Where To Celebrate Holi In London

The Hindu festival of Holi is all about saying goodbye to winter and ushering in the warmth of spring. In India, Holi is a day of fun where children and adults play with coloured powder (and water guns are often involved).

While you’re not likely to be pelted by water balloons or colours in London, there are some great Indian restaurants that have launched Holi menus and even venues where you can actually have a spot of fun playing Holi. These are our picks of where you can join in the festivities this year in London:

Attend this House of Holi pop-up

Get ready to paint the town in technicolour with Vivek Singh’s House of Holi party that’s bringing back bringing its party pod to Cinnamon Kitchen City on Devonshire Square from 8th to 16th March. You can look forward to 30 minutes of paint-pelting fun to celebrate the Indian festival of colour, love and positivity. Gather your friends, colleagues or family and celebrate with a host of delicious dishes – there’s a special five-course Holi meal and/or cocktails on the all-weather terrace which promises loads of fun.

where: Cinnamon Kitchen City, 9 Devonshire Square, London, EC2M 4LY
website: www.designmynight.com

Book a table for a Holi-inspired menu

This year, Gunpowder, the Michelin Bib Gourmand Indian restaurant from Harneet Baweja has introduced the Festival Edition of their India Club. Held on the last Sunday of each month, Chef Patron Nirmal Save will create a sharing menu, each inspired by a different Indian festival, drawing on its traditions and flavours. This March, on the 30th is the special Holi edition which looks like a delicious, colourful way to celebrate the festival.

When: 30th march
Where: soho and tower bridge
Website: www.gunpowderrestaurants.com

Try these colourful momo’s

To mark the arrival of Spring, Eat Momo is celebrating Holi with a spread of colourful momos available from the 10th to the 16th of March. The team have collaborated with chefs Kushal Rai from The Cocochine and Esther Lalthlanpuii from A Wong to develop colourful dough which represents spring, nature and love. Made with natural dyes extracted from turmeric, spinach and beetroot. Served with tomato chutney and spicy chilli pickle for dipping, fillings will include chicken flavoured with coriander and spices and vegetable momo packed with ginger.

where: Arch 229, 1 Bank End, London, SE1 9FJ
website: www.eatmomo.uk

A Holi-inspired cocktail

This March, the alcohol brand Desi Daru is teaming up with The May Fair Bar to celebrate Holi. You can enjoy the ‘Exuberance’ cocktail, a drink that celebrates the festival’s vibrance – a delicious blend of mango, Desi Daru vodka, jaggery and a mix of aromatic Indian spices this one is all about stunning bold flavours.

When: 13th to 15th march
Where: The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, Mayfair, London,
W1J 8LT
Website: www.themayfairhotel.co.uk

Kanishka by Atul Kochhar’s special four-course sharing menu for Holi runs for lunch and dinner on the 13th and 14th March.

Curated by Chef Patron Atul Kochhar and Executive Chef Ashok Kumar, the feast includes indulgent starters like lamb seekh kebab and aloo chaat, flavourful mains such as chicken Chettinad and tiger prawns moilee, and a festive sweet finale, Gujiya fried dumplings with Thandai ice cream.

where: 17-19 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 2QH
Website: www.kanishkarestaurant.co.uk

A special Holi banquet

Babur will mark the annual Hindu Festival of Colours with a party inspired by the colour-soaked celebrations of Holi. Expect a five-course tasting menu, along with special entertainment and a Thandai cocktail to liven the festivities. From rang barse dahi vada, a lentil doughnut with sweet yoghurt, tamarind, pomegranate and mint chutney to Pichkari butter chicken tart – a modern take on a classic, named after the water gun used to spray colour during Holi, there’s lots to enjoy.