6 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Delhi, India

This airy indoor restaurant looks out on the Oberoi's gardens, with beautiful views of the Taj Mahal in the distance. Decor is stylish, with chic brown-and-white tile floors, plush turquoise booths, and dusky wooden tables and chairs.

Rustic wood tabletops resting on tree-trunk bases, plush, bright-orange seat cushions, and hammered copper plates and goblets create a dark, romantic mood, complemented by the simple, delicious barbecue cuisine of the North West Frontier area in present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. All kinds of meats are freshly prepared over open flames and served with rich, aromatic sauces, with plenty for vegetarians, and guests are encouraged to eat with their hands.

Situated in the plush Clarks Hotel, this upmarket restaurant that's decorated in tones of white and dark wood is best for its Indian food, though there are plenty of fusion and multicuisine choices on the menu. The chef cooks up innovative items in the lively kitchen, with vegetarian and meat-based dishes available.

Situated just past The Oberoi Amarvilas's illuminated Mughal-style courtyard and grand marble lobby, this intimate den celebrates local craftsmanship, with square pillars of red sandstone and white marble and carved wooden screens. Through the glass wall of the kitchen you can watch the chefs at work, while live instrumental music, including performances on the dulcimer-like santoor, adds to the mood throughout the week.

Occupying an elegant, airy space that opens out to the lobby of the Taj Gateway Hotel, Jhankar serves excellent Mughlai dishes every day at dinnertime. Flavors are subtle and distinct; many herbs and vegetables come from the kitchen garden.

The panoramic view from a wall of windows takes in both the Taj Mahal and the Fort, while evening live ghazals (Urdu love song) performances set the mood for rich Mughlai dishes served here. A ceiling of faux twinkling stars floats over an interior of rich reds, with brass trays hanging on walls and tables set with silver goblets.