When you think of dining in the Square Mile, your mind likely drifts to stiff white tablecloths, muted corporate tones, and eye-watering bills designed solely for corporate expense accounts. And often, the City of London can feel clinical, a place built for transactions rather than genuine human connections.
Yet, tucked away at 4 Great St Thomas Apostle, just moments from Bank and Mansion House stations, sits a venue that is flipping the script. Chatora City is a modern Indian restaurant and wine bar that injects soul, warmth, and a serious passion for food right into the city’s financial hub.
I am incredibly particular about Indian food, and to be honest, navigating London’s dining scene can feel like a bit of a minefield. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of over-commercialised high-street chains or, on the flip side, over-conceptualised fine dining spots where the real soul of the spice just gets lost in translation. But Chatora City completely shattered those expectations. It hits that perfect sweet spot between contemporary flair and old-school techniques, creating an environment where the food genuinely sings and the hospitality makes you feel instantly at home.
Award-Winning Heritage Meets Chatora City Hospitality
This level of cooking comes as no surprise, especially when you look at the team’s background. They originally built their reputation at their sister spot in Richmond, which locked down a place in the Michelin Guide for its exceptional food. Wanting to bring that same energy to the financial district, they launched Chatora City – and the neighbourhood is honestly all the better for it. The industry has quickly taken note too, with the restaurant already securing a major diners’ choice award and landing a top spot on a leading culinary guide to the Best Indian Restaurants in London.
But even with all the awards and high praise, what really makes this place stand out from the rest of the City is how they treat you. The second you walk through the door, the whole vibe changes. There is none of that corporate formality you usually find around here. Instead, you get a genuine welcome that feels way more like a cosy neighbourhood bistro than a frantic City hotspot. The man behind it all is the owner, Jamshed Rahman – though regulars just call him Jam.
Unlike many owners who stay hidden away in back offices, Jam is a constant, welcoming presence right on the dining room floor. He is almost always there, moving between tables, chatting with guests, and sharing the stories behind the menu with real passion. If you are stuck on which wine to pair with a complex curry, he will easily guide you through their cellar of over 120 hand-selected bottles.
If you want to know the history behind a specific spice blend, he will happily pull up a chair and break it down for you. It is this exact personal touch that turns a standard dinner into something memorable. The space stops feeling like a commercial restaurant and starts feeling like an extension of Jam’s own home, which is a rare and beautiful thing to find in this fast-paced part of town.
Where Heritage Meets Modern Cooking
Running the kitchen is Executive Chef Imamuddin Khan, who refined his skills at legendary London spots like The Cinnamon Club and Kahani. He brings that deep expertise straight to Chatora City, using a traditional charcoal-fired tandoor alongside clever modern twists. The menu he has put together is focused but diverse, giving seasonal ingredients and traditional spices the respect they deserve.
A flawless way to begin the experience is by ordering the Mango Maharani, which hits the table as a brilliant, sunshine-hued creation that balances lush sweetness with a crisp, refreshing kick, cutting through the upcoming spices perfectly. When the starters arrive, the mango and coconut in the cocktail complement the dishes ever so perfectly.
Take the Shami Kebab, for instance. The minced lamb is incredibly fine and practically melts in your mouth, carrying a lovely warmth from the Kashmiri chilli and a subtle kick of tailed pepper. It arrives beautifully presented alongside a vibrant beetroot jam and a light touch of herb cream. It is a brilliant example of how you can take classic street food flavours and dress them up for a dining room without losing what made them great in the first place.
Equally spectacular is the Tellicherry Soft Shell Crab. Soft-shell crab is my absolute favourite dish, and I always try to order it at every restaurant I visit, so the bar was set pretty high. Happily, it completely delivered. Soft-shell crab can easily end up greasy if it is handled carelessly, but here it is fried to a light, perfectly clean crisp. The delicate sweetness of the crab pairs brilliantly with a bright, zesty summer berry and mango salsa, finished with dots of rich tamarind chutney on the plate. It is the dish that will keep me coming back to Chatora City.
For those who love seafood with a proper punch, the Prawn Kali Mirch is an absolute must-order. Plump, juicy king prawns are tossed in a generous coating of crushed black pepper and pink peppercorns, served inside a banana leaf cone with a wedge of fresh lime and a rich sweet-chilli dipping sauce. I absolutely loved how the heat from the black pepper was front and centre without completely blowing your head off, letting all the complex flavours linger beautifully.
Tandoori Artistry and Slow-Cooked Masterpieces
Moving on to the main courses, the kitchen at Chatora City really shows off what it can do. A standout dish from the tandoor section is the Chicken Tikka Tiranga, which literally looked like a rainbow on a plate. This tri-colour presentation showcases three completely different marinating techniques. One piece has that classic, fiery red kick of Kashmiri chilli; another is coated in a vibrant green mint and coriander blend; and the third is a rich, creamy white version made with melted Gruyère cheese. The chicken stays incredibly juicy from the charcoal fire, and the addition of Gruyère is a brilliant modern twist that works surprisingly well against the charred spices.
No trip to an Indian restaurant of this calibre is complete without trying their slow-cooked classics, and Chatora City delivers on every single front. The Lamb Shank Nalli Nihari is an absolute triumph. The lamb is simmered for hours until it practically falls off the bone at the mere suggestion of a fork. The sauce is rich and glossy, packed with a wonderful depth of spice that will have you ordering a basket of fresh, blistered garlic naan just to wipe the plate clean.
Then there is the signature Smoked Charcoal Butter Chicken, which is slow-smoked in the traditional style of Old Delhi. Forget the overly sweet, bright pink versions you often find elsewhere; this version uses Camone tomatoes and Malian cashews to create a velvety, complex sauce with a deep, smoky undertone that makes it entirely unique.
I paired this with the Dum Pukht Chicken Biryani, which arrived sealed with a flaky, golden layer of pastry. One of the team carefully cut through the bread on top of the biryani right at the table, immediately releasing a cloud of aromatic steam scented with saffron and rosewater. Underneath, it revealed perfectly fluffy basmati rice alongside tender chicken pieces that had absorbed every ounce of flavour. It is pure comfort food with a brilliant bit of tableside theatre.
Introducing The Long Lunch at Chatora City
While the restaurant is a fantastic spot for a relaxed dinner or a weekend celebration, it is also perfectly set up for the daytime crowd. The team knows that even when the City gets incredibly busy, you still need a proper excuse to step away from your desk – whether that is to seal a corporate deal, entertain a client, or just catch up with colleagues.
To cater to exactly that, the restaurant is shaking up the midweek dining scene. Jam has launched The Long Lunch, a new weekday menu designed for anyone looking to stretch their lunch break just a little bit longer. The concept brings brilliant value to the Square Mile without cutting corners on the quality of the food. Available Monday to Friday, you can get 90 minutes of unlimited Chatora lager or prosecco for £15 per person when ordering a starter and a main, a main and a dessert, or choosing directly from Chatora City’s set lunch menu.
Alongside the drinks offering, guests can also enjoy the restaurant’s weekday lunch menu, priced at an incredibly reasonable £19.95 for two courses, or £24.95 for three courses. Given the premium quality of Chef Khan’s cooking, this stands as one of the best-value midday offerings in the entire capital. It provides the perfect excuse to slow down, settle into a comfortable booth, and let the afternoon slide away while Jam and his attentive team in Chatora City take complete care of you.
A Must-Visit London Institution
Chatora City has managed to do something truly rare in London’s financial district. It completely breaks down the cold, business-as-usual vibe of typical City dining by leading with genuine, heart-led hospitality and backing it up with genuinely delicious, authentic food.
A massive part of that warmth comes down to Jam Rahman, who looked after me so brilliantly from the moment I walked in and made the entire experience feel special. By combining Jam’s incredible hospitality with the culinary brilliance of Chef Imamuddin Khan, the restaurant has cemented itself as an absolute gem. Whether you are dropping in for a quick midweek bite, indulging in the newly launched bottomless lunch, or settling in for an extensive evening menu, you are guaranteed to walk out feeling completely looked after, incredibly well-fed, and already planning your next return.
Securing a spot at Chatora City is incredibly straightforward. Reservations can be made instantly online via chatoracity.co.uk/contact/ or through standard booking platforms. Because slots for The Long Lunch and premium evening tables fill up fast, booking in advance is highly recommended. For larger corporate groups or special events, you can also contact Jam and his team directly through the website to arrange custom dining options and secure the best booths.
