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I’ve lived in East London for over 15 years, and I still manage to get lost in the narrow side streets around Bank. It’s a culinary treasure trove, a maze of high-end restaurants standing shoulder to shoulder, each one vying for the attention of London’s young and hungry future millionaires. It’s a playground for bankers, lawyers, and investors, a mecca for upscale dinners, slick business meetings, romantic dates, and those nights when only a high-end, high-impact restaurant will do.

If you find yourself strolling the pedestrian streets behind Bank Station, on a summer evening, prepare for some of the finest people-watching London has to offer. The City’s financial and legal elite spill out onto terraces and patios, unwinding with wine, cocktails, and small plates enjoying the cool evening breeze. Tucked away in the maze is Angel Court, which hosts some heavy hitters including Peruvian Coya and meat heavy Temper. Just behind a stately stone façade, inside an imposing and venerable building, you’ll find Mint Leaf, a chic, upscale Indian restaurant and bar.

The interior is dark, moody, and masculine which is a welcome relief from the heat outside. The cocktail bar is already buzzing when I arrive. A group is celebrating with drinks and canapés. I imagine perhaps, that they’ve just closed a deal that netted them millions. Whatever the celebration, the mood is buoyant. Behind the bar, the mixologists are in full swing, shaking and stirring with flair. Their signature drinks are more than just clever names; they’re stories in a glass.

There’s the Darjeeling Express, made with Aperol, elderflower, lemon, and Darjeeling tea. It’s a crisp, fragrant opener with a citrus bite. The Hanging Garden honours Nishat Bagh and the Dal Lake beneath the Pir Panjal mountain range. It’s a complex blend of whiskey, mango, coconut syrup, mint, pineapple, and lemon, with a smoky twist. Then there’s Volcanic Spice: a bold mix of Scotch, spiced syrup, lemon, and edible charcoal. It looks like lava in a glass and tastes as dramatic as it sounds. I settled for a twist on my favourite : Banana Old Fashioned. Just add banana liquor and chocolate bitters to bourbon and you’ve got heaven in a glass!

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The restaurant itself is tucked off to one side of the lively bar and is more subdued and peaceful. Think dark woods, neutral tones, and golden glow lighting. Our waiter tells us this impressive building was once a functioning bank, before Mint Leaf Lounge opened there in 2008. It’s the sister to the original Mint Leaf in Haymarket, which closed its doors in 2018.

And then came the food. One colourful dish after another. The kitchen was firing on all cylinders, save for one misstep. The Dakshini Kannada Fry, a coastal Indian-style crispy squid dish, landed flat. We both found it bland and chewy. But that was the only misfire of the night.

The Crispy Kekda, on the other hand, was delicious. Indian-inspired soft-shell crab with a glorious crunch and a well-balanced spice. The Zafrani Jheenga (saffron-infused prawns) were tender and fragrant, though they could have done with an extra kick of heat. The Pindi Choley, a chickpea curry, hit all the right notes: spicy, tangy, and comforting. But the standout dish? The Dal Makhani. A slow-cooked black lentil stew, creamy and buttery, exactly as promised on the menu. But they undersell it. It was to-die-for delicious. So velvety and rich. And at just £9, it was also the best value dish of the night by a mile.

Let’s be honest, Mint Leaf isn’t the place to hunt for bargains. Most mains run north of £20, and it’s easy to run up a hefty bill here. But the quality shines through. Every dish tastes fresh, and there’s a clear commitment to seasonal, locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

The wine list is extensive, with plenty of options for any palette. We went with a bottle of Chablis at £62 which was typically crisp, elegant, and a good match for the fragrant spices of the food.

We kept dessert simple. Rather than opt for a Western-style pudding, we chose a trio of Indian classics: Gulab Jamun, a warm, sticky, spiced sponge soaked in syrup; Cinnamon Ice Cream, delicate with warm spice and smooth as silk; and Basundi, a sweet, creamy Indian milk pudding that rounded off the evening with a touch of indulgence.

Mint Leaf is a City spot that knows its audience: polished, well-heeled, and discerning. But it’s more than a place to impress clients or mark anniversaries. It’s a celebration of Indian cuisine done with flair and finesse and certainly worth getting lost in Bank for.