Simla Restaurant
Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Restaurant in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Simla Restaurant is a practical central Newcastle choice for a relaxed dinner, date, or low-pressure celebration near the Side and Quayside. Choose it when ease and location matter more than tasting-menu structure or awards-led dining; for a bigger splurge, compare it with House of Tides or SOLSTICE BY KENNY ATKINSON.
About Simla Restaurant
Simla Restaurant is a Newcastle Upon Tyne dinner option with evening opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday and a smart casual dress code. Details are limited, so it is best treated as a practical choice for an evening booking rather than a restaurant to judge by claims about awards, menu format, price, cuisine, or service style.
Use it when the key facts you need are direct: it is in Newcastle Upon Tyne, it opens in the evening, Monday is listed as closed. For anything more specific, such as current dishes, dietary accommodations, group arrangements, or booking requirements, confirm directly with the restaurant before planning around it.
Good for a Newcastle Upon Tyne dinner when basics are enough
The clearest reason to consider Simla Restaurant is timing. Listed hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30–11 PM, Friday from 5:30–11:30 PM, Saturday from 4–11:30 PM, Sunday from 5:30–11 PM; Monday is closed. No lunch service is shown.
For broader planning around the city, compare it with 21, Dobson & Parnell, House of Tides, Miller & Carter Newcastle, SOLSTICE BY KENNY ATKINSON. For a wider scan, use Our full Newcastle Upon Tyne restaurants guide.
Where it fits against a bigger UK dining shortlist
If the trip is built around a highly specific dining brief, Simla Restaurant should be checked directly before you commit, because details such as menu format, price, signature dishes, awards are not widely published. If the brief is simply to identify an evening restaurant in Newcastle Upon Tyne with smart casual dress, Simla Restaurant remains a relevant local option.
Quick reference: choose Simla Restaurant when its evening hours and Newcastle Upon Tyne location fit your plans. For other styles of meal, compare it with other Newcastle Upon Tyne dining rooms and confirm the current details directly before booking.
Planning details
- Location
- 39 Side, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3JE, United Kingdom
- Website
- simlarestaurant.net
- Phone
- +447917391319
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Simla sits on The Side in a repurposed stone building, and its setting gives the room a quietly layered character. The street’s medieval grain and the river visible below lend a measured, scenic quality to the experience, while the interior leans intimate and elegantly restrained rather than flashy. The restaurant works within the long tradition of South Asian dining in British cities, so the ambiance favors warm familiarity and focused hospitality: a comfortable, slightly old-world backdrop that complements bold, heritage-driven food rather than overpowering it.
Best For
Simla is best encountered at dinner, when its signature South Asian mains land with full effect. The address on The Side makes it a dependable choice for date nights, special-occasion meals and small group dining, especially for diners seeking classic, well-executed South Asian flavours rather than a high-concept tasting menu. Its position in Newcastle’s dining ecology places it alongside more formal neighbours while remaining rooted in tradition, so it’s a good pick for anyone after a considered, restaurant-led evening on the Quayside.
Ordering Tips
The menu highlights are worth steering toward: gunpowder prawns, the chicken tikka trio, tiger prawn Malabar Coastal Curry and a braised lamb shank are all called out as signatures. Given the strong, ingredient-led focus implied in the write-up, build a meal around those headline dishes and share among the table to sample variety. Because Simla is presented as part of a longstanding South Asian dining tradition, expect robust, classic flavours in the highlighted dishes and plan to order a selection so each dish can be tasted alongside the others.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm and inviting with low warm lighting, cozy cushions, and a relaxed refined atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- gunpowder prawns
- chicken tikka trio
- tiger prawn Malabar Coastal Curry
- lamb shank
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- SOLSTICE BY KENNY ATKINSON, Modern British, ££££
- Miller & Carter Newcastle, Notable alternative
- Dobson & Parnell, Modern Cuisine, ££
- 21, Modern British, £££
- House of Tides, Modern British, Modern Cuisine, ££££
Restaurant context
How it compares in Newcastle
Choose Simla Restaurant when the brief is an easier central dinner rather than a high-spend tasting-menu night. SOLSTICE BY KENNY ATKINSON and House of Tides sit in the ££££ tier and make more sense for diners who want a destination Modern British experience. They are stronger choices for a milestone meal, but they ask for more planning and a bigger budget.
21 is the cleaner cross-shop if the group wants Modern British polish at £££ rather than the full splurge tier. Dobson & Parnell, listed as Modern Cuisine at ££, is the better value comparison for diners who want a composed restaurant experience without pushing into the city's pricier rooms.
Miller & Carter Newcastle is the safer pick for steakhouse familiarity and groups with mixed tastes. Simla Restaurant is the better call when the priority is a neighbourhood-feeling dinner near central Newcastle rather than a chain-style occasion or a formal tasting-menu booking.
Explore Newcastle Upon Tyne
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Simla Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Simla Restaurant
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simla Restaurant | Newcastle Upon Tyne | ; | ; | No published awards |
| SOLSTICE BY KENNY ATKINSON | Newcastle Upon Tyne | Modern British | ££££ | 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #422026 AA 4-Rosette RestaurantsMichelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #67The Good Food Guide 20252025 The Best Chef One Knife2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star |
| Miller & Carter Newcastle | Newcastle Upon Tyne | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Dobson & Parnell | Newcastle Upon Tyne | Modern Cuisine | ££ | 2026 Michelin PlateThe Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| 21 | Newcastle Upon Tyne | Modern British | £££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate2023 OAD Classical in Europe Recommended |
| House of Tides | Newcastle Upon Tyne | Modern British, Modern Cuisine | ££££ | 2026 Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants · #822026 AA 3-Rosette RestaurantsMichelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #535The Good Food Guide 20252025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #315 |
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How Simla Restaurant Newcastle Upon Tyne compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Simla Restaurant?
No fixed signature dish is known for Simla Restaurant. Check the current menu directly with the restaurant and choose based on your group size, appetite, any dietary needs.
Is Simla Restaurant good for solo dining?
Solo-dining suitability is not specified. Details are that Simla Restaurant is in Newcastle Upon Tyne, has a smart casual dress code, lists evening hours from Tuesday to Sunday.
Is Simla Restaurant good for a special occasion?
That depends on the kind of occasion you are planning. Simla Restaurant has evening hours and a smart casual dress code, but specific details such as menu format, price, private dining, or celebration arrangements are not widely published. You may also compare it with House of Tides or 21 when planning a Newcastle Upon Tyne dinner.
Can Simla Restaurant accommodate groups?
Group accommodation details are not specified. If you are planning for several people, contact Simla Restaurant directly and compare options such as Miller & Carter Newcastle if you want to check another dinner choice.
What are alternatives to Simla Restaurant in Newcastle Upon Tyne?
Other Newcastle Upon Tyne options to compare include House of Tides, Dobson & Parnell, Miller & Carter Newcastle, 21, SOLSTICE BY KENNY ATKINSON. Check current hours, menus, booking terms directly before deciding.
Is lunch or dinner better at Simla Restaurant?
Dinner is the fit. Simla Restaurant's listed hours are evening-only: Tuesday to Thursday 5:30–11 PM, Friday 5:30–11:30 PM, Saturday 4–11:30 PM, Sunday 5:30–11 PM. Monday is closed, no lunch sitting is shown.
How far ahead should I book Simla Restaurant?
Booking lead time is not specified. If you want a specific evening, especially Friday or Saturday when the listed hours run later, contact Simla Restaurant directly and compare availability with House of Tides or 21 if you are considering other Newcastle Upon Tyne options.
