I finally ticked the last box on my journey to visit all the Indian restaurants in St Ives, so thought it would be fun to do a top 5 Indian list.
Now, I know what it’s like when you do a ‘Top 5’. People get bent out of shape because their favourites didn’t get rated as high as they wanted, but this is just a little bit of fun, and not to be taken too seriously. Generally speaking, St Ives does very well for Indian restaurants and most of them are very good, so it is really just a list of winners.
So, without further ado, here are my personal top 5 Indian restaurants in the town of St Ives!
5. Montaz – Merryland
Montaz is popular with locals in St Ives but my experience has been inconsistent. One night it will blow you away, the next it will leave me feeling a little flat. Maybe I need to visit more frequently but I can only call it like I see it. Hopefully, if I visit again, it might move further up the table…but until then, it is bottom.
4. The Sultan – London Road
The Sultan has been a family favourite for decades and we have had some great memories here. It has recently had a refurbishment and is now looking much sharper and feeling significantly more comfortable than it did before. The food has also improved, offering a great standard of that classic Bangaladeshi style Indian cuisine we all know and love. Since this refurb, it has now jumped to 4th place.
3. Bengal Spice – Chapel Lane
The closure of PR Masala left a significant void in St Ives’ Indian dining scene. While Monal briefly stepped in, it too closed its doors, leaving locals longing for a worthy successor. Now, Hanif, from the popular Sutton Spice, has opened Bengal Spice, aiming to fill that curry-shaped hole.
Bengal Spice delivers consistently excellent Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine, ensuring a satisfying meal every time. Its spacious and modern interior also provides the perfect setting for large parties and events.
2. Dhaba – Bridge Street
I recently crowned Dhaba as my favourite Indian restaurant in St Ives, but after reflecting on my previous visits to other establishments in the area, I have decided to place it just behind Zzohanna. Dhaba truly excels in many aspects. Its modern, inviting atmosphere immediately sets a welcoming tone, and their lime pickle and yoghurt are consistently among the best I have tasted. Crucially, their vindaloo is nothing short of exceptional, packing a serious punch. However, a few very minor, almost imperceptible details mean Dhaba misses out on the top spot by the narrowest of margins.
I still highly recommend it to anyone!
1. Zzohanna – Bridge Street
My latest visit has only solidified Zzohanna as my undisputed top Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in St Ives. I am far from alone in this opinion; countless others in town share my conviction that it’s their standout favourite. The food itself is, quite simply, excellent. While the portions are a touch on the modest side, Zzohanna truly delivers on the full dining experience, offering thoughtful refinements often missing elsewhere. You can expect delightful extras like complimentary chocolates, a hot towel, and, notably, Kingfisher beer on tap. This is a restaurant that ticks every box for what you’d hope for from a top-tier Indian and Bangladeshi eatery.
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