
Mother India's Cafe Edinburgh
Experience the unique joy of Indian tapas at Mother India's Cafe, where authentic flavors meet a cozy atmosphere and friendly service.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Mother India's Cafe Edinburgh

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Experience the unique joy of Indian tapas at Mother India's Cafe, where authentic flavors meet a cozy atmosphere and friendly service.
"This foodie sanctuary is filled to the brim with fun, banter and relaxed vibes."
Book in Advance
The restaurant gets busy, especially on weekend nights. Reservations are recommended.
Ask for Recommendations
If new to Indian cuisine, ask your waiter for their must-try dish suggestions.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Indian
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+44 131 524 9801
Address
3-5 Infirmary St, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT, United Kingdom
Website
motherindia.co.uk/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Tapas-Style Indian Dining
Experience a unique Indian culinary journey with small plates, perfect for sharing and trying a variety of authentic flavors.

Authentic & Innovative Dishes
Savor perfectly cooked traditional dishes like tandoori chicken and saag lamb, alongside creative new flavors.

Cozy Atmosphere & Friendly Service
Enjoy a warm and inviting ambiance complemented by attentive and helpful staff, making for a memorable meal.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book in Advance
The restaurant gets busy, especially on weekend nights. Reservations are recommended.
Ask for Recommendations
If new to Indian cuisine, ask your waiter for their must-try dish suggestions.
Order for Sharing
The tapas-style portions are ideal for sharing, allowing you to sample multiple dishes.
Flavorful Choices
For those who enjoy robust flavors, consider popular items like Chicken Tikka Masala or garlic naan.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book in Advance
The restaurant gets busy, especially on weekend nights. Reservations are recommended.
Ask for Recommendations
If new to Indian cuisine, ask your waiter for their must-try dish suggestions.
Order for Sharing
The tapas-style portions are ideal for sharing, allowing you to sample multiple dishes.
Flavorful Choices
For those who enjoy robust flavors, consider popular items like Chicken Tikka Masala or garlic naan.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Mother India's Cafe is celebrated for its innovative tapas-style Indian cuisine, offering a delightful way to sample a wide array of authentic flavors. Diners praise the fresh ingredients, vibrant dishes, and friendly, attentive service. While the cozy atmosphere is generally appreciated, some reviewers note that certain dishes can be a bit bland.
"We visited Edinburgh last week, this place was recommended by my Indian colleague, and we went there twice! Every dish was just fantastic, love the idea of tapas - that gave us the chance to try different varieties! And Good service. Wish we had such a place in the town I am living now…"
Nannina Li
"We ordered garlic naan, dal makhani, paneer curry, gajar halwa, gulaab jamun with ice cream, and a lemonade.
The food was satisfactory, garlic naans were big and had a lot of garlic pieces - good but a bit dry. The portions were sufficient - 1 portion for 2 people was good. The lemonade was great but it was readymade. The paneer and dal makhani portions were not half bad and we enjoyed everything on the table.
The atmosphere was nice and cozy. The waiters were friendly and helpful and constantly checked if we needed anything. To save you from being surprised, there are no starters/snacks on the menu, they don’t serve any.
The place is easily accessible and is just a few mins of walk away from Waverley station. It is easy to spot as well."
Ankitha Chapte
"After a trip to the castle we visited Mother India’s Cafe and it was fantastic!
The food is some of the best Indian food we’ve ever had! (So good I only remembered to take a photo half way through the starter!)
The staff were lovely and the prices reasonable.
If you’re looking for homemade authentic Indian food, I recommend you try Mother India"
Hayley Kenny
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's highly recommended to book a table in advance, especially for weekend evenings, as the restaurant can get very busy.
The restaurant serves Indian dishes in smaller, shareable portions, allowing you to try a variety of flavors and dishes.
Yes, Mother India's Cafe offers a good selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, and servers can help identify options that can be modified.
Popular choices include Chicken Tikka Masala, garlic naan, Chana Daal, and various fish and vegetarian options.
The restaurant has a cozy and intimate, yet family-friendly atmosphere, often described as bustling and relaxed.
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The Best Indian Restaurants In Edinburgh
With dishes resembling edible art, Mother India’s Cafe is the go-to spot for some of the best Indian cuisine in town. A uniting and memorable culinary experience, the tapas style eats are cooked to perfection and sized in a way akin to sharing — that is, if you can tear yourself away from the delightful tastes and find it within your heart to share!. This foodie sanctuary, adored by locals and drifters alike, is filled to the brim with fun, banter and relaxed vibes.
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Then the tapas-style menu at Mother India's Café is your answer. The smaller sizes mean you can try lots of dishes, but be sure to ask your waiter to try to stagger your order if you don’t want to run out of room on your table. The food is both authentic and inventive with dishes such as spiced haddock and baby aubergine, as well as the more traditional saag lamb.
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The Mother India brand originates from Glasgow but "Edinburgers" are flocking to this south-side restaurant in droves. The star attraction is the super-large Indian tapas menu. While the meat dishes are as tasty as they sound, it's the fish and vegetarian choices that really deliver – the coriander trout and channa dall never fall short of the mark.
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Mother India’s story started in Glasgow, but this Edinburgh offshoot close to the University’s Old College has been a roaring success since ...". Whether you are looking for fine dining in Edinburgh or the latest pop-up restaurants and the coolest bars, you will find something to suit your style in our comprehensive directory of Edinburgh restaurants. Scotland's Capital and the country's second biggest city is home to some of the most fantastic restaurants - if you are looking for cheap eats and fantastic food on a budget then the Old Town's array on small independant eateries will suit you.
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Founded in Glasgow, ‘ Indian tapas’ restaurant Mother India’ s Caf é has nonetheless established itself as one of the busiest and most well-loved places to find a range of foods from the Subcontinent in Edinburgh. Popular with lunchtime tourists, evening parties and all points in between, the smaller dishes – including breads, dosas, vegan okra and potatoes, and a range of seafood, chicken and lamb – can be enjoyed and shared among a group. 3-5 Infirmary Street, Old Townmotherindia.co.uk/index.php
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Mother India’s Cafe offers an Indian twist on tapas that you absolutely must try, one of the many popular Indian restaurants in Edinburgh!. Situated a short distance from the main University of Edinburgh’s campus on George Square, you will find the infamous restaurant offering a range of freshly prepared and tasty dishes. If you are going for the tapas experience, you would be best ordering two or three items per person as the portion sizes are generous!
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What: This staple Indian joint started out life in Glasgow, but since opening this second location, it has become a core part of Edinburgh’s thriving Indian restaurant scene. Mother India Café's Dishes are served as sharing small plates and you can expect to find all of the usual fare, alongside some less mainstream dishes – think fried masala squid and chilli fish cakes.Where: 3-5 Infirmary Street, EH1 1LT
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As mentioned in ‘ The 10 Best Indian Restaurants in Glasgow Right Now’, Mother India’s Cafe offers incredibly tasty and sophisticated Indian tapas. Both locations in Edinburgh and Glasgow are consistently voted some of the best – if not the best – Indian restaurant in their respective cities. Mother India’s Cafe offers a different kind of Indian dining which people just can’t seem to get enough of.
Edinburgh’s best tapas restaurants
For something a bit different, Mother India’s Cafe offers Indian-inspired tapas dishes!. This popular spot serves up a variety of traditional Indian dishes in smaller portions, perfect for sharing and trying multiple flavours. From classic butter chicken and spicy lamb chops to vegetarian delights like chana daal and saag paneer, the menu presents a tantalising tour of Indian cuisine.
Insider’s Guide on Where to Eat in Edinburgh
This Edinburgh Indian restaurant offers Indian-style tapas, warm curries, fantastic naan bread, and more tasty dishes in a relaxed, two-story setting. Located in the heart of Aside from its yellow-lit, castle-like aesthetic, what’s nice about Amber Restaurant is its range of more than 450 whiskies, from well-known favorites to hidden gems, Mother India’s Cafe has a great location.
Best Indian Restaurants in Edinburgh
Located on Forrest Road in Edinburgh is Mother India, a restaurant offering a heartwarming take on Indian cuisine. Unlike the typical all-you-can-eat buffets, Mother India embraces a “small plate” philosophy, perfect for sharing and sampling a delicious variety of dishes. This approach caters perfectly to the Scottish clientele’s desire for a relaxed and social dining experience.
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Mother India’s Café is a great venue for a light lunch or a get together with friends with the focus on sharing. With a tapas twist, the exciting menu encourages diners to sample a variety of dishes and experience new tastes. A must are the fresh chilli fish cakes, crispy lentil pancake stuffed with spicy chicken and oven baked haddock served with Punjabi spices.
Edinburgh Tapas Restaurants: 10Best Restaurant Reviews
The idea here is to share your food and experience something new. Mother India's Cafe offers a twist on the tapas style so each person orders a few dishes and everyone tucks in. The dishes are a bit bigger than traditional tapas so you won't want to go overboard ordering too many but this is a great way to enjoy Punjabi Indian food and taste different dishes.
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The first Mother India eatery opened in Glasgow in 1996, which was followed by the popular Edinburgh branch in 2008. This café-restaurant specialises in tapas-style Indian food, making it ideal for sharing, or a light lunch. Every dish is freshly prepared, and infused with the most fascinating flavours.
Where to Eat in Edinburgh, Scotland
Often touted as one of Edinburgh’s best Indian restaurants, Mother India serves classic Indian dishes tapas-style. Portion sizes allow for 3 to 4 dishes per person, which is ideal for sharing and sampling an array of flavours from their varied and lengthy menu. Address: 3-5 Infirmary Street
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Mother India unites tapas and South Asian cuisine, just moments from the Royal Mile, with a plethora of dishes to choose from. When you're at the best Indian restaurant in Edinburgh Old Town, share a selection of fish pakoras or aubergines with baby potatoes.
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A popular family-run Indian restaurant with a menu that’s designed for sharing. Dishes appear fast and fresh and there are lots of vegetarian options. Go with a group, or a big appetite, to maximise your ordering.
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Mother India’s tapas-style approach means that it’s a great place to try something new without having to go the whole hog, and the variety ensures it never gets boring.
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This centrally located restaurant in Edinburgh doesn't take reservations during the Edinburgh Fringe so be prepared to wait if you go during peak meal time.
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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit