Zayna

Marble Arch may be an area you’d avoid at all costs on a normal day—we get it, the people traffic on that side of Oxford Street isn’t for the faint-hearted. But this serene Pakistani and North Indian restaurant on New Quebec Street is worth all of the expert swerving of people laden with Primark bags. Zayna is a cosy, inviting restaurant with a warm glow that could either be the work of the little tea lights on each table, or the sizzling tandoori jheenga that arrives in a hot skillet. The moody dim lighting, intimate booths, and not-so-secret downstairs bar make this the ultimate date night move when you’re craving chicken karahi. The menu has got plenty of classics, with vegan and vegetarian options like dal makhani that taste just as good as our go-to order of jheenga bhaati—meaty king prawns in a rich tomato sauce. 

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch