Bath's Indian food scene runs from a fine-dining room that's been going since 2011 to a High Street counter turning out samosas for a few pounds. The Mint Room is the pick for a proper sit-down meal, Chaiwalla is the pick for a fast, cheap bite, and Indian Temptation is the strongest option if you're eating vegetarian or vegan. Here's how the city's independents actually compare.
The Mint Room: fine dining
The Mint Room opened in 2011 as Bath's fine-dining Indian restaurant and has kept that position since. The kitchen mixes British ingredients with the flavours and techniques of the subcontinent rather than running a standard curry-house menu, and the room itself is set up for a proper evening out rather than a quick weeknight dinner. It's the one to book for an anniversary, a work dinner, or any occasion where you want table service and a wine list to match the food. See our best restaurants in Bath guide for how it sits alongside the city's other higher-end options.
Mantra: progressive Indian cooking
Mantra sits in the heart of the city, about a ten-minute walk from Bath Spa Station, and describes its own style as "progressive Indian cuisine" - dishes built on classic regional flavours but plated and paired in a more modern way. It's a strong choice if you want something a step more inventive than a traditional curry house without going as formal as The Mint Room, and the kitchen has a genuinely wide vegetarian and vegan range built into the core menu rather than bolted on as an afterthought.
The Sepoy Club: the newest arrival
The Sepoy Club is the newest name on this list, opened in the city centre to bring what it calls authentic Indian cooking made with fresh ingredients. It's built up a strong local reputation quickly and is worth booking ahead for on weekends, particularly since it's smaller than the more established rooms.
Indian Temptation: vegetarian and vegan specialist
Indian Temptation, on the High Street at 9-10 High Street, is Bath's dedicated vegetarian and vegan Indian restaurant, with a menu that's clearly labelled for dietary needs across the board rather than offering a couple of token dishes. If you're catering for a mixed group where someone eats meat and someone doesn't, this is the venue that removes the friction entirely, since everything on the menu already fits. Combine it with our gluten-free and allergy-friendly dining guide if you're also avoiding gluten.
Chaiwalla: quick and cheap
Chaiwalla, at 42 Monmouth Street, is Bath's Indian street food counter rather than a sit-down restaurant: wraps, samosas and chaat to take away or eat quickly, with prices starting around £5 for two samosas and chutney and £8.50 for a wrap and samosa combo. It's open midday to 8pm daily and is the one to know about if you want proper Indian flavour on a lunch break or before an evening out, without committing to a full meal. It fits well alongside the picks in our eating in Bath on a budget guide.
How they compare
| Restaurant | Style | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Mint Room | Fine dining | A proper occasion |
| Mantra | Progressive Indian | Something a little different |
| The Sepoy Club | Modern Indian | A newer city-centre option |
| Indian Temptation | Vegetarian and vegan | Mixed dietary groups |
| Chaiwalla | Street food counter | A fast, cheap bite |
Booking and timing
Book ahead for The Mint Room, Mantra and The Sepoy Club on Friday and Saturday evenings, particularly during the summer and over the Christmas period when the whole city gets busier - see our things to do in Bath guide for how that fits into a wider visit. Chaiwalla doesn't take table bookings since it's a counter service takeaway, so there's rarely a wait beyond however long the current order takes to cook.