Sultan's Palace on Victoria Street has been named Liverpool's best restaurant at the 15th Annual English Curry Awards 2026. The award was presented at a ceremony hosted by the Oceanic Awards at the Grand Station in Wolverhampton on Monday, August 10, and led by television and radio presenter Tommy Sandhu.
A 26-Year Legacy in Liverpool
Owners Rajesh Acharya and Kaviraj Sharma spoke to the ECHO about the win. Rajesh, 52, from Moreton, highlighted the restaurant's long history: "What makes Sultan's Palace particularly distinctive is its long history in Liverpool. The restaurant has been part of the city's food scene for 26 years, while many other restaurants have come and gone during that time."
He added: "Remarkably, the architecture and interior of Sultan's Palace have remained largely unchanged throughout those 26 years, preserving the character and atmosphere that customers have known for generations."
Rajesh also noted the intergenerational appeal: "That connection with generations of customers is something we are particularly proud of. We have now had three generations of families come through our doors. Grandparents who once brought their children to Sultan's Palace now see those children bringing their own children. It has become a tradition for many families, and we hope it will continue for many more generations to come."
Family-Run and Chef-Owned
Sultan's Palace is a family-run restaurant established in Liverpool in 2000. Rajesh and Kaviraj, both originally from Nepal, are the owners and also the chefs, with decades of combined culinary experience. They started their careers as chefs and were working at Sultan's Palace when the opportunity arose to acquire the business, which they took over in May 2021 during the hospitality industry's recovery from COVID-19.
Since taking over, they have built on the restaurant's reputation and, in five years, have received several awards, including North Chef of the Year for both Rajesh and Kaviraj at the 12th English Curry Awards in 2023, followed by the recent Best Restaurant of Liverpool award at the 2026 English Curry Awards.
Inspired by a Mughal Palace
Kaviraj, 62, from Bootle, explained the name's significance: "The name Sultan's Palace reflects the concept behind the restaurant. A Sultan is a king, so Sultan's Palace means the King's Palace, and the design is inspired by the grandeur of a Mughal palace." He added: "The intention has always been to give guests the feeling of dining inside a palace, creating an experience that combines Indian food, culture and atmosphere."
The venue beat Waterloo's Da Mount Gurkha, which was recognised for its excellence, and Victoria Street's Ikkayees Indian Restaurant, which received an Outstanding Award, to win the title.
Yasmin Mahmood, CEO of Oceanic Awards, said: "Celebrating 15 years of the English Curry Awards is a fantastic milestone. The curry industry is built on passion, hard work, family and an incredible commitment to hospitality, and these awards give us the opportunity to recognise the people who make it so special." She added: "The standard this year has been exceptional, and we would like to congratulate every winner, Outstanding Award recipient and those Recognised for Excellence. Their achievements are a testament to the strength and diversity of the curry industry across England."
