Varanasi
Leicester City Centre, Leicester
Restaurant in Leicester, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$50–100per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Book Varanasi for a polished Indian dinner in Leicester when ambience matters as much as the food. At $71 per person, it is better suited to birthdays, date nights and smart group meals than casual curry runs, with kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes giving the table clear ordering anchors.
About Varanasi
For diners considering Varanasi in Leicester, the picture is direct: it is an Indian restaurant with a smart casual dress code and a listed price of $71 per person. The clearest planning details are the cuisine, price point, dress code and documented signature dishes, rather than any awards story or specific tasting-menu format.
Varanasi works best to assess when the table wants Indian food with clear ordering anchors. The signature dishes include kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes. Those are the safest dishes to use when deciding whether the restaurant fits the meal you have in mind.
Order around documented Indian dishes, not a tasting-menu promise
The safest way to plan the meal is to build around the dishes that are actually documented: kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes. Those choices give enough range for a table that wants Indian cooking without relying on unsupported claims about a fixed menu, chef-led sequence or special service format.
The Leicester context matters because diners have other Indian restaurants and broader dining options to compare it. On the facts, Varanasi’s clearest hooks are its Indian cuisine, smart casual dress code, $71 per person price point and named signature dishes.
Better for a planned Indian meal than an undefined format
Use this when the group is comfortable with a $71 per person Indian meal and wants a smart casual setting.
For planning around the city, pair this with our full Leicester restaurants guide if the group is still choosing where to eat. Visitors comparing options can also look at other dining in Leicester generically, then decide whether Varanasi’s price point, cuisine and signature dishes fit the occasion.
Who should cross-shop before committing
If the goal is simply Indian food at the lowest possible spend, compare options before committing. If the goal is an Indian meal in Leicester with a smart casual dress code and documented signatures such as kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes, Varanasi has a clear case.
For broader comparison, diners may also consider Bhoomi Kitchen, Café Spice Namasté, Empire Empire, Jai Ho and Tamil Prince, depending on where they are willing to travel and what style of Indian meal they want. Treat those as comparison points rather than direct claims about Varanasi’s format, awards or service.
Planning details
- Location
- 89, 91 High St, Leicester LE1 4JB, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on the venue's website
- Website
- varanasi.uk
- Phone
- +44 116 251 8244
Venue details
Ambiance
Luxury Indian fine-dining venue with a breathtaking interior, candle-lit cocktail-bar atmosphere, and a design-forward boutique feel.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Large
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Cocktails
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Halal
- Private Dining
- Available
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
- Opened
- 2024
Signature Dishes
- Kasturi chicken tikka
- tandoori wild king prawn
- curry bowls
- biryani dishes
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 89, 91 High St, Leicester LE1 4JB, United Kingdom
Planning details
Location
89, 91 High St, Leicester LE1 4JB, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Jai Ho, Indian, ££
- Café Spice Namasté, Indian, £
- Bhoomi Kitchen, Indian, ££
- Empire Empire, Indian, ££
- Tamil Prince, Indian, ££
Restaurant context
How it compares
Varanasi is the more occasion-coded pick: higher spend, smarter room, and a stronger fit for date nights or celebrations. Jai Ho and Bhoomi Kitchen sit closer to the ££ Indian lane, so they are the more natural cross-shops if the group wants Indian food without pushing as hard into a luxury-feeling evening.
For value, Café Spice Namasté is the clearest alternative because it sits at £ rather than ££ or above. Choose it when price sensitivity matters more than a candle-lit, boutique-feeling setting. Choose Varanasi when the room, dress-up factor and group-occasion energy are part of the reason for going.
Empire Empire and Tamil Prince are stronger cross-shops for diners who want Indian food with a distinct personality and a more competitive booking feel. Varanasi is the easier recommendation for Leicester diners who want a polished Indian fine-dining night without making the reservation itself the project.
Explore Leicester
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Varanasi guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Varanasi
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varanasi | Indian | $71 per person | No published awards | Easy |
| Jai Ho | Indian | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate | Unknown |
| Café Spice Namasté | Indian | £ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2026 Michelin Plate2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #8132025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #6662024 Michelin Plate | Unknown |
| Bhoomi Kitchen | Indian | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | Unknown |
| Empire Empire | Indian | ££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026The Good Food Guide 20252025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand | Unknown |
| Tamil Prince | Indian | ££ | Forbes Travel Guide Hotel Star Bars 2026Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | Unknown |
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What to weigh when choosing between Varanasi and comparable nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to Varanasi in Leicester?
Other comparison points for Indian dining include Bhoomi Kitchen, Café Spice Namasté, Empire Empire, Jai Ho and Tamil Prince. Varanasi itself is in Leicester and is listed at $71 per person, so it is worth comparing based on budget, location and the kind of Indian meal you want.
What should a first-timer know about Varanasi?
Expect Indian dining in Leicester at a $71 per person price point. Signature dishes include kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes. The dress code is smart casual.
Can Varanasi accommodate groups?
If you are planning for a group, confirm booking details directly with the restaurant and budget around the listed $71 per person price.
Is Varanasi good for a special occasion?
It can make sense for an occasion if you want Indian dining in Leicester at a $71 per person price point with a smart casual dress code. The strongest ordering anchors are kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes.
Is the tasting menu worth it at Varanasi?
Plan around the documented Indian dishes instead: kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes.
Is Varanasi worth the price?
It depends on whether a $71 per person Indian meal in Leicester fits your plans. The clearest reasons to consider it are the smart casual dress code and signature dishes such as kasturi chicken tikka, tandoori wild king prawn, curry bowls and biryani dishes.
