Fine Dining in Guwahati and Vadodara: Two City Guides
Two cities with strong regional food cultures and a small but decent set of hotel restaurants for a formal evening.
Guwahati
Guwahati's five-star dining sits mainly with Radisson Blu Guwahati, Vivanta Guwahati and Novotel Guwahati, all of which run all-day dining restaurants plus a speciality restaurant and a bar. They are the default for a celebration dinner or a business meal.
The more interesting eating, though, is Assamese. A traditional Assamese thali is built around rice with a sequence of small dishes: khar, tenga (a sour fish curry), pitika (mashed vegetables) and pork or duck preparations, which appear on few menus elsewhere in India. Several restaurants across the city serve these, and they are worth choosing over an international menu if you are visiting.
What to expect to pay: ₹2,500 to ₹4,500 for two at a hotel restaurant, and much less for an Assamese thali.
Vadodara
Vadodara's hotel dining centres on Welcomhotel by ITC, Grand Mercure Surya Palace and The Express Hotel. Between them they cover most formal dinners in the city, with multi-cuisine restaurants and buffets rather than standalone speciality rooms.
Locally, the food to seek out is Gujarati: a full thali with the region's characteristic sweet-savoury balance, plus Vadodara's own street food culture around Mandvi and Alkapuri. Note that Gujarat is a dry state, so no restaurant serves alcohol.
What to expect to pay: ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 for two at a hotel restaurant, and a few hundred rupees a head for a thali.
Gifting a dinner in either city
We don't list individual experiences in Guwahati or Vadodara yet, but our dining gift boxes are valid across India.
- Candlelight Dining Gift Box — 1,200+ restaurants, ₹3,899
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I have a formal dinner in Guwahati?
Radisson Blu, Vivanta or Novotel, all of which have hotel restaurants suited to a celebration.
What should I eat in Guwahati?
An Assamese thali, with tenga, khar and pitika. It's the local food you won't find in other Indian cities.
Can you drink alcohol in Vadodara?
No. Gujarat is a dry state, and restaurants do not serve alcohol.