As the end of Ramadan draws closer, thoughts turn to Eid gift ideas – and we have plenty of inspiration for thoughtful presents, plus for where to eat those final few iftars.
Observed worldwide, Ramadan is a month-long period of reflection and prayer for the global Muslim community. Many Muslims observe by fasting from sunrise, breaking the fast with an iftar meal at sunset. As the holy month comes to an end, Eid celebrations begin.
Eid 2026 is fast approaching; it’s expected to fall on 18 March this year (exact dates and timings depend on the sighting of the crescent moon), and comes with plenty of celebration – and gifting!
This is your guide to the best Eid gift ideas, where to eat iftar in London, and how to see out the final few days of Ramadan.
Eid Gift Ideas
Cash (Eidiyya) is an ever-popular gift during Eid celebrations – and something that spans global Eid traditions, with one of our contributors in Egypt telling us “I used to get about 400 EGP (£6) as Eidiyya. I saw someone on TikTok recently who got 5000 EGP (about £80!)”.
But if you’re looking for something with a bit more thought, you can’t go wrong with foodie gifts – we particularly love the idea of tea and cake using these pretty mugs. For something extra special, consider jewellery; this yellow gold and diamond necklace by Annoushka reads ‘love’ in Arabic, while this signet ring by Astrid & Miyu features the crescent moon and star (and is more affordable).
Last but not least, pampering and glamour is a big deal during Eid and this halal nail polish – formulated using new oxygen technology – is breathable (it “creates a non-occlusive film on the nail that allows oxygen and water vapor to pass through,” according to the brand) making it suitable for wudu. Scent is always a good idea too, and these oud perfumes and candles will be (more than!) appreciated.
Where To Eat Iftar in London 2026: The Best Iftar Meals In London
Open Iftar
Open Iftar 2025 at Guildhall, London – Credit Acacia Diana
The very special and unique Open Iftar was created by Ramadan Tent Project to bring people together for iftar across the UK. It was started by a group of students at SOAS University who were living alone and wanted to celebrate Ramadan with friends, and has developed into an annual community iftar in locations as unique as they are impressive – such as King’s College Cambridge, Brighton Dome and the Silverstone Circuit. In 2026 – the 13th year of Open Iftar – London locations have include Banqueting House, Soho Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre. There’s only a few dates left, including at AFC Wimbledon (13 March), 22 Bishopsgate (15 March) and Trafalgar Square (16 March). More than one million people have been a part of this initiative so far; meals are provided by local caterers and are usually announced on the day, but expect anything from Lebanese grills to Moroccan tagines or Pakistani biryani.
InterContinental London Park Lane
Would it be iftar without shorba (a red lentil soup) and falafel? British-Jordanian chef, Ayesha Kalaji doesn’t think so, so she’s collaborated with Mayfair’s InterContinental London Park lane to curate an iftar menu featuring all of this alongside mains like lamb chops with spiced rice, raisins and pine nuts; whole grilled seabass; and makmoura, a confit chicken with a kunafa pastry, strained yoghurt, pomegranate and Aleppo chilli. Served at The Wellington Lounge, the menu may sound somewhat traditional, but chef Kalaji intends to surprise, too. End your evening with her pink mahleb tuile or baklava.
London’s Iftar Food Trail
Photo Credit: Ed Reeves
‘Ramadan Delights’, London’s Iftar Food Trail, is back for its second year. Organised by the Aziz Foundation, the team behind London’s Ramadan Lights, it gives Londoners the opportunity to eat their way around the city come sundown. Restaurants taking part with special iftar menus for 2026 include: a three-course iftar with Medjool dates, Moroccan mint tea, mezze and kunefe at 1 Leicester Square Rooftop Restaurant; iftar-friendly dishes at Market Place Food Hall in Leicester Square (halal pizza slices from Bread Ahead, gyros from Hide & Greek, brownie baklava with rose milk soft serve by Soft Serve Society); plus discounts at other venues across London.
Chargal Mayfair
Chargals holds court with Park Chinois, Novikov and Annabel’s in the Berkeley Street/Berkeley Park area of London’s Mayfair. It’s no surprise that this restaurant, the latest venture from Serdar Demir – the restaurateur behind The Mantl in Knightsbridge – has proven a quick success, and this Ramadan he’s taking the menu even further. Inspired by Turkey’s popular grill and mezze dishes, the restaurant’s three-course iftar feast starts with flatbreads and is accompanied by hummus, muhammara, cacık, then followed by the grill: taouk, shish and Adana, plus seafood and plant-based options. End your evening with the milk kadayıf or the chocolate sorbet served with fennel pollen and olive oil.
Imad Alarnab’s Ramadan supper clubs, Salamlik, Somerset House
Imad Alarnab’s Ramadan supper clubs are timed for iftar and held within Salamlik, the private dining space at Aram by Imad inside Somerset House. Start with homemade lemonade and Damascus iced tea before moving into mezze and main dishes inspired by Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Turkey and beyond. Main plates, like mnazeleh (chickpeas and aubergine with cumin, red peppers and tomato) and mudakhan ghanam, (slow-roasted lamb shoulder with fragrant rice and cashews) are followed by a crisp filo pastry with pistachio ice cream and glaze. A percentage of all ticket sales is being donated to charities including Action Syria and Choose Love.
Little Baobab
Peckham-born Senegalese restaurant Little Baobab moved into Africa House in 2024. According to Kadim Mane, who founded the restaurant and remains head chef, “there were very few, if any, Senegalese restaurants in London. I decided I wanted to change that whilst sharing my passion for my country’s roots”. This Ramadan, their iftar buffet is inspired by West African flavours like fish fataya, lamb thiou and jollof rice alongside hot drinks including clove-spiced coffee and traditional Ataya tea. Fifteen per cent of sales will be donated to Institut Mame Dabakh, a Senegalese organisation supporting orphans and other young children with education and housing.
Villa Mamas
Celebrating Khaleeji culture and heritage, chef Roaya Saleh pays homage to the Gulf in a special home-food style Ramadan menu at her Bahrani restaurant, Villa Mamas. The iftar menu starts with sharing plates like kibbeh and warak enab, before moving onto main dishes including slow-braised lamb shank with rice, and a Persian-style rice with chicken and saffron. Soft drinks served alongside the menu include iced hibiscus karkade and the very fun Vimto slushy. Outside of London, Vila Mamas has popular restaurants in Bahrain, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, the latter two finding themselves in the 2026 Michelin Guide – testament to its quality and authenticity.
Bombay Bustle
Samyukta Nair and Pernia Qureshi have joined forces at Bombay Bustle this Ramadan. Pernia, a fashion entrepreneur has recently released a cookbook – Ammi’s Kitchen – inspired by her grandmother’s cooking, and has teamed up with Samyukta’s expertise (she’s founder of both Bombay Bustle and Jamavar), to showcase a menu celebrating the tastes and traditions of Rampur, a city in northern India. Expect fruit chaat and dates followed by mutton seekh kebabs, yakhni pulao, and paneer pasanda, among other dishes. End the evening with firni, a sweet rice pudding with cardamom.
Ta’mini Lebanese Bakery
The iftar at this family-run Lebanese bakery, founded by husband-and-wife duo Ali and Nermin, is being served at both its Bloomsbury (70 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AB) and Kensington (15 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4LF) spots. ‘Ta’mini’ means ‘feed me’ in Arabic, and across Ramadan the couple will be whipping up a menu of dates, lentil soup, pita, fatoush, mamakish and wraps, followed by kunafa kaak.
The Mayfair Chippy
Mayfair’s favourite fish ‘n’ chip joint, The Mayfair Chippy, has developed a special iftar menu. Why would a fish and chip shop offer iftar? Because a large number of the restaurant’s clientele celebrate Ramadan. The Mayfair Chippie’s iftar menu has been developed in collaboration with The Mayfair Chippy’s Saudi Partners, Alidara Real Estate, ahead of its expansion into Saudi Arabia (2026) and features restaurant classics – like fried cod or haddock goujons, handcut chips and mushy peas with tartare sauce or HP gravy – alongside seasonal specials like the Middle Eastern Shepherd’s Pie, comprising braised lamb shoulder with apricot, sumac spiced potato, smoked cheddar, seasonal greens and molasses gravy. Dessert (halawiyat) includes glazed lemon tart, milk chocolate mousse, and sea salt and caramel truffles.
Coya Mayfair
Coya Mayfair has curated a halal-certified, iftar set-menu featuring their restaurant favourites alongside new dishes that will be served only during Ramadan: lomo saltado, a beef stir fry with sweetcorn rice and crispy potato; lamb ribs miso with a tamarind glaze and buckwheat; and the ever-so-tempting pistachio tres leches cake, made with salted pistachio praline and served with vanilla ice cream. The iftar menu is served everyday from sunset until 7.30pm, alongside non-alcoholic cocktails.
Things to do in London for Ramadan 2026
See the Ramadan Lights in Central London
For the forth year, the Ramadan Lights are back in central London. The bulbs light up in unison at 5pm every evening, and sparkle until 5am every morning – the timings are designed to reflect that of Ramadan’s iftar and suhoor meals, when fasts are broken everyday (iftar) and after which they begin (suhoor). Alongside Islamic-inspired geometric patterns, a large, stand-out light display will wish passersby a ‘Happy Ramadan’ from switch-on until the end of Ramadan, and the greeting will change to ‘Happy Eid’ from 18 March – 24 March. When the aerial Ramadan Lights first shone in London’s West End in 2023, they were a first – not only for central London, but for the centre of any western city. Find them on Coventry Street, which connects Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square – and long may they last.
Visit the interfaith Shared Light exhibition
Rooh-E-Bhag (Soul of the Garden) (2025) – Mohamad Aaqib Anvarmia
Inside Zedwell Hotel Piccadilly Circus, an art exhibition spearheaded by the Aziz Foundation is asking visitors to slow down and consider the values that are central to both Ramadan and to us all, as neighbours, friends, families, different cultures – humans. A (free-to-submit) open call asked for artists of all faiths, backgrounds and experience to submit their work, and has culminated in the interfaith exhibition, curated by London-based artist and composer Raheel Khan, showing until 22 March. Pictured above is Rooh-E-Bhag – Soul of the Garden (2025) by Mohamad Aaqib Anvarmia, a piece inspired by the garden, a place of balance, growth and care, to reflect the spirit of Ramadan, as well as the universal experiences of patience and renewal. No piece of art at the exhibition is on sale, but each is hung for visitors to appreciate – via both the work and the stories behind them, accessed via a QR code.
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