More Than Two Decades of Bringing India to Lanzarote

For more than twenty years, the aroma of authentic Indian cuisine has been part of the holiday experience for countless visitors and residents across Lanzarote. What began as a single restaurant and a dream has grown into one of the island’s most recognisable restaurant groups, with five establishments serving guests across Lanzarote’s major resorts.

The story of the Zaffran Group is, above all, a family story.

When the Bhagwani brothers first arrived in Lanzarote in 1999, the island was a very different place. Tourism was growing rapidly and visitors from across Europe were discovering the unique beauty of Lanzarote, but authentic Indian cuisine was still something of a rarity.

Originally from Rajasthan, a region renowned around the world for its rich North Indian culinary traditions, they brought with them recipes, techniques and a passion for sharing the flavours they had grown up with. Recognising an opportunity to share the flavours and traditions of their homeland, the family opened their first restaurant in 1999. Their vision was simple: to offer high-quality Indian food, warm hospitality and an experience that would keep guests coming back time and time again. More than two decades later, that vision remains unchanged.

Today, the Zaffran Group includes Imagine India in Playa Blanca, Indian Aroma and Bollywood in Puerto del Carmen, Bollywood in Puerto Calero and Bollywood in Costa Teguise.

Together, the restaurants have welcomed generations of holidaymakers, local residents and returning customers who have made a visit part of their Lanzarote tradition.

The secret to their longevity has never been complicated. Quality ingredients, authentic recipes and genuine hospitality have always been at the heart of everything they do.

The family also holds a unique place in the island’s culinary history, having opened Lanzarote’s very first Indian restaurant in 1999. That pioneering step helped introduce authentic Indian cuisine to thousands of residents and visitors, paving the way for the popularity the cuisine enjoys on the island today.

Over the years, the restaurants have earned numerous awards and accolades, but the family takes just as much pride in the relationships they have built with their customers. Many guests who first discovered their food during a holiday have returned year after year, bringing friends, children and even grandchildren through the doors.

The restaurants have also become part of some of life’s most memorable occasions. From intimate celebrations and private parties to wedding receptions and large family gatherings, the team has catered for countless special events across the island. For many customers, the restaurants are associated with cherished memories as much as exceptional food.

Ask the family what has kept them motivated after all these years and the answer is remarkably simple: people. They have always viewed their restaurants as more than businesses. They are places where friendships are formed, stories are shared and guests are welcomed like family.

“Lanzarote is our home away from home,” they often say, and after more than twenty years on the island, it is clear that the feeling is mutual.

As the Zaffran Group celebrates this significant milestone, the family remains as passionate about Indian cuisine as they were when they first opened their doors in 1999. While much has changed over the years, their commitment to quality, service and hospitality continues to define everything they do.

For thousands of diners who have enjoyed a meal with them over the past two decades, that dedication is exactly why they keep coming back. And for the family behind the restaurants, the journey is far from over.