Mysuru’s non-vegetarian dining is broad enough that a single “best hotel” answer is misleading. A traveller looking for a quick local palav near the market is choosing between a very different experience from a family wanting a garden dinner, a barbecue buffet, seafood or a hotel dining room close to the Palace. Start with the cuisine, neighbourhood and the kind of service you need. The establishments below are current, identifiable places rather than a ranked promise that every kitchen performs identically every day.
For Mysuru-style palav and a market-area meal
Hotel Hanumanthu is the most direct starting point for visitors specifically seeking Hanumanthu palav and traditional non-vegetarian dishes. Its own site places it near Chikka Market in Mandi Mohalla, near Mandi Market, and describes both dine-in and takeaway. That makes it a practical daytime food stop for someone already around the market and old city rather than a destination chosen for a long, relaxed evening. Daily preparation is part of the appeal, but it also means dishes and availability can change. Ask what has been cooked that day, how spicy it is, and whether a particular meat dish is still available before committing to a large order.
For barbecue, groups and predictable seating
Barbeque Nation in Jayalakshmipuram is a useful option when the priority is group seating and a barbecue-led meal rather than a small local mess. Its current listing places it among Mysuru barbecue restaurants and identifies the Jayalakshmipuram location. This is the category to consider for mixed groups, people who want several courses, or visitors who prefer a table reservation to deciding from a short daily menu. Check whether the desired service is buffet, à la carte or a special event before going, because those formats change the value calculation and the time needed at the table.
Pool Bar & Grill at Radisson Blu Plaza Mysore is another higher-service barbecue and international option. The hotel places its dining close to Mysuru Palace; its all-day restaurant also lists tandoor and international dishes, while Mysouth offers South Indian food with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. A hotel venue makes sense when reliable parking, air-conditioning, a longer table service and dietary clarification matter more than a budget local meal. It is not the same price band as a market hotel, so request the current menu or buffet terms first.
Garden, resort and multi-cuisine choices
Olive Garden at Windflower Resort & Spa is an open-air restaurant with a broad menu that specifically includes non-vegetarian tandoor, Indian chicken, mutton and seafood, as well as wok and continental preparations. It is a better match for an evening where ambience, a varied menu and a slower meal matter. Seafood deserves a direct question: ask what fish or prawn dish is available that day and whether it is a starter or main course. “Seafood” on a large menu does not guarantee every listed item will be available.
Pergola Restaurant is another multi-cuisine, garden-lawn option that lists a non-veg thali and biryani alongside North Indian, South Indian and Chinese dishes. It is useful for groups in which some diners want a thali while others want noodles or tandoor items. The Loft at The Atrium Hotel is explicitly described by the hotel as a bar and multi-cuisine non-vegetarian restaurant, which makes it a reasonable choice for a central hotel-meal format. Royal Inn also lists vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian, Continental and tandoori choices; it is a practical fallback when the party needs a conventional multi-cuisine menu rather than one signature dish.
Hotel dining close to tourist areas
For travellers staying around the Palace and Ittige Gudu, location can matter as much as cuisine. Ignite at Hotel Grand Serene publishes a non-vegetarian menu with chicken soups, chicken dishes and Mysore chicken curry near Vasantha Mahal Road, Ittige Gudu. Its displayed menu is useful as a style and price-band signal, but individual dishes and rates can change. Radisson Blu’s dining is another Palace-area choice, particularly if the group wants tandoor, international plates or a South Indian menu with non-vegetarian options in a formal hotel setting.
Arcor Mysore offers three distinct hotel formats: an all-day spread with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, Tropika resto-pub for bar snacks and shareable plates, and Love Story rooftop restaurant, whose menu description includes grilled seafood, pizzas and Indian classics. Pick the venue for the occasion: rooftop dining for an evening view, a pub for drinks and small plates, or all-day dining for a broader mixed group. Ask about age rules, table timing and whether the rooftop is operating in poor weather rather than assuming a listed venue is open in every condition.
How to choose safely and spend sensibly
Hygiene is best judged in the moment. Look for clean tables, covered water, hot food arriving hot and staff who can explain preparation and allergens. For chicken, meat, fish and prawns, ask for a replacement if food is lukewarm or appears undercooked; do not rely on extra chilli to mask a problem. Tell the server about allergies, especially shellfish, dairy, nuts or gluten, and do not assume that a menu label captures shared fryers or sauces. Reserve ahead for weekend dinners, hotel restaurants, rooftops and larger groups; call again shortly before leaving if the meal is time-sensitive.
A practical short list
- Choose Hotel Hanumanthu in Mandi Mohalla for a local palav-focused stop.
- Choose Barbeque Nation in Jayalakshmipuram for a group barbecue format.
- Choose Olive Garden for a garden/resort setting and a wide non-vegetarian menu.
- Choose Pergola, Royal Inn or The Loft when a mixed multi-cuisine group needs flexible ordering.
- Choose Ignite, Radisson Blu or Arcor when you want hotel service near tourist areas, tandoor, seafood or a rooftop/premium setting.
The right answer is therefore the restaurant whose current menu, location, service pace and price band fit the meal in front of you. Confirm availability and current terms directly before travelling across town.