Summary
A Restaurant Manager works in the hospitality and tourism industry, where the product is the guest's experience and consistency is everything. In India this work sits inside the Culinary Arts stream: students usually take Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) in Class 11–12, qualify through Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject, and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Guest-handling and calm under pressure
- Operational planning and costing
- Team leadership on the floor
- Presentation and hygiene discipline
Where you can work
- Hotels, resorts and restaurant chains
- Airlines, cruise lines and railways catering
- Travel companies, tour operators and event firms
- Own restaurant, cloud kitchen or travel business
Professional Opportunities
Hotels, resorts and restaurant chains
Airlines, cruise lines and railways catering
Travel companies, tour operators and event firms
Own restaurant, cloud kitchen or travel business
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject | 3–4 years |
| After Graduation | Master's degree / PG diploma in a specialisation | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | M.Phil. / Ph.D. for research and teaching roles | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Pusa, New Delhi | NCHMCT JEE | ihmpusa.net |
| 2 | Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Mumbai | NCHMCT JEE | ihmctan.edu |
| 3 | Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bengaluru | NCHMCT JEE | ihmbangalore.kar.nic.in |
| 4 | Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ahmedabad | NCHMCT JEE | ihmahmedabad.com |
| 5 | Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal | WGSHA Entrance | manipal.edu |
| 6 | Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad | IHM-A Entrance | ihma.ac.in |
| 7 | Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad | Institute Test | cai.ac.in |
| 8 | Institute of Bakery and Culinary Arts (IBCA), Gurugram | Institute Test | ibca.edu.in |
| 9 | Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Gurugram and Bengaluru | Institute Test | apcaindia.com |
| 10 | Christ University, Bengaluru — Hotel Management | Christ Entrance | christuniversity.in |
| 11 | Amity School of Hospitality, Noida | Amity Test | amity.edu |
| 12 | Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts, Pune | SET | sscapune.edu.in |
| 13 | Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati | NCHMCT JEE | ici.nic.in |
| 14 | Indian Culinary Institute, Noida | NCHMCT JEE | ici.nic.in |
| 15 | Institute of Hotel Management, Gwalior | NCHMCT JEE | ihmgwalior.net |
| 16 | Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Chandigarh | NCHMCT JEE | ihmchandigarh.org |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | www.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Harvard University | United States | www.harvard.edu/ |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca/ |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | www.unimelb.edu.au/ |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | www.nus.edu.sg/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCHMCT JEE | National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination | B.Sc Hospitality and Hotel Administration at IHMs. | nchmjee.nta.nic.in |
| IHM State CET | State Institute of Hotel Management Entrance | Diploma and degree culinary programmes. | gujacpc.admissions.nic.in |
| CUET-UG | Common University Entrance Test (UG) | BA / B.Sc Culinary Arts at central universities. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| IHM-A Culinary Entrance | Institute of Hotel Management Aurangabad Admission Test | BA Culinary Arts programme. | ihma.ac.in |
| WGSHA Entrance | Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration Test | BHM and Culinary Arts programmes. | manipal.edu |
| City & Guilds Certification | City and Guilds International Culinary Certification | Globally recognised culinary skill certification. | cityandguilds.com |
Work Description
- 01Plan the day's service, staffing, stock and set-up.
- 02Deliver the service or product to the property's quality standard.
- 03Handle guest requests, complaints and special requirements on the spot.
- 04Control cost, wastage, hygiene and safety standards.
- 05Train and supervise junior staff during the shift.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fast promotions for people who perform on the floor
- Genuine international placement opportunities
- Entrepreneurship is realistic after a few years
Cons
- Long shifts, weekends and festival duty
- Physically tiring and guest-facing pressure
- Entry pay is modest before supervisory roles
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Restaurant Manager matches your interests and aptitude.