July 7, 2026
Oudh 1722 restaurant in London is not the sort of Indian venue that begins by asking how much chili you can tolerate. Its cooking is quieter, slower, and considerably more regal.
Aktar Islam’s first London restaurant explores the cuisine of Awadh, the historic northern Indian province centred around Lucknow. This means melting kebabs, fragrant biryanis, gentle curries and dishes cooked patiently beneath sealed lids.
The setting is a rambling Victorian townhouse near Borough Market. The food looks precise, but still eats like a feast. Come hungry and bring enough people to justify the biryani.
At a Glance
Best for: Special occasions, long lunches and sophisticated group dinners
Cuisine: Refined Awadhi and Lucknowi cooking
Location: Union Street, Borough
Price: Around £90–£130 per person with drinks
Signature dishes: Lamb gilawat kebab, oxtail dum biryani and tandoori chicken curry
Atmosphere: Intimate, historic and quietly luxurious
Nearest station: London Bridge
Booking tip: Choose the à la carte menu and share across the table
What Is Oudh 1722 Restaurant In London?
Oudh 1722 is the London debut of Aktar Islam, the Birmingham chef behind two-Michelin-starred Opheem. Its name refers to the year Awadh emerged as a semi-independent Mughal province and began developing the courtly food culture later associated with Lucknow.
Awadhi cooking favours patience over blunt force. Meat is minced until almost weightless. Rice is layered with spice and slow-cooked beneath pastry. Curries rely on saffron, nuts, dairy and aromatics rather than punishing heat.
Islam has approached the tradition with respect, but not museum-like solemnity. British produce appears throughout, and the presentation belongs firmly to a modern London dining room.
The Atmosphere and Design
Oudh 1722 restaurant in London occupies a listed Victorian building that once housed hatmakers and, more recently, Lupins. Its narrow staircases and succession of rooms have been preserved rather than forced into open-plan submission.
Designer Polina Sychova has used limewashed walls, walnut joinery, mustard velvet and softly framed archways. The effect is handsome without slipping into themed opulence. The main dining room sits beside the open kitchen and has the most energy. Smaller rooms upstairs feel quieter and more private. At the top is a cocktail bar, hidden away like a particularly well-furnished attic.
The Menu
Begin with lamb or morel shorba, a small cup of deeply savoury broth, followed by gol guppa filled with potato, sprouting moong and jaljeera. The chaat is more substantial, combining white peas, yoghurt, potato and crisp sev.
The gilawat kebab is essential. Herdwick lamb is minced into something barely solid, heavily spiced and designed to dissolve on the tongue. From the grill, malai murgh brings cardamom and black cumin, while king prawns arrive with garlic and raw mango.
The centrepiece is the mutanjan dum biryani: aged basmati layered with oxtail and sweet carrot, then sealed and cooked until the meat yields completely. Pair it with a curry, perhaps the rich tandoori chicken with smoked tomato and cream, and order enough roomali roti to deal with the sauce.
Vegetarian cooking is taken seriously. Mushroom gilawat, dahi paneer and Lucknowi kofta pulao receive the same intricacy as the meat dishes. Finish with nimish, an aerated saffron dessert, or ras malai.
Drinks & Wine
The upstairs bar serves cocktails such as a Kasuri Martini with fenugreek, lime pickle and mild chilli, alongside a Mango Chutney Margarita. The wine list is unusually ambitious, stretching to around 300 bottles and taking in classic regions as well as Greece, Armenia, Japan and orange wines. Ask the sommelier for guidance; this is not a list designed for casual guessing.
Who Is Oudh 1722 Best For?
Oudh 1722 suits diners who want Indian cooking with depth, history and a genuine sense of occasion. It works well for birthdays, family lunches, client dinners and groups willing to share generously. It is less suitable for a rushed meal. The food is rich, layered and intended to arrive gradually. This is a restaurant for settling in rather than checking the time between courses.
Is Oudh 1722 Worth Booking?
Yes. Oudh 1722 offers something London has rarely explored with this degree of focus: the refined, slow-cooked food of Lucknow’s royal kitchens.
A few plates lean towards fine-dining fussiness, but the best dishes remain deeply comforting. The gilawat kebab melts. The biryani arrives fragrant and abundant. The curries require bread, not contemplation.
Book the main dining room for atmosphere or an upstairs table for privacy. Either way, order the biryani.
Practical Information
Address: 66 Union Street, London SE1 1TD
Area: Borough
Nearest station: London Bridge
Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm–2.30pm and 5.30pm–9.30pm; Sunday, 12pm–5pm
Cuisine: Awadhi Indian
Reservations: Released up to 90 days ahead
Groups: Contact the restaurant directly for parties of six or more
Private dining: Available across the building’s smaller rooms
Best for: Celebrations, long lunches and refined Indian dining
Oudh 1722 Restaurant London Bookings
Capital A List members can make bookings for Oudh 1722 below.
