Bombay Bistro Taupō is a modern Indian restaurant on Roberts Street in the heart of Taupō, serving bold, vibrant dishes rooted in the rich culinary history of Bombay. The menu blends the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality with a contemporary bistro sensibility — street-food snacks like pani puri and papdi chaat, delicate dosas, smoky tandoor grills and comforting classics such as butter chicken finished in a creamy tomato and cashew sauce.
Brunch runs from 9am to 2pm, with everything from smashed avo rosti benedicts and Bombay French toast to hand-rolled parathas and the house Bombay local 'cutting' masala chai, while the all-day menu carries the kitchen through to 10pm. The Spice & Sip bar pours signature Indian-inspired cocktails and premium spirits in a stylish setting, and the carefully curated interiors make it a popular pick for celebrations. Menus are updated seasonally, with dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free options available across the menu, plus a dedicated kids' menu and online ordering for pickup and delivery.
On Roberts Street, just moments from the Taupō town centre, Bombay Bistro brings a fresh take on Indian cooking to the lakeside town. Its calling card is "modern Indian flavour" — bold, vibrant dishes rooted in the rich culinary history of Bombay (Mumbai), served with the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality in a space designed for lingering, celebrating and second helpings.
The restaurant's motto — "serve the soul" — runs through everything, from the street-food snacks to the rich, slow-built mains. Menus are updated seasonally and span brunch, an all-day menu, kids' options, desserts and a dedicated drinks list.
The lite bites read like a tour of Indian street food. Pani puri — hollow, crispy-fried puffed balls filled with spiced potato and tamarind-spiced water — are made to be popped whole in the mouth for the blast of street flavours of India. There's dahi puri with yogurt and tangy chutneys, papdi chaat topped with spiced potatoes and chickpeas, and masala poppadums finished with fresh coriander. Indo-Chinese favourites hold their own too: crispy chicken lollipops with house dipping sauce, chilli chicken, paneer chilly and veg manchurian.
The tandoor does the heavy lifting for the heartier bites. Lamb chops are infused with aromatic herbs and spices and grilled to a smoky finish; seekh kebabs of marinated lamb mince roast in the tandoori oven; and chicken tikka, malai tikka and bone-in tandoori chicken — marinated overnight in yogurt, ginger-garlic and mild spices — come out succulent and char-kissed. Even prawns get a look-in with kali mirch ka jhinga, tossed in a bold black pepper sauce.
Then there are the dosas: delicate rice and lentil crepes, crisp on the outside and soft inside, rolled with flavourful fillings and paired with chutneys and sambar. Choose plain, masala, cheese, egg or butter chicken — a timeless classic with what the team calls a modern twist.
Among the mains, butter chicken is the all-time Kiwi favourite — roasted in the tandoori oven and finished in a creamy tomato and cashew nut sauce. Bombay tikka masala is another popular pick, while vegetarians are well served by chana masala and the comforting yellow dal tadka, lentils tempered with cumin and garlic.
Brunch runs from 9am to 2pm and is a destination in itself: guacamole croissants topped with poached eggs and home-made tomato chutney, smash avo and rosti benedict, the full Morning Feast big breakfast, Bombay French toast with pistachio and grilled banana, hand-rolled parathas with raita, and chole bhature — golden fried bhature with spicy, tangy chickpeas. Wash it down with a Bombay local 'cutting' masala chai, a smoothie or a milkshake; there are breakfast cocktails too, from a prosecco mimosa to a classic bloody mary.
Come evening, the Spice & Sip bar steps up: signature cocktails inspired by the rich flavours of India, premium spirits and a sophisticated atmosphere for after-work or pre-dinner drinks. With its stunning interiors, the team positions Bombay Bistro as a backdrop for life's memorable occasions — and with reservations, online ordering for pickup and delivery, gift vouchers and a kids' menu, it flexes easily from family brunch to celebration dinner.
The kitchen takes extra care to accommodate allergies as humanly possible — dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free options are available across the menu, though diners with dietary requirements are asked to let the team know, as not every element can be traced. A 10% surcharge applies on public holidays.
Bombay Bistro Taupō is open every day, 9am to 10pm, at 24 Roberts Street. Book a table, order online, or simply wander in and follow the aroma of the tandoor.