeres
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Kochi: Karthiyayini, Restaurant Chef Pillai
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Kolkata: Avartana, Sienna
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Mumbai: Americano, Ekaa, O Pedro, Trèsind, Bandra Born, The Table
3 ULTIMATE STARS – VERY GOOD
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Amritsar: Beera Chicken House, Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale, Grain by Elgin, Kesar Da Dhaba, Makhan Fish and Chicken Corner, Phulkari
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Bhopal: Hakeem’s, Shahnama, Under The Jamun Tree, Manohar Dairy & Restaurant
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Bengaluru: Bengaluru Oota Company, Central Tiffin Room, Kappa Chakka Kandhari, Kopitiam Lah, Nāvu, Wabi Sabi, Cajsa, Jamavar, Malgudi Mylari Mane
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Chennai: Erode Amman Mess, Gossip Bistro, The Farm, Dindigul Ponram, The Ambur Canteen
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Delhi NCR: Comorin, Dhilli, Loya, Shang Palace, Tres, Farzi Café, Ikk Panjab, Nadoo
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Goa: Bomras, Grumps, Izumi, Jamun, Petisco, Slow Tide, The Second House, Mister Merchant’s
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Hyderabad: Aidu, Dum Pukht Begum’s, Simply South, The Spicy Venue, Theta Theta Telugu
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Kochi: Grand Pavilion, Malabar Café, Paragon, Rice Boat
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Kolkata: Popo’s, 6 Ballygunge Place, Royal Indian Restaurant, Sonar Tori, The Blue Poppy Thakali, Amar Khamar, Aminia
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Mumbai: Avartana, Indian Accent, Izumi, La Loca Maria, Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra, Mizu Izakaya, Otra, Seefah, Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, Soam, Swati Snacks, The Bombay Canteen, Wasabi by Morimoto, Gaijin, Hearth on the First, Kaspers, Sahib Room, Trishna