3 Best Restaurants in Kerala, India

Inside a budget hotel in a great location on the jetty, this simple, open-air restaurant doesn't skimp on quality or authenticity. The menu is almost entirely seafood—chicken and specialty items (like lobster) must be ordered in advance—and every dish is cooked to order and presented in a clay vessel. Note that service can be slow, no alcohol is served, and open-air dining isn't available during the monsoons.

Located inside a colonial Portuguese bungalow, this restaurant is popular with well-heeled locals and often hosts a lively crowd. The friendly owner's passion for food is much in evidence, and the varied menu encompasses regional and national cuisines, including South and North Indian, Thai, and continental; there aren't many vegetarian dishes on the menu, and alcohol is not served.

This plush restaurant, which has windows on three sides, is long and shaped like a traditional wooden boat and is a favorite among Kochi's well-to-do crowd. The menu stresses seafood, as you might expect, with much of it often caught just a few hours before meal time in the Chinese fishing nets or in boats nearby. Kerala specialties are made with saltwater, and the local freshwater fish are grilled and cooked in traditional curries.