The wonderful moment when former Rishi and Murkata Sunak (two people far too decent for politics) lit lamps outside 10 Downing Street to celebrate Diwali, it was clear how much the festival of lights has become part of the tapestry of life in this country. As background, Diwali is is associated with the spiritual victory or triumph of Dharma over Adharma, light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. I would like to add ot that the triumph of good food over bad, as in keeping with most Indian festivities, food is front and centre during the festival!
So as we approach this year’s Diwali you can take it justification (as if one is needed….) to book in for a special Diwali supper, and we recommend some of our favourite places in London for such a night.
KOKUM, East Dulwich
This really is a very special place, and worth visiting whether or not you are fortunate, or have the monetary fortune, to live in Dulwich. Founded by former Gymkhana Head Chef Sanjay Gour, KOKUM will celebrate Diwali this year with a limited-edition feasting menu, priced at £45 per person and designed to be shared.
The menu brings together some of KOKUM’s favourites alongside more creative dishes including Crispy Spinach & Kale Chaat, Paneer Tikka Angara, Pani Puri, and Achari Chicken Tikka all to start. Mains include KOKUM’s Butter Chicken, the Dal Makhani, and two other curries for the table to feast on, served with a selection of rice and breads, followed by Mango & Cardamom Shrikhand for dessert.
Alongside the Diwali menu, KOKUM will also be serving Nani’s Nightcap, a creamy boozy Diwali cocktail special made with vanilla ice cream, Baileys, vodka, vanilla, and a secret homemade masala blend of Indian spices. Think dessert, but with a little extra mischief.
The Diwali menu will be available from 3rd November to 8th November and includes the following dishes:
Pani Puri
Crisp puri, avocado & pea, tamarind, mint, spiced pani
Crispy Spinach & Kale Chaat
Crisp greens, cooling yoghurt, tamarind, mint, sev, pomegranate
Paneer Tikka Angara
Charred paneer, smoked peppers, kasundi mustard, mint & coriander chutney
Achari Chicken Tikka
Charred chicken, pickling spices, guava chaat, chilli, fresh mint
Butter Chicken
Tandoor cooked chicken marinated in chilli & yoghurt, tomato & fenugreek sauce
Kadai Paneer
Paneer & peppers, kadai masala, tomato, ginger, fresh coriander
Kerala Vegetable Ishtu
Seasonal vegetables, coconut, curry leaf, ginger, green chilli
Dal Makhani
Slow-cooked black lentils, tomato, butter, smoked chilli
Basmati rice, garlic naan, tandoori roti
Mango & Cardamom Shrikhand
Whipped yoghurt, mango, cardamom, saffron, pistachio
KOKUM, 58-60 East Dulwich Road, Southwark, London, SE22 9AX, United Kingdom
Phone: 02035511883 – Email: [email protected] – KOKUM
The Cinnamon Collection
Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Collection restaurants also celebrate the Festival of Lights this November, with menus embodying the spirit of Diwali through modern Indian dishes, celebratory cocktails and seasonal sweets.
From fine-dining in a Grade II-listed library to colourful eight-course bazaar feasts with complimentary cocktails, each restaurant invites diners to gather together with family and friends to celebrate.
Menus run from 19th October to 14th November 2026 starting from £39pp.
Cinnamon Bazaar Covent Garden | Eight-Dish Sharing Feast, £39pp (min 2, including a cocktail)
Inspired by the colourful marketplaces of India, Cinnamon Bazaar Covent Garden celebrates Diwali with an eight-course feast packed with vibrant flavours, alongside a complimentary Diwali-inspired cocktail. Dishes include tandoori chicken thighs, shrimp malai curry with coconut and cardamom, and spiced lamb mince with spinach and fenugreek leaf. Round off the meal with an almond and rose kulfi.
Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea | Eight-Course Celebration Feast, £45pp (min 2)
Located under the railway arches a stone’s throw from Battersea Power Station, Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea is the perfect spot for a Diwali gathering. With a special eight-course sharing menu, savour the likes of Bengali spiced fish cake and spiced tandoori paneer to start, baked bream fillet with tomato and tamarind sauce and a lemon and ginger–infused gulab jamun brûlée for a twist on a classic.
Cinnamon Kitchen City | Nine-Dish Sharing Feast, £48pp (min 2)
Gather in Devonshire Square, just a short walk from Liverpool Street Station, for a nine-course Indian sharing menu perfect for celebratory group dining. Dishes include lamb seekh kebab roomali and tuna bhel tostada, followed by Kasturi chicken chop with Kashmiri chilli and king prawn malai curry, accompanied by pilau rice, curried white peas and aloo kulcha. For a sweet finish, tuck into a special mithai cheesecake, layered with Diwali sweets, almond and pistachio.
The Cinnamon Club (Westminster) | Five Courses, £65pp
Celebrate Diwali in the historic surroundings of The Cinnamon Club, set within a Grade II-listed former library in the heart of Westminster. The five-course menu begins with a traditional Diwali welcome of mithai and canapés, before moving through modern Indian dishes including chargrilled partridge breast with mushroom pickle and spiced pear chutney, and Lucknowi lamb shank biryani with aubergine salan and burhani raita. The experience concludes with a decadent saffron and pistachio kulfi.
