A perennial insider’s tip, Big Window has never gone far above the radar ever since its founding in 1967 by Ivan Arzou to showcase his familiarity with Armenian and Indian cuisine. Despite its relative obscurity, the restaurant has attracted prominent guests including Helmut Kohl, Barbara Becker, comedian Loriot and even the American sculptor Ed Kienholz over the course of its history.

The restaurant’s somewhat misleading name references neither any large windows nor its space, but rather its breadth of cuisine. Super-sized flame-grilled Armenian kebab and lamb dishes, themselves marinated and enhanced with Indian spices and herbs, are the famous signatures of the restaurant and have kept the dining room full for decades. Beware that visiting Big Window without a reservation is akin to playing the lotto, so plan your dining arrangements well in advance.