Top 10 Culinary Arts Colleges in India

With so many schools around India offering culinary courses, choosing the best one can be a bit confusing. Don’t worry, we have done some digging and here’s a list of 10 top culinary colleges in India, written not in a robotic way but like how I’d explain it to a friend. Read further to know more.

Top 10 Culinary Arts Colleges in India

So, you’re thinking of getting into Culinary Arts? That’s awesome. But before diving into the kitchen (figuratively speaking), it’s super important to pick the right college or institute. With so many schools around India offering culinary courses, choosing the best one can be a bit confusing. Don’t worry I’ve done some digging and here’s a list of 10 top culinary colleges in India, written not in a robotic way but like how I’d explain it to a friend.

1. Culinary Academy of India (CAI), Hyderabad

Started in: 1996

Tied with: Osmania University

One of the most famous culinary academies in India is this and people swear by it. The academy has 7 different types of kitchens (I didn’t even know that was a thing lol), and even a mock cruise ship kitchen. They focus a lot on cruise line jobs and some students get placed overseas too, which is kinda cool. Candidates can check popoluar courses in culinary arts are:

Popular Courses:

• BA in Culinary Arts
• PG Diploma in Culinary Arts
• Bakery & Continental Cuisine Short Courses

Also Read: Hospitality Diploma Courses After 12th: Courses, Duration, Career Opportunities

2. IHM Pusa, Delhi

Under: NCHMCT (that's like the national hospitality body)

IHM Pusa is always at the top of hotel management rankings, and while it’s not purely culinary-only, its food production program is amazing. Chefs here are super experienced and the alumni work everywhere—from Taj hotels to cruise liners.

Courses:

• BSc. in Hospitality + Specialisation in Culinary
• Food Production Short-Term Course

Also Read: Travel and Tourism Courses After 12th: UG/PG, Diploma & Certificate Courses, Eligibility & Career Opportunities

3. IHM Mumbai

Also under NCHMCT, IHM Mumbai has an awesome reputation too. It's in Mumbai so students get exposure to real hotel kitchens and industry professionals more often. Some say it’s a bit strict, but the results show.

Courses:

• BSc. in Hospitality
• Craftsmanship Course in Food Production

Also Read: Hotel Management Courses After 10th: Admission Process, Colleges, Fees 

4. WGSHA Manipal (Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Admin)

Backed by: ITC Hotels

Affiliation: Manipal University

They offer both hotel and culinary degrees. What makes them stand out is their real focus on practical kitchen training from first year itself. Also, students get internships in 5-star kitchens all across India.

Courses:

• BA in Culinary Arts
• Hotel Management Program (BHM)

5. IICA, Delhi (International Institute of Culinary Arts)

One of the few independent culinary schools that feels international is IICA, Delhi. They’re partnered with City & Guilds UK. The kitchens are modern, and they even host international food weeks where you get to try your hand at dishes from different countries.

Courses:

• Pro Chef Diplomas
• Bakery & Pastry Diploma
• Short-Term Hobby Cooking Classes (they’re fun too)

Also Read: Event Management Courses After Graduation: Duration, Eligibility, Career Opportunities, and Leading Institutes

6. Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts, Pune

University: Symbiosis International

One of the newer schools in this list but already making waves. They’re not just about cooking—there’s a strong entrepreneurship element, like they teach you how to build your own restaurant or cloud kitchen.

Courses:

• BSc. in Culinary Arts
• BSc. in Hospitality & Culinary Management

7. Amrapali Institute of Hotel Management, Haldwani

It’s a great choice if you’re in North India and want value-for-money education. Less flashy than the big city ones but still gives solid kitchen experience and decent placements.

Courses:

• BSc. in Hotel Admin
• Short-Term Cooking Skills Programs

8. Academy of Pastry Arts, Gurgaon

If baking is your thing—like if you’re more into macarons and chocolate sculptures than biryani—then this place is amazing. They bring in pastry chefs from Europe and Malaysia sometimes for guest classes.

Courses:

• Professional Pastry Chef Diploma
• Advanced Bakery Program

9. Indian School of Hospitality (ISH), Gurgaon

This one is super fancy. ISH Gurgaon partnered with École Ducasse (France), which is one of the biggest names in the culinary world. Their kitchens are literally state-of-the-art and students get lots of international exposure.

Courses:

• BA (Hons) Culinary Arts
• Short Professional Diplomas

10. Oberoi Centre of Learning & Development (OCLD), Delhi NCR

Okay, this is not easy to get into. But if you do, you’re set for life (kinda). Oberoi trains their chefs from scratch and you pretty much end up working for the Oberoi chain after. It’s super competitive, but also super worth it.

Courses:

• Kitchen Operations Management Program
• Internal Chef Training Tracks

Important Points While Choosing Culinary Institute

Not all schools are equal—check if the faculty have worked in real hotels or just taught in classrooms.

• Visit the college if you can, especially the kitchen labs.
• Ask about placements. Some places talk big but don’t place you anywhere.
• Think about what you want—pastry, Indian cuisine, global gourmet, etc. Different schools focus on diff things.

Going into culinary arts is exciting, but it’s hard work. You’ll be on your feet a lot, it gets hot (literally) in the kitchen, and you need to love what you do. If that sounds like your vibe, then pick a good school, practice daily, and learn from every mistake you make—burnt cake included.