The best Indian restaurant in Melbourne — authentic Indian cuisine at Masti Fitzroy
Masti is an authentic Indian restaurant at 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC 3065. Led by Curry Queen Chef Manpreet Sekhon — trained in five-star hotel kitchens across Punjab for two decades, recognised by Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra, the Czar of Indian Cuisine. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm. Ten minutes from Melbourne CBD by Uber or direct tram on Routes 11 and 96.
Finding the best Indian restaurant in Melbourne is not simply a matter of finding the closest one to the CBD. It is a matter of finding the one where the food is made the way it was always meant to be made — with whole spices ground that morning, a live clay tandoor fired before service begins, and a chef who spent twenty years in Punjab's finest kitchens before bringing that knowledge to Melbourne. That restaurant is Masti. On Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, ten minutes from Melbourne CBD, Masti has been serving authentic Indian cuisine to Melbourne since 2020 — and building a reputation that every serious Indian food lover in the city eventually finds their way to.
Melbourne's Indian restaurant scene is one of the most diverse and exciting in Australia. From modern Indian fine dining in the CBD to street food-inspired fusion venues on Lygon Street Carlton and Little Bourke Street, the city offers more genuine choice than almost anywhere outside India itself. Within that landscape, Masti occupies a specific and irreplaceable position — the authentic North Indian original, the cuisine that inspired generations of Indian restaurants in Melbourne and around the world, served without compromise or contemporary adaptation.
"This is where the best Indian food in Melbourne begins — and it is not negotiable."
📍 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 — 10 minutes from Melbourne CBD 📞 (03) 9427 2121
🕔 Tue–Thu 5pm–9:30pm · Fri–Sat 5pm–10pm · Sun 5pm–9:30pm · Mon closed
Book your table now — walk-ins welcome.
Follow the neon lights and step inside our den Melbournians.
A modern Indian restaurant experience rooted in ancient tradition — Melbourne's neighbour on Brunswick Street
Masti is a modern Indian restaurant in the truest sense — not modern because it has reimagined Indian food through a contemporary lens, but modern because it brings the most authentic version of North Indian cuisine to Melbourne in 2026. The room is contemporary: exposed brick walls, moody pendant lighting, a striking mural, and the live clay tandoor visible from the dining area. The cooking is timeless: techniques unchanged for generations, ingredients sourced with care, and a menu that reads like a love letter to Punjab.
The restaurant sits on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy — one of Melbourne's great dining streets and a short Uber or tram ride from Melbourne CBD. Tram 11 and Tram 96 stop directly at the door. For Melbourne CBD diners looking for an Indian restaurant experience that goes beyond the precinct's modern interpretations, Masti is ten minutes away and worth every minute of the journey.
The live clay tandoor is the heart of Masti's kitchen. Running at 480 degrees Celsius from the moment service begins, it is the piece of equipment that separates authentic North Indian cooking from everything else in Melbourne's Indian restaurant landscape. Naan pressed onto the inner clay wall blisters, chars and peels off in 90 seconds. Chicken tikka placed on skewers inside seals instantly on contact with the heat. The smoke, the char, the specific texture — these are not effects that can be replicated with a gas oven or a conventional grill. They are the product of a specific vessel, a specific temperature, and a specific method that has been used in Punjab for centuries.
Chef flipping naan dough before placing it in a traditional tandoor at Masti Fitzroy, Melbourne — serving fresh vegan naan and a variety of authentic Indian Naans.
Authentic Indian food vs Australian-Indian fusion — the distinction Melbourne deserves in 2026
Melbourne's Indian restaurant scene includes a growing number of venues that describe themselves as "unauthentic" — a deliberately playful positioning that signals fusion cooking, Australian ingredients and contemporary interpretations of Indian classics. They represent one valid and exciting approach to Indian food in Australia.
Masti represents the other approach — and the older one. Authentic North Indian cuisine is the original that fusion restaurants draw their inspiration from. The butter chicken that Melbourne diners have grown up eating in various interpretations began as a specific dish from a specific region of India, made in a specific way. At Masti, it is still made that way — tomatoes charred over open flame, whole spices ground that morning, cooked in a live clay tandoor by a chef who learned this dish in Punjab, not in a culinary school.
For Melbourne diners who have explored the city's fusion Indian restaurants and want to understand what the original tastes like — Masti is where that journey ends. Not because fusion is wrong, but because there is no substitute for the real thing when you are ready for it. See our full menu here.
Masti serves diners from across Melbourne — including Carlton and Lygon Street,Brunswick,Collingwood,Richmond and Melbourne CBD. Brunswick Street Fitzroy is 10 minutes from the city by Uber or direct tram on Routes 11 and 96.
Masti dining room interior — exposed brick, pendant lighting, Instagram-worthy ambiance in Melbourne.
Fine dining Indian credentials — the chef behind every dish at Masti Melbourne
Every Indian restaurant in Melbourne has a chef. Not every Indian restaurant in Melbourne has a Curry Queen.
Chef Manpreet Sekhon trained in Punjab's five-star hotel kitchens for twenty years before opening a restaurant in Melbourne. Her cooking was recognised by Sanjeev Kapoor — India's most celebrated chef with over 60 million social media followers — and the late Jiggs Kalra, who spent his career documenting and elevating Indian fine dining for the world stage. She founded Eastern Spice in Geelong before opening Elchi in Melbourne's CBD and Masti in Fitzroy. Her work has been featured in Time Out Melbourne, Broadsheet, Good Food, Urban List and Eatability.
These are not marketing claims. They are a documented body of work that places Chef Manpreet Sekhon among the most credentialled Indian chefs in Australia. When Melbourne's Indian food community talks about fine dining credentials in an authentic North Indian kitchen — this is what they look like. Read her full story here.
"This restaurant is a serious cut above most Melbourne Indian restaurants. Masti raises the bar with unashamed authenticity of flavours, sophistication in technique, and exciting textures. The Amritsari fish is a must try — a dish fit for royals." — Verified reviewer
Chef Manpreet Sekhon, the Curry Queen, in the Masti kitchen on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne — serving smiles and authentic flavours.
Authentic Indian cuisine — the full menu at Masti Melbourne
Masti's menu is built around the core dishes of North Indian cuisine — not a pan-Indian collection attempting to represent every regional tradition simultaneously, but a focused, deeply executed celebration of Punjab's greatest contributions to Indian food. Every dish on the full menu is made from primary ingredients on the day it is served. Nothing arrives from a pouch. Nothing is reheated. Everything begins with a whole spice ground that morning
Masti Melbourne full menu spread — paneer tikka, seekh kebabs, dal makhani, fresh naan, and rice served on the table.
Tandoori dishes — from the live clay oven
Every tandoori dish at Masti is cooked in the live clay tandoor. The Amritsari fish — crispy, spiced, served with mint chutney — has become one of Masti's most talked-about dishes in Melbourne. The seekh kebabs, the chicken tikka, the malai kebabs — each is marinated, skewered and cooked at 480 degrees until the outside seals and the inside remains perfectly tender. These are the flavourful dishes that Melbourne's Indian food community keeps coming back for.
Traditional curries — the heart of Indian food
Masti's traditional curries are built from scratch every service. The butter chicken's tomatoes are charred over an open flame before the sauce begins — a step that adds depth of rich flavour that no pre-made base can replicate. The Dal Makhani has been cooking since the previous evening, the black lentils slowly absorbing the spices over hours. The lamb rogan josh, the chicken saag, the paneer makhani — traditional curries made by a chef who grew up eating them in Punjab and spent twenty years perfecting them in professional kitchens.
Masti traditional curries, Melbourne — butter chicken, dal makhani, authentic Indian cuisine.
The Indian cocktail bar — fine Indian drinking in Melbourne
Masti's Indian cocktail bar is the only venue in Melbourne's inner north pouring all three premium Indian single malts — Rampur from the Himalayas, Amrut from Bangalore, and Indri from Haryana. Ask for the tasting flight alongside your meal. The bar also serves original Indian-spiced cocktails — Turmeric Tommy's, Pink City, Mango Margarita — alongside wines and beer, crafted to complement the rich flavours on the plate.
Bartender at Masti Indian cocktail bar, Melbourne — serving Rampur, Amrut, and Indri single malts alongside crafted cocktails in Fitzroy.
Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan — Indian food for every diner
Masti is the only Indian restaurant in Melbourne baking vegan naan fresh in a live clay tandoor. The same oven, the same temperature, the same char and texture as the original — made without dairy alongside a full plant-based menu. The vegan menu includes Soya Chaap, Honey Chilli Cauliflower, Chickpea Vindaloo, Dal Tadka and Bhindi Do Pyaza. Every Tuesday is our vegan curry night — $28 per person for rotating plant-based curries with freshly baked vegan naan.
Dinner at an Indian restaurant in Melbourne — a full week at Masti
Masti is open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm. Five weekly specials run throughout the year — each built around a specific Indian food experience that gives Melbourne diners a genuine reason to visit on any night of the week.
Tuesday — Vegan Curry Night $28pp and Thali Night $28–$30pp — the complete Indian meal experience Wednesday — BYO Night, bring your own bottle. Thursday — Unlimited Kebabs and Beer $59pp for 90 minutes from the live clay tandoor Sunday — Amritsariya Affair, unlimited Chole Bhature and Lassi $25pp
For Melbourne diners looking for an Indian restaurant experience worth planning — the Thursday unlimited kebabs night is the one that gets talked about most. Ninety minutes, unlimited kebabs from a weekly-changing menu, unlimited Indian beer, the tandoor running at full temperature throughout. Book it by Tuesday. It fills quickly and for good reason.
The Sunday Amritsariya Affair at $25 per person is Melbourne's best value Indian food experience — unlimited Chole Bhature, rich Punjabi-style chickpea curry with puffed fried bread and refreshing lassi, served from 5pm every Sunday.
Vegan Curry Night and Thali Night every Tuesday at Masti, featuring vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian thalis. Vegan curries and vegan naans are also available every day at Masti.
Book a table at the best Indian restaurant in Melbourne — reservations and online ordering
Masti does not hold tables without a booking on peak nights. For Friday and Saturday evenings, book at least three to four days in advance. For Thursday unlimited kebabs, book by Tuesday of the same week. Walk-ins are always welcome on quieter nights — but for the full Masti experience on the night you want, booking ahead is the right move.
Booking a table takes less than 60 seconds online and you receive instant confirmation. For larger groups , email hello@eatdrinkmasti.com directly. Masti accommodates private events and functions for up to 70 guests, with the option to exclusively book the entire restaurant from $2,999 including a house DJ. Order online for takeaway at any time.
📍 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 — 10 minutes from Melbourne CBD 📞 (03) 9427 2121 ✉ hello@eatdrinkmasti.com 🕔 Tue–Thu 5pm–9:30pm · Fri–Sat 5pm–10pm · Sun 5pm–9:30pm · Mon closed
Book your table online → · Order online →
Getting to Melbourne's best Indian restaurant — from Carlton, CBD, Collingwood and beyond
Masti is on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy — ten minutes from Melbourne CBD by Uber, or a direct tram ride on Route 11 or Route 96 from the city centre. From Carlton and Lygon Street, Masti is five minutes by Uber or a short walk through Edinburgh Gardens. From Collingwood, five minutes. From Richmond, ten minutes. Street parking is available on Brunswick Street and surrounding streets from 6pm.
For Melbourne diners who have explored the Indian restaurant options across the CBD, Lygon Street Carlton and Little Bourke Street — the modern interpretations, the fusion venues, the street food concepts — and want to understand the cuisine those restaurants draw their inspiration from, Masti is ten minutes away. The trip is always worth making.
Masti light board on the corner of Brunswick and Kerr Street, Fitzroy — Melbourne’s most happening spot: Masti Indian Bar | Dine In | Take Away | Catering | Functions
Frequently asked questions — Indian restaurant Melbourne
What is the best Indian restaurant in Melbourne CBD?
Melbourne CBD has outstanding Indian dining — modern fine dining, contemporary fusion and pan-Indian restaurants. For the best nationally press-featured authentic Indian near Melbourne CBD, Masti on Brunswick Street Fitzroy is ten minutes from the city by Uber or direct tram. Led by Curry Queen Chef Manpreet Sekhon — recognised by Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra — featured in Time Out, Broadsheet and Good Food. Book here.
What is the difference between authentic Indian food and Australian-Indian fusion in Melbourne?
Australian-Indian fusion restaurants deliberately adapt Indian cuisine through a contemporary Australian lens — creative, playful and intentionally "unauthentic." Authentic Indian cuisine from north serves the original: whole spices ground daily, a live clay tandoor firing at 480 degrees, traditional curries built from scratch, cooking methods unchanged for generations. Masti serves the Punjab original — not fusion. For Melbourne diners who have enjoyed the city's fusion Indian scene and want to experience what it draws its inspiration from, Masti is ten minutes from the CBD. Book here.
Is there a good Indian restaurant near Lygon Street Carlton in Melbourne?
Yes — Masti is five minutes from Lygon Street Carlton by Uber or a short walk through Edinburgh Gardens. Authentic North Indian cuisine, live clay tandoor, Indian cocktail bar, open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm. book your table here.
What is the hardest restaurant to get into in Melbourne?
Melbourne's most in-demand bookings tend to be at hatted fine dining venues -Among Indian restaurants in Melbourne, Masti's Thursday unlimited kebabs night and Friday and Saturday evenings book out several days ahead. Book ahead here.
Is there any 3 Michelin star Indian restaurant?
The Michelin Guide does not operate in Australia so no Australian restaurant holds Michelin stars. The equivalent Australian recognition is the Chef's Hat award from the Australian Good Food Guide.
Who is the most famous Indian chef in Australia?
Chef Manpreet Sekhon — known as the Curry Queen — is among Australia's most credentialed Indian chefs, having trained in Punjab's five-star hotel kitchens for twenty years and received recognition from Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra. She opened Eastern Spice in Geelong, Elchi in Melbourne's CBD and Masti in Fitzroy. Featured across Time Out, Broadsheet, Good Food, Urban List and Eatability. Read her full story here.
What Indian food is Masti known for in Melbourne?
Masti is known for its live clay tandoor cooking — including Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan — authentic traditional curries including butter chicken and Dal Makhani, Amritsari fish, seekh kebabs, dosa, and the Thursday unlimited kebabs and beer experience at $59 per person for 90 minutes. See the full menu here.
Can I order online from Masti Indian restaurant Melbourne?
Yes — Masti offers online ordering for takeaway at masti-101308.square.site. For dine-in, book your table online here. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm at 354–356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne.
What makes Masti different from other Indian restaurants in Melbourne?
Masti serves authentic Indian cuisine — not contemporary interpretation or Australian-Indian fusion, but the original Indian cuisine Melbourne's Indian restaurant scene draws its inspiration from. A live clay tandoor at 480 degrees, whole spices ground fresh daily, Melbourne's only freshly baked vegan naan, all three premium Indian single malts, and a chef with twenty years of Punjab five-star hotel training recognised by India's most celebrated culinary figures. Read the full story here.
Masti Indian restaurant Melbourne — full dining room, guests dining, warm Fitzroy atmosphere at night