Moti Mahal, Connaught Place: Menu, Timings and Location

Moti Mahal in Connaught Place is a North Indian, Mughlai and tandoori restaurant inside Saltstayz Autograph Connaught Place, at K9 to K11A, Connaught Circus, Block K. It is open daily from 12 noon to 11:30 pm, about a 300 m walk from Rajiv Chowk metro. Order the butter chicken, dal makhani, tandoori platter and kulfi falooda, and book ahead for weekend evenings.

What to order

1. Butter chicken: tandoori chicken finished in a tomato, butter and cream gravy, the dish the Moti Mahal name is known for.
2. Dal makhani: black lentils slow-cooked and finished with cream.
3. Tandoori platter: a mixed grill to start; order for the table.
4. Kulfi falooda: the dessert to finish.

Timings and reservations

1. Hours: 12 noon to 11:30 pm, every day
2. Cuisine: North Indian, Mughlai, tandoori
3. Reservations: recommended on weekends; call the restaurant from the Saltstayz restaurants page, which also lists the current price for two
4. Good for: family dinners, out-of-town guests and group meals

The room

A chandelier-lit dining room with walls lined with the brand's painted plates, blue velvet banquettes and patterned floor tiles that nod to old Delhi. The high ceiling keeps large birthday and family tables from feeling cramped.

The Moti Mahal story

The Moti Mahal story begins with Kundan Lal Gujral, who brought the tandoor from Peshawar to Daryaganj after Partition. His restaurant became known for tandoori chicken, and the brand credits it with butter chicken, made by reviving tandoori chicken in a tomato, butter and cream gravy. The origin of butter chicken is disputed by other Delhi restaurants. The Connaught Place restaurant carries that menu into the heart of New Delhi.

Getting there

1. Address: Saltstayz Autograph, K9 to K11A, Connaught Circus, Block K, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001
2. Metro: Rajiv Chowk (Blue and Yellow Lines), about 300 m on foot
3. Staying over: Saltstayz Autograph Connaught Place is upstairs, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served by Moti Mahal

More: hotels in Connaught Place, hotels near Pragati Maidan and Moti Mahal by the Ganga in Rishikesh.

Planning your visit

1. Weekday lunch: the quieter time to come, and the easier slot for a walk-in table if you are working or shopping in Connaught Place.
2. Weekend evenings: the busiest time. Book ahead, and allow extra time for traffic on the Connaught Place circles if you are coming by car.
3. Groups and celebrations: the high-ceilinged room takes large birthday and family tables comfortably. Call ahead with your numbers so the restaurant can set a table for the group.
4. Families: the menu is broad enough for mixed groups, with dal makhani for vegetarians alongside the tandoori and Mughlai plates.
5. Hotel guests: if you are staying at Saltstayz Autograph Connaught Place, Moti Mahal serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can eat in without heading out.

How to order

North Indian meals here are made for sharing. Start with the tandoori platter for the table, follow with butter chicken and dal makhani as the centre of the meal, and finish with kulfi falooda. If you are unsure about spice levels, ask the staff to guide you before you order. For the current menu and price for two, check the Saltstayz restaurants page.

Things to do near Moti Mahal in Connaught Place

Connaught Place is easy to explore on foot before or after a meal. These are the well-known stops around the circles and the roads that lead off them.

1. Central Park: the green space at the centre of Connaught Place, known for hosting cultural events and a common meeting point.
2. Palika Bazaar: one of India's first underground markets, built in the late 1970s beneath the Inner Circle.
3. Janpath: a well-known road leading out of the Outer Circle, lined with shops and stalls.
4. State emporiums, Baba Kharak Singh Marg: emporiums run by Indian states, a stop for handicrafts and gifts.
5. Hanuman Mandir: an old temple that was kept when Connaught Place was built and still draws many visitors.
6. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: the Sikh shrine on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, recognisable by its golden dome, with a large sarovar (holy pond) inside the complex.
7. Jantar Mantar: the historic observatory on Parliament Street, one of the few structures kept when Connaught Place was built.
8. Agrasen ki Baoli: a stepwell on Hailey Road, tucked between office blocks and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Go in daylight.
9. India Gate and Bharat Mandapam: about 3.9 km and 3.1 km by road from the hotel, an easy cab ride for an evening at India Gate or an exhibition at Bharat Mandapam.

A simple evening plan

Walk the Inner Circle and Janpath in the late afternoon, stop at Central Park as the lights come on, and sit down for dinner at Moti Mahal. Rajiv Chowk metro is about 300 m away for the trip home, which saves looking for parking in Connaught Place.

Frequently asked questions

What are Moti Mahal Connaught Place timings?

12 noon to 11:30 pm, every day.

Where is Moti Mahal in Connaught Place?

Inside Saltstayz Autograph at K9 to K11A, Connaught Circus, Block K, about 300 m from Rajiv Chowk metro.

What is Moti Mahal famous for?

Butter chicken, dal makhani and tandoori dishes.

Do I need a reservation?

Recommended for weekend evenings and large groups.

Which metro station is nearest to Moti Mahal Connaught Place?

Rajiv Chowk, on the Blue and Yellow Lines. The restaurant is about 300 m on foot.

Did Moti Mahal invent butter chicken?

The Moti Mahal story credits Kundan Lal Gujral's Daryaganj restaurant with creating butter chicken by reviving tandoori chicken in a tomato, butter and cream gravy. Other Delhi restaurants dispute this, so the origin remains contested.

Can vegetarians eat at Moti Mahal Connaught Place?

Dal makhani, one of the dishes Moti Mahal is known for, is vegetarian. Ask the staff about other vegetarian dishes on the current menu.

What can I see near Moti Mahal in Connaught Place?

Central Park, Palika Bazaar, Janpath, the state emporiums on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Hanuman Mandir, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Jantar Mantar and Agrasen ki Baoli are all around Connaught Place. India Gate is about 3.9 km by road.