Silent Pool, Surrey Hills - Open Every Day
Mandira's Kitchen
Indian Street Food, Freshly cooked lunch, Afternoon Tea and chai next to the Silent Pool.
Walk-ins welcome. Booking advised at weekends, and needed for six or more.
- Today
- 10am until 5pm
- Seats
- 42 in, 170 out
- Parking
- Free, on site
- Afternoon tea
- £35, children £15
Like having your very own Indian Auntie fill your freezer with exquisite foods.
Where to find us
An old cowshed on the Albury Estate
There is an old cowshed on the Albury Estate, right by the Silent Pool, next to the gin distillery and the vineyard, and a short walk from the North Downs Way. That is us.
The café overlooks the water, with seating inside the barn and out on the patio facing the Surrey Hills. People come after a walk, before the distillery, or for the afternoon and nothing else. Free parking, and the dog is welcome.
We serve Indian street food, chai, coffee, cakes and Indian afternoon tea, on a menu that changes with what is good that week.
Have a proper look
The café, the barn and the table
Pictures of the actual place. Tap a thumbnail to see each one.
The menu
What we serve
Everything is made from scratch in our kitchen at Silent Pool every morning. Street food, served as it is ready. Bold flavour, not a rigid three-course format.
Every dish is listed with its allergens. Allergen information (PDF), or just ask us when you order.
Served every day, 12pm to 4pm
Indian Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea the way we would make it at home. Masala and cardamom scones with rose jam and clotted cream, a savoury tier out of our own kitchen, and bottomless masala chai.
Savouries
Bombay bhel, cocktail samosas and a selection of sandwiches from our kitchen.
Scones
Masala and cardamom scones with rose jam, clotted cream, and tomato and date chutney.
Sweet Fancies
Chocolate-dipped laddus with freeze-dried raspberries, gajar halwa triangles, and mini gulab jamun tartlets with cardamom cream and pistachio.
To Drink
Mango lassi shots, and bottomless masala chai or Darjeeling.
Vegetarian is the same price, with paneer in place of chicken.
Afternoon tea menu (PDF)
·
Kids tea menu (PDF)
Pre-booking recommended. Gluten-free with advance notice, so tell us when you book. We cannot currently do a vegan version.
Private hire
Take the barn for the evening
Birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties, away days and client dinners. We do the food, the bar and the room, and you get the water and the Surrey Hills for a backdrop. Exclusive use is available on request.
What people hire us for
Tell us the date and the numbers and we will come back with menus and a proper quote, usually the same day.
In the barn
Events and cookery experiences
Evenings and workshops we run ourselves, near Albury and just outside Guildford. Most sell out, so book ahead.
Soap Making Workshop
Craft natural cold process soaps with kitchen-inspired botanicals and warming spices.
Easy Indian - Cookery Experience
A 4-hour Indian cooking session for those ready to go beyond basic stirring.
Beer, Curry and Quiz Evening
Local beer, artisan curry and a quiz, every last Friday of the month.
Biriyani Magic Workshop
A 90-minute masterclass, because rice in curry is not biriyani, however hopeful. Free biriyani kit included.
4.7★ from 850+ reviews
People keep coming back
★★★★★The outside setting overlooking Silent Pool is lovely. The staff were excellent and the food was delicious, so flavoursome and every plate was emptied.
William B.Tripadvisor
★★★★★Such an interesting place, beautifully presented. Food was delicious and staff very friendly and attentive. Also bought lots of interesting goodies to take home as gifts.
Sheila FrenchGoogle
★★★★★The food is delicious and so different from the usual curry houses. We come here after family walks in the Surrey Hills and are never disappointed.
Google reviewGoogle
★★★★★We've visited a few times and always have a great experience. The food is really good and the staff couldn't be nicer. The views are also beautiful.
Google reviewGoogle
Before you set off
Plan your visit
| Monday | 10am until 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10am until 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am until 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am until 5pm |
| Friday | 10am until 5pm |
| Saturday | 10am until 6pm |
| Sunday | 10am until 5pm |
Last orders from the cafe are half an hour before closing. Opening hours during public holidays may vary.
Finding us
Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9BW
From Guildford about 10 minutes by car, on the A25 towards Dorking. From London around an hour. Nearby Silent Pool Gin distillery, the Albury Estate vineyard and the North Downs Way. Parking free, in the Silent Pool car park. Please register your vehicle at the machine in the car park on arrival when you spend £10 or more.Call us on 01483 940789
or email enquiries@mandiraskitchen.com
Good questions
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly are you?
Mandira's Kitchen is at Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9BW. We are in a converted cowshed on the Albury Estate, next to the Silent Pool gin distillery and the vineyard, about ten minutes from Guildford and an hour from London. Free parking is available in the Silent Pool car park. Please register your vehicle at the machine in the car park on arrival when you spend £10 or more.
Do I need to book a table?
Walk-ins are welcome. We are small and get busy, so we do recommend booking at weekends. For groups of six or more, and for any private hire, please book with us directly on 01483 940789 or at enquiries@mandiraskitchen.com.
What are your opening hours?
We are open every day. Sunday to Friday, 10am until 5pm. Saturday, 10am until 6pm. Last orders from the cafe are half an hour before closing. Opening hours during public holidays may vary.
How much is Indian afternoon tea, and do I need to book?
Indian afternoon tea is £35 per person and £15 for children, with a Prosecco upgrade at £7.50 per person. Vegetarian is the same price, with paneer in place of chicken. It is served every day, 12pm to 4pm, and pre-booking is recommended. We can do gluten-free with advance notice, so tell us when you book. We cannot currently do a vegan version.
Can I hire the café for a private event?
Yes. We seat 42 inside, 50 on the covered patio and up to 120 outside without cover. People hire us for birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties, corporate away days, client entertaining, supper clubs and team building. Fill in the enquiry form on this page and we will come back with dates, menus and a quote, usually the same day.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, dogs are welcome, both on the patio and inside the barn. A lot of our regulars arrive straight off the North Downs Way with one.
Is it suitable for children and pushchairs?
Yes. We have high chairs, baby changing facilities and a children's menu, and there is plenty of room outside.
Is Mandira’s Kitchen wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance and inside café are step-free and accessible by wheelchair. We also have a wheelchair-accessible toilet. The upper patio is reached by three steps and is not currently step-free but the lower patio accessed through the gate is step free.
Is there disabled parking?
Yes. Designated disabled parking spaces are available at Silent Pool Distillery, immediately beyond Mandira’s Kitchen.
Do you have vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options?
Plenty of vegetarian, and a good number of vegan dishes including the bhel puri and the spiced crackers. Gluten-free is more limited and varies with the week's menu, so do ring ahead if it matters. For afternoon tea we can do gluten-free with advance notice, but not a vegan version. Full allergen information is available in the café and on request.
What happens at weekends?
At weekends we push the menu further. Premium thalis change every week and run Friday to Sunday only, along with the gulab jamun cheesecake. Instagram and Facebook have whatever is fresh that week.
Can I buy the food to take home?
Yes. Our Indian ready meals are on sale in the shop here at Silent Pool, and we deliver them across the UK, free on orders over £75.
Come and find us by the water
Open every day at Silent Pool. Chai and a pakora, a long lunch on the patio, or the whole barn to yourself.