The best date night restaurants in Jaipur

What is it? A dreamy heritage restaurant atop Amer Fort, where once, the royals lived.

Why we love it: You’re eating inside a fort. What’s not to love? A long, winding road (which makes for a rather romantic drive) takes you to Amer Fort, lit up like a beacon in the night. If you’re booking in advance, you can even choose where in the fort you want to dine – the heritage dining room, a room bedecked with mirrors, or al fresco under the sky, up against the rugged walls of the fort. 

The menu’s going to knock your diet into an alien orbit. It’s an authentic Rajasthani spread, cooked with copious amounts of the best-quality ghee. The seekh kebabs fall apart before you can skewer them with your fork. The Jungle Maas – lamb cooked in red chillies – is spicy, but it’s the kind of spicy you can’t stop eating. They’ve got every Rajasthani delicacy down pat – even the Jodhpuri gatta curry’s as authentic as it can possibly be. It’s pricey, yes, but it’s worth it. The decor, service, and food more than makes up for the hefty bill. Keep in mind, though, that because it’s a fort, it’s not the most wheelchair-friendly place in Jaipur. 

Time Out tip: You can call in advance to book a rose-sprinkled pathway and candle-lit set-up for your significant other. Unreal brownie points.

Timings: Mon-Sun. 11am–11.30pm and on Sundays 12pm–10.30pm.

Address: Amber Palace, 1135 AD, Jaleb Chowk, Devisinghpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028.

Expect to pay: About ₹4,000 for two, without alcohol.

What is it? A restaurant inside an 18th-century garden with a pale view of the Aravalli hills. 

Why we love it: Lovingly dubbed OUT by locals, this restaurant’s one of the best places for outdoor dining in the city. Much of the seating’s in the garden, by the fountains, but you could also sit indoors, inside a very quintessentially Jaipur-esque blue and white room, called the Neela Palace. The menu’s mainly Indian, but they’ve got some basic continental classics – though we recommend ordering the Rajasthani and Mughlai dishes, because that’s what they do best. Their mutton chapli kebab and laal maans (A Rajasthani classic) are especially excellent. OUT’s probably the most authentic date night spot on this list – you’ll often spot couples here, walking in the garden hand-in-hand at sunset. The lighting’s dim, the seating feels intimate, service is excellent, and eating while looking out at the hills on a clear evening makes for an especially romantic dinner. 

Time Out Tip: If you go on a weekend, you’ll probably be able to catch a live Sufi band.

What is it? A restaurant inside an 18th-century garden with a pale view of the Aravalli hills. 

Why we love it: Lovingly dubbed OUT by locals, this restaurant’s one of the best places for outdoor dining in the city. Much of the seating’s in the garden, by the fountains, but you could also sit indoors, inside a very quintessentially Jaipur-esque blue and white room, called the Neela Palace. The menu’s mainly Indian, but they’ve got some basic continental classics – though we recommend ordering the Rajasthani and Mughlai dishes, because that’s what they do best. Their mutton chapli kebab and laal maans (A Rajasthani classic) are especially excellent. OUT’s probably the most authentic date night spot on this list – you’ll often spot couples here, walking in the garden hand-in-hand at sunset. The lighting’s dim, the seating feels intimate, service is excellent, and eating while looking out at the hills on a clear evening makes for an especially romantic dinner. 

Time Out Tip: If you go on a weekend, you’ll probably be able to catch a live Sufi band.

Timings: Mon-Sun. 12pm–12am.

Address: Vidyadhar ji ka Bagh, Ghat Ki Guni, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003.

Expect to pay: About ₹3,000 for two, without alcohol.

What is it? A very fancy Asian restaurant that does the Chinese, Thai, and Japanese food in Jaipur.

Why we love it: Zarin doesn’t do subtle. Couples celebrating anniversaries or milestones get the whole Thai-inspired fanfare – hats, drums, the works. At the teppanyaki grill, the chef goes full performance mode with knives, fire, and stories before you even get to the food. Once it lands, though, it’s worth it: sizzling veggies, proteins, and the kind of spice hit you’ll get from the raw papaya Som Tam with red chillies and peanuts. The curries, Khow Suey, and wok noodles deliver on comfort, while non-vegetarians should definitely order the oven-roasted whole Peking Duck. The buckwheat noodles in the Mala Xiang Guo Bowl are also an honourable mention  – they’re silky, Sichuan pepper-spiked, and absolutely worth the splurge.

Time Out tip: You HAVE to leave room for dessert. The five-spice chocolate fondant with coconut and jaggery ice cream is heaven-sent. 

Price: About ₹5,000 for two, without alcohol.

Timings: Mon-Sun. 6pm-11pm.

Address: Vidyadhar ji ka Bagh, Ghat Ki Guni, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003.

What is it? A modern Indian bar with cocktails that live up to their kooky names. 

Why we love it: There's something about Paro's location that makes it a bit of an oddity. Though it's housed inside a pre-Independent trading hub turned family residence, it's perched on one of the busiest intersections of the city – MI Road – through which cars, bikes, and autorickshaws wade so viciously that safely crossing the road's rather a miracle. Yet one step inside Paro and somehow, an incredibly intimate ambience washes over you. Perhaps it's the lime plaster finish, the long tapered pillars, the narrow staircase, or the leftover relics from the family home. But despite that, Paro's very much a modern Indian bar, witnessed through the fusion menu and the Rajasthani-folk-meets-techno playlist. The bar snacks include the tangi bedmi poori nachos, where the chips are traded in for crunchy pooris, and the daal baati bites come with a delicious lentil pâté and experimental churma leaf. The bar menu's great as well – get the Jamun G&T, the Indian Summer (featuring a rosemary-infused gin), or my personal favourite, the Makhan Madira, a concoction made with popcorn and caramel-infused whiskey. 

Time Out tip: If you’re visiting in good weather, make sure to go around sunset time, and grab a seat at the rooftop, where you’ll be greeted by a panoramic view of the city centre.

Price: About ₹3,000 for two, including a drink each.

Timings: Mon-Sun. 11am–12am.

Address: Panch Batti, C Scheme, Ashok Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001.

What is it? A restaurant inside a mirror-encrusted room, lit only by candlelight.

Why we love it: What used to be called Mohan Mahal inside the sprawling Leela Palace now goes by the name Jamavar – a specialty Indian restaurant that adds a truckful of romantic energy to any date that’s missing it. Picture this – candles twinkling in every nook, amplified by the thousands of mirrors in the room, live instrumental music, and not one electric bulb in sight. The menu is staunchly Rajasthani, with some South Indian delicacies thrown in. Be sure to get the dal-baati-churma (a Rajasthani specialty), the Kofta-e-Jamavar, and the lamb kebabs. 

Time Out tip: While the world has taught us to eat masala baatis with dal, try them with Jamavar’s Jodhpuri Gatta Curry, and thank us later!  

Price: The non-Vegetarian set menu starts at ₹8,000 per person, the vegetarian from ₹6,000 per person. 

Timings: Mon-Sun. 7pm–11pm. By reservation only. 

Address: Jaipur-Delhi Highway, NH 11, Kukas, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302038.

What is it? A slick, sexy Indian bar and restaurant that does great cocktails and small bites.

Why we love it: Primitive is run by the guys behind Native Cocktail Room, which is hands-down Jaipur’s favourite bar. It goes without saying they know how to get you tipsy, but they’re also adept at doing elevated Indian classics that pair really well with their drinks. Ask for a small, private booth, and order up either a Boulevardier (a bourbon-vermouth concoction), or if you’re feeling adventurous, the Masala Chai Old Fashioned. Skip out on the mains and get just the small plates – Prawn Patio, Murg Pakode, Awadhi Malai Panner, and the Shakarkand (sweet potato) Do Pyaza. 

Time Out Tip: Their smoked gajar halwa (a carrot-based dessert) comes in the shape of a tiny carrot, replete with cream cheese frosting and a spiced cardamom dust. Divine.

Price: ₹2,500 for two (approx.) without alcohol.

Timings: Mon-Sun. 6pm-12am.

Address: Hotel Pearl Palace, Ground floor, 51, Hathroi Fort, Hari Kishan Somani Marg, Ajmer Road, Jaipur, 302001.

What is it? An elevated all-vegetarian restaurant housed inside a 19th-century haveli sitting square in the middle of Jaipur’s Johri Bazaar. 

Why we love it: This is the sort of vegetarian heaven that’ll stop meat-eaters in their tracks as they open their mouths to whine about why you’ve got them there. It’s a bit of fusion – the seekh kebab has peas, yes, but also edamame; the humble aloo tikki’s swapped out for a Rajasthani desert bean called sangri, and there’s no paneer tikka in sight, because it’s been replaced by a smoked burrata creation. The soya keema baati comes very close to the real mutton deal, too. Drinks are great as well. 

Time Out tip: Don’t be put off by the hubbub of Johri Bazaar. Once you reach the haveli, you’re in for a night of luxurious opulence.

Price: ₹2,000 for two (approx.) without alcohol.

Timings: Mon-Sun. 1pm-5pm and 7pm-11.30pm.By reservation only.

Address: 3950, MSB Ka Rasta, Johri Bazar, Ghat Darwaza, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003.