My trip to India was mostly spent in my parent’s home state of Gujarat. I have so much family on both sides as my dad is 1 of 7 and my mom is 1 of 4. It’s always nice to see all my extended family and learn about my family history. I loved visiting the home my grandparents lived in and the shop my great grandfather founded. It made me feel connected to them in a way words cannot express.
While I saved a lot of my India snaps and stories on my Instagram highlights, I received a lot of messages for information on where I shopped, what I ate and what my experiences were. Hope you find this guide helpful.
Food:
The food in India is so incredible with an array of spices, flavors and aromas. I loved going to restaurants, from 5-stars to American chains to hole in the walls, as well as eating from the famous street carts. Here are my favorites in Ahmedabad:
Global 650 – Make sure you make reservations for this 5-star restaurant with an international fusion menu and ambiance.
Rangeen – Another 5-star restaurant where reservations are recommended. I love the fusion menu and ambiance. Located above Global 650.
Three Quarter Indian (TQI) – 5-star rooftop restaurant with international fusion cuisine.
Swati Snacks – an NRI favorite with so many traditional Gujarati snacks and their sugar cane juice is one of the best and clean.
Nini’s Kitchen – a fun family spot with food puns, whimsical décor and international cuisine.
Jassi De Parathe – So many types of parathas in a Punjabi dhabba setting.
Sankalp – One of the oldest South Indian restaurants.
Dakshinayan – South Indian cuisine.
Urban Khichdi –a variety of different types of Khichdi aka comfort food.
Jassuben’s Pizza – My favorite bhakri style pizza joint.
Honest – Known for their pav bhaji and pulav.
Choice – Known for their pizzas and sandwiches.
Freezeland – Known for their sandwiches and shakes.
Havmor – Known for their Chole Bhature and ice creams.
Maggi Street Carts – So many varieties of maggi noodles. I loved tadka maggi.
Shriji Vada Pav – One of the best Vada Pavs joints.
SBR Social – A place to gather filled with so many food carts, music and games for the whole family.
Happy Street (Law Garden) – Newly renovated, a fun family spot with rides for children, food trucks with lots of lights and colorful lanterns.
Exclusive Country Clubs (membership required) – Rajpath Club, Karnavati Club.
American Chains – McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Taco Bell (all have Indian inspired menus).
Fashion:
Shopping in India is a blast, especially for ethnic wear. So many different types of fabrics, colors and work designed by artisans. I love the detailing and hard work they put into making each piece of outfit. Here are some of the shops in Ahmedabad to purchase outfits.
Aishwarya – (Showroom) https://www.aishwaryadesignstudio.com/
Aso Palav – (Showroom) https://www.asopalav.com/
Anmol by Ankoor Shukla – (Women’s Boutique)
Om Ethnic by Dipali Parikh (Women’s Boutique) https://www.omethnic.co.in/
Seasons (Not the same one as Mumbai) – Known for their organic cotton and silk kurtis. Mix & Match outfits.
Ray Ethnic – Mix & Match outfits; high quality of cotton and silk items.
Fab India – Organic cotton clothing, organic food and home decor. https://www.fabindia.com/
Aurelia – https://shopforaurelia.com/
Biba – https://www.biba.in/
W for Woman – https://wforwoman.com/
Global Desi – https://www.globaldesi.in/us/
Manyavar (Men’s Collection) https://www.manyavar.com/
Jade Blue (Men’s Collection) https://jadeblue.com/
Metro (Shoes)
Inc. 5 (Shoes)
Bata (Shoes)
Fun:
There is so much to do in India. When I visited Mumbai, I wanted to go to the famous Taj Hotel and have High Tea at Sea Lounge. Luckily, we were able to get reservations and it was amazing. I loved how they had a variety of vegetarian street food, snacks and desserts available in their buffet. They can even customize to meet any dietary requirement. They made an array of Jain appetizers for us as well. While we sipped on tea and coffee, we enjoyed the views of Gateway of India, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
India also has some great spas where you can get body massages, facials, body scrubs and other treatments for an amazing value for your dollar. I went to Rewa Escape, a spa oasis which overlooks the Arabian sea, in the hustle and bustle of Mumbai. I highly recommend making reservations. The service and cleanliness was great.
(Taj Hotel Mumbai)
Recent Comments