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Benares, London,

Benares

4.4
4.4
5527 Reviews
£41 and over
Indian
Top tags:
Indian Fine Dining Restaurant with British Flair in the Heart of Mayfair.

Benares Restaurant and Bar since its opening in 2003 has been considered one of the finest Indian Restaurants in the city.

Guests enter an elegant lounge with hand-crafted India inspired furniture and is complemented by a beautiful pond decorated with fresh flowers, creating a luxurious aesthetic.

Benares has 4 private dining rooms, three of which are around the lounge: the Berkeley Room which seats up to 16 guests, the Sommeliers Table which seats up to 10 guests and a Chefs Table overlooking the kitchen which seats up to 8 guests. The lounge area leads into the main dining room which can accommodate up to 80 guests. Our largest private dining area, the Dover room seating up to 36 guests is on the other side of the main dining room.

Benares can be hired for exclusive events accommodating 100 guests for a sit-down dinner and 250 guests for a standing reception.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 34 times today
Experiences are available.
Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Fine Dining

  • Cuisines

    Indian, Modern European

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon–Sat 12:00–14:30 Mon–Sat 17:30–22:30 Sun 18:00–22:00

  • Phone number

    020 7629 8886

  • Website

    http://www.benaresrestaurant.com/

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress Code

    Smart Casual

  • Executive Chef

    Sameer Taneja

  • Catering

    Benares is available for exclusive hire for lunch and dinner, as well as drinks and canapé reception.<br />The main restaurant can accommodate up to 150 guests (seated) and can hold up to 300 guests (standing), using the Lounge, The Berkeley and The Dover rooms.

  • Private party facilities

    Discover the world of Michelin private dining in the heart of Mayfair.Situated in Berkeley Square, Benares is a modern Indian fine dining restaurant, where innovation marries tradition.Our private rooms are perfectly suited for a variety of events,

  • Private party contact

    our team: 020 7629 8886 x2

  • Location

    12a Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BS

  • Area

    Mayfair

  • Parking Details

    Paid public parking is located in the surrounding area of Berkeley Square and Davies Street. Parking is free on Sundays

  • Public Transit

    Green Park station is located within a five minute walk from Benares. Furthermore, Bond Street Station is located within a 7 minute walk from Benares.

  • Entertainment

    We do not offer daily entertainment but for private dining events please contact our events manager at events@benaresrestaurant.co.uk and we will happily attend to your requests.

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • CHRISTMAS DAY MENU

    £132.00 per person

    25 Dec 2022 only
    Christmas day menu @£ 132

  • CHRISTMAS EVE MENU @£132 PP

    £132.00 per person

    24 Dec 2022 only
    CHRISTMAS EVE MENU @£132 PP

  • 2 Course December Set Menu @£42 pp

    £42.00 per person

    1 Dec - 23 Dec 2022
    2 Course December Set Menu @£42 pp

What 5,527 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

Filters

  1. N

    Nick

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service, delicious food and wine - staff absolutely brilliant
  2. K

    Kro92

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    fantastic! pricey but given food top quality and excellent service very good value for money compared to similar restaurants. Only "negative" point: the noise, but all restaurants in London are noisy, and compared to others it is a bit easier to have a proper conversation actually.
  3. MP

    MichaelP

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall3food4service3ambience3
    The flavours of the food was great, however the service was a bit slow and the portion sizes on the set lunch menu were rather small. I have never before left a Michelin starred restaurant hungry as usually they are reasonably sized dishes and quite often include complementary amuse bouche, however this was not the case here. Service was in no way bad, however it was slow to be served as there appeared to be only one waiter taking orders.
  4. D

    Deann

    London

    41 reviews

    5.0

    41 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Another excellent meal at Benares. Had the set menu with champagne cocktail. Impressed that there were 4 choices on each course.
  5. ST

    ST2021

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall2food1service2ambience1
    Food was fairly bland for what I’m used to when it comes to Indian cuisine. I feel like this restaurant seasons their food for the guests and not necessarily how they would like to season their food. Everything needed SALT. Staff is not personable and extremely awkward when it comes to service. I’d hope that the staff would show more confidence in what they are doing when it comes to what they are presenting. The only remotely warm person was the chef. At least he didn’t look at me like a deer caught in headlights. Confidence is key. Convince me that you stand behind your food and love what you do.
  6. SM

    SupriyoM

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very good food ... the paneer was exceptional! Bring more options to main courses with fish as more people not having meat.
  7. LB

    LouiseB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was our first visit to Benares, but it won’t be our last. We came for a birthday celebration, choosing the taster menu. With each course that came out, we weren’t sure if the previous could be topped..but somehow each time it did! The imagination of the flavours, textures and presentation of each dish were truly exquisite and we were blown away by each offering. The service was impeccable, superbly attentive and each member of the team we had the pleasure of interacting with were outstanding. Thank you team Benares for exceeding our expectations in every aspect, and providing a dining experience we will not forget!
  8. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 26 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The whole experience was lovely. Everyone that worked there were so friendly and welcoming. We were very well looked after which made the experience so much better. Food was very good! Personal favourites were the scallops and the Batak curry (duck). Would recommend for a special occasion.

    BenaresResponded 6 days agoDear Guest, Thank you for your feedback. It’s great to hear that our team made you feel welcome and you were very well looked after, and that you thoroughly enjoyed our Scallops and Batak Curry. We hope to see you again very soon. Best Wishes, Viktoriya Marketing team

  9. ED

    EdwardD

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 November 2022

    overall2food2service3ambience1
    Food was good, but not exceptional. Certainly not for a Michelin star. The restaurant was rather large and lacked intimacy. All effort seemed focused on getting the customer out rather quickly. It was noisy as well. No fine dining in my book. And price performance ratio was all wrong.
  10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service was fantastic and food was even better.

    BenaresResponded 6 days agoDear Guest, Many thanks for your review. We are glad to hear you enjoyed the Benares experience, and we hope to see you again very soon! Best wishes, Viktoriya Marketing team

  11. SP

    SuziP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic meal and service , dined at 2.30 , had booked taster menu but was informed the day before that they were only serving that till 1.30 , disappointing as it was birthday celebration booked in August . However thoroughly enjoyed the a la carte choices we made .
  12. MU

    MichelinUndercover

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 25 November 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience4
    The food was really good. The service while friendly was a letdown in the sense it takes ages to order a drink and they forgot part of what we had ordered, which resulted in a disjointed dining experience.
  13. PM

    PaulM

    Orlando

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 25 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best fine dining Indian in London Tasting menu was diverse and every mouthful delicious
  14. DR

    DoRon

    London

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 23 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was our second visit and both times we had the tasting menu. A taste sensation! Fantastic service

    BenaresResponded 6 days agoDear DoRon, Thank you for your feedback. We are very glad to hear that on both visits you thoroughly enjoyed the Benares experience and that our Tasting Menu is a taste sensation. We hope to see you again very soon! Best wishes, Viktoriya Marketing team

  15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 22 November 2022

    overall3food3service2ambience2
    The menu attempts to be too clever - and ends up being gimmicky. Overall taste and flavour is let down and some of the courses even bland. We had the vegetarian tasting menu. We wouldn't go again when you compare with the other top Indian restaurants in london this is miles below.
  16. B

    Bhavesh

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 November 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Thank you. Good value set menu. Wine pairings were excellent. Thank you for the little birthday surprise for my partner, this is very kind.
  17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent all round!! Wonderful food and service
  18. AH

    AnitaH

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 November 2022

    overall3food2service5ambience2
    Good drinks, service. Nothing Special with the food, and very cold in the location.
  19. HS

    HeleneS

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful food and drinks. Great service and great to see a Michelin star restaurant with spicy food!
  20. MJ

    MarkJM

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 November 2022

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    My fifth time at Benares and by far the worse. This is a restaurant that Atol made into a legend but it now needs a makeover. It looks tired really needing a refit. The taster menu was not the subtle mix of idian spices that I’ve had before, it was harsh and muddled with more emphasis on the theatrical than the real star of the show, the food. Time to have a good hard look at yourself Benares!
  21. CI

    ChrisI

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 November 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    Having been before I was a little disappointed as the place has slipped since my last visit.

    BenaresResponded 6 days agoDear Chris, Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry that you felt disappointed with your experience. Please feel free to send us a message on viktoriya@benaresrestaurant.co.uk to share more details about your visit and what you feel could have been improved. We look forward to hearing form you. Best wishes, Viktoriya Marketing Team

  22. LM

    LarryM

    London

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 November 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience4
    This was a rather disappointing visit (have been twice before). Starter was average (prawn, Chicken and meat roll) For main I had the lamb cutlets - these were tough and at £45 for the dish I was disappointed. The other dinner had the vegetarian option which she enjoyed. Service was good but the restaurant was very loud and I found it hard to hear at the table at points (I have good hearing). The G&T cocktail was also expensive for what it was. Overall felt rather flat about the dining experience.
  23. AH

    AlexH

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 November 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    The tasting menu was truly outstanding. I will be going back and I would definitely get the same again.
  24. YG

    YellowGoshawk

    London

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 16 November 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    We had the lunch menu, with 4/5 choices per course all of which were unusual and interesting. I had the sea bream to start with and it was served in an oyster shell. small, but exquisite. I then had Lentil Rogan Josh, which as amazing. My overall impression is that his was way above 1 Michelin Star standard. I believe this is 3 Star standard, and comes a close second to my best meal ever at Gordon Ramsay's Really good choice of wines by the glass. Overall amzing value for money.
  25. RB

    RoopyB

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Michelin star for a reason. Every dish from starter to dessert was cooked to perfection. Not a single morsel was left!
  26. B

    Bikram

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food is excellent but try to be early to get the best.
  27. DJ

    DanJ

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 13 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding food, we had the veg tasting menu and every course hit the mark. Service was friendly & attentive without being overwhelming Best Indian food I’ve ever had the good fortune to enjoy
  28. AK

    AshleyKhoo

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 10 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Samosa were ok. Wouldn't order them again and £17 very pricey. I would order again Black dhal, okra and spicy potatos.
  29. S

    Sabs

    London

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 9 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Third time visiting and it amazes me how my experience is always brilliant with a new menu each time. The staff are unbelievably lovely and warm, especially the lady we had (sadly I didn't ask for her name). She made our experience even more pleasurable. I came for my birthday dinner with my friends, we had a slight delay on two mains but instantly we had the manager apologise. To top that off, Benaris didn't charge the whole table for dessert which was very kind and unexpected. The mocktails and beer to fresh juice, was also crafted so beautifully and you can taste the freshness. I can't fault anything because from the setting to the food to the ambience, it was simply brilliant. And this is why I am always coming back! Hats off to a wonderful team that made my birthday that extra special.
  30. b

    brookem

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 7 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food, tasting menu was the best idea we had, great drinks and amazing service
  31. GH

    GeirH

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 5 November 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    This is an Indian restaurant serving gourmet food. However, there are a few things you should know before booking a table. If you order the 8 course tasting menu, you have 2 hours limit to eat your food. This was a surprise to us. You will see the 2 hour limit if you click "read more" when you book, but there is no information about this on your confirmation. It seems to be your responsibility to finish eating, regardless how fast or slow the waiters are working. And it is not nice to end up in the bar, finishing your meal. Another surprise for most people traveling from abroad, is that the price for the tasting menu is not 123 GBP. You will have 13.5% service charge added to your bill. Expect 225 GPB per person inclusive wine. Nice to know before you book. The sommelier did a wonderful job. It is not easy to match a range of wines to spicy food, but this was impressive. However, I think wine can never be perfect paring to hot food. I would rather have a pint of beer. But that is just my opinion.
  32. VP

    VireshP

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 November 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience3
    Table setting didn't feel intimate. Food was excellent but experience didn't feel special. Service was good.
  33. S

    Supersurg

    London

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 3 November 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Excellent food and wine. Restaurant was busy and staff were a bit inattentive at times. There are similar but better 'fusion' restaurants in London
  34. PS

    PeepS

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 3 November 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great tastes and very friendly and professional service!
  35. LM

    LoraineM

    London

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 2 November 2022

    overall2food3service3ambience3
    We had the 8 course taster menu but every dish was extremely spicy and too hot, it would have been nice to have some milder dishes so therefore, this was not a great experience.
  36. PM

    PaoloM

    Milan

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 31 October 2022

    overall2food3service2ambience1
    I don’t understand how it got one Michelin star. The ambience, service and presentation of dishes are not up to the mark. Not to mention that we dined with tablecloth of the table next to us soiled from the previous service. Totally disappointing experience
  37. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 29 October 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience2
    The food was ok but really nothing special about it. Could’ve got the same food elsewhere for a lot better value. Ambience was dead and restaurant felt dated.
  38. A

    Alison

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 29 October 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Food was absolutely amazing, superb quality and presentation. I loved the bar area, very relaxing and welcoming. Will definitely revisit.
  39. HE

    HollyE

    Western NC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 28 October 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    The food was delicious and the service was top notch. Had a wonderful evening with my husband.
  40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 28 October 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Benares is the ultimate Indian Gem in a city with many Indian restaurants; the food and service are top notch and the ambiance superb.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers

FAQs

Benares does offer delivery in partnership with Supper London and Uber Eats. Benares also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at 020 7629 8886.

Benares is rated 4.4 stars by 5527 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 34 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Benares

12a Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BS

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area

    Mayfair

  • Hours of Operation

    Mon–Sat 12:00–14:30 Mon–Sat 17:30–22:30 Sun 18:00–22:00

  • Cuisines

    Indian, Modern European

  • Dining style

    Fine Dining

  • Dress Code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking Details

    Paid public parking is located in the surrounding area of Berkeley Square and Davies Street. Parking is free on Sundays

  • Public Transit

    Green Park station is located within a five minute walk from Benares. Furthermore, Bond Street Station is located within a 7 minute walk from Benares.

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive Chef

    Sameer Taneja

  • Entertainment

    We do not offer daily entertainment but for private dining events please contact our events manager at events@benaresrestaurant.co.uk and we will happily attend to your requests.

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Website

    http://www.benaresrestaurant.com/

  • Phone number

    020 7629 8886

  • Catering

    Benares is available for exclusive hire for lunch and dinner, as well as drinks and canapé reception.<br />The main restaurant can accommodate up to 150 guests (seated) and can hold up to 300 guests (standing), using the Lounge, The Berkeley and The Dover rooms.

  • Private party facilities

    Discover the world of Michelin private dining in the heart of Mayfair.Situated in Berkeley Square, Benares is a modern Indian fine dining restaurant, where innovation marries tradition.Our private rooms are perfectly suited for a variety of events,

  • Private party contact

    our team: 020 7629 8886 x2

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