Reviewed by Daniel · El Albir resident since 2007 · Updated November 2026 · Write to meBay Leaf is the Indian and Nepalese restaurant on Calle Ruperto Chapí. It’s not the biggest or the flashiest in Albir, but it has something few manage: customers who come back year after year and say it’s always just as good. Here’s what’s worth knowing before you go.
What Bay Leaf is
It’s an Indian and Nepalese restaurant with a family feel and a broad menu of curries at different spice levels. It has a terrace and a set lunch menu, which is one of the cheapest ways to try it.
What you’ll find on the table
Bay Leaf mixes Indian and Nepalese cooking, and you can see it on the menu: the usual curries sit alongside dishes from Nepal, a cuisine that’s more aromatic than hot.
The spice scale. It’s the first thing to understand at an Indian. The same ingredients can be served mild or very hot, and here they let you choose. If it’s your first time, order medium. If you overdo it, raita, a fresh yoghurt sauce, puts out the fire better than water.
Shashlik and tikka. Tikka is diced meat marinated in yoghurt and spices and grilled. Shashlik adds peppers and onion, like a kebab. They’re among the most ordered dishes in the house.
The Nepalese side. Nepalese cooking uses less fat than Indian and relies more on slow stews and spices toasted at the end. If you want to try something different from the usual curry, ask which Nepalese dishes they have that day.
The set lunch menu. At lunchtime it’s the cheapest way to try it, with several set courses at a fixed price.
If you arrive hungry. Pakora to start, a curry or a shashlik each, pilau rice and cheese or onion naan to share. That way you try everything without over-ordering.
What to order
Chicken tikka shashlik. One of the dishes regulars mention most.
Chilli chicken. For anyone after something with character.
Lamb curry and mixed grill. The classics for those who come back every holiday.
Pakora, pilau rice and cheese or onion naan. The sides that round off the table. Order raita too if the heat gets to you.
How much it costs
It’s in Albir’s mid range, between €15 and €35 per person (approximate price). The set lunch menu is the cheapest option. Reviews highlight the good value for money again and again.
Location, opening hours and bookings
It’s at Calle Ruperto Chapí, 9. It’s open at lunchtime and in the evening, but on Wednesdays it only serves dinner. The phone number is 865 671 139. In high season, book ahead.
What the ratings say
On GastroRanking it scores 8.2 out of 10 from more than 700 reviews, and on other platforms it averages around 4.7 out of 5. Some customers consider it the best Indian in the whole area and visit several times in the same holiday. People praise the cleanliness, the attentive service and the consistency: what you eat one year is what you eat the next.
Where it falls short
The odd bad night. Among many good reviews there’s the occasional very negative one, with slow service and a weak curry. They’re isolated cases, but they exist.
Wednesday lunchtime. It’s easy to turn up and find it closed. Remember that on that day it only opens in the evening.
Local’s tips
If you want to try it without spending much, go at lunchtime for the set menu. If you sit outside in summer, don’t be surprised if they put a mosquito repellent on the table: it’s a house touch customers appreciate. And if you’re unsure about the spice, order medium.
Frequently asked questions
Which day is Bay Leaf closed?
It doesn’t close for a full day, but on Wednesdays it only opens in the evening.
Does it have a set lunch menu?
Yes, at lunchtime.
Is it Indian or Nepalese food?
Both: it has Indian and Nepalese dishes, and you choose the spice level.
Where is Bay Leaf?
At Calle Ruperto Chapí, 9. Phone: 865 671 139.
To finish
Bay Leaf is the Indian you can trust: no fireworks, but a consistency few restaurants in Albir can boast of.
If you want to compare it with other options, my guide to restaurants in El Albir by what you’re looking for has every place with its closing day and approximate price. If you’re on a tight budget, take a look at my tips for eating cheaply in El Albir, and if you’re coming by car, check where to park in El Albirbefore you go. For everything else, go back to the El Albir guide told by a local.
Prices, opening hours and ratings are approximate, checked against public listings and customer reviews in November 2026. They may change: confirm with the restaurant before you go.
I'm Daniel and I've lived in El Albir since 2007. LiveinAlbir.com started because so many people would stop me in the street to ask where to eat, where to stay, which areas are worth it and what living here is really like.
Questions about El Albir? Write to me and I will get back to you.
