Where to have your iftar meals this Ramadan
If you’re on the hunt for new places to break your fast with family and friends, we’ve got you covered
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With Ramadan starting on 28 February, it’s time to start planning your iftar meals for the month. Whether it’s an extravagant all-you-can-eat buffet in Manchester, a charity fundraiser in Brighton or a fusion menu in London, these are Hyphen’s iftar picks from around the UK this year.
MANCHESTER
Price: adults £30, children under 12 £15, children under five free. £10 deposit per person on booking, deducted from final bill.
Zouk’s iftar buffet changes weekly throughout Ramadan. Upon arrival, diners are greeted with fruit chaat, dates and a watermelon mocktail, before enjoying a bottomless buffet that includes salads, samosas, seekh kebabs, pakoras, a selection of curries and a carvery featuring lamb or chicken raan.
There is no dedicated prayer room but a space will be made available for prayer at the restaurant, with mats and privacy screens provided.
Zouk Tea Bar & Grill, Unit 5, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5QS. One iftar sitting daily during Ramadan from Friday 28 February, times vary slightly day to day as sunset gets later.
GLASGOW
Price: adults £19.99, children under eight half price.
This grand venue in the heart of Glasgow is home to cuisine inspired by the city of Peshawar in northern Pakistan, just over the border from Afghanistan. Namak Mandi, named after the ancient city’s salt market district, is laying on its iftar buffet again, promising a spread of starters, mains, desserts and drinks.
Namak Mandi, 100 Norfolk Street, Glasgow, G5 9EJ.
BRIGHTON
Brighton Sisters Charity Iftar
Price: all ages £10 – all proceeds to charity.
This women-only (and boys aged seven or under) iftar is being held at Al-Medinah mosque. The event offers an evening of food, games, inspiring sisterly talks, and a Taraweeh prayer led by Qari Abu Fayyad.
Guests will have the opportunity to contribute to charity fundraising efforts to provide sewing kits for women in Senegal, empowering them to earn sustainable livelihoods and support their families with dignity and independence.
Organisers have requested for attendees to bring homemade desserts to share with others.
Al-Medinah mosque, 24 Bedford Place, Brighton, BN1 2PT. Sunday 9 March from 4pm.
LUTON
Price: ages 11+ £25, £15 children three to 10 years old, children under three free.
The Big Family Iftar will be offering an evening of spirituality and a four-course dinner, accompanied by live nasheeds and Qur’an recitations.
Speakers include imam and author Shabbir Hassan and Islam Channel presenter Aysha Mercedes. Poet and hip-hop artist Sukina Noor will also perform, while Majid Rahman will deliver nasheeds and Qur’an recitation.
The Grand Park Hall, 87 Park Street, Luton, LU1 3HG. Saturday 8 March, 3pm-7.30pm.
SLOUGH
Building Hope – Charity Iftar dinner for Gaza with Dr Husam Zomlot
Price: adults £27.80, under 14s £16.96.
This event will feature a three-course iftar, accompanied by a speech by Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK. There will also be a Qur’an recitation by Sheikh Abu Fayoud, and guests will have the opportunity to fulfil their zakat and sadaqah at various stalls, with all proceeds supporting vital humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Elite Banquetting Suite, The Park, Wexham Road, Slough, SL2 5QR. Friday 7 March, 4pm-10pm.
LONDON
Price: Ramadan three-course set menu £49.95 per person, à la carte menu with main courses from £24.95, pre-ordering required.
Meet Bros in Paddington is a Malaysian-inspired halal steakhouse. The set iftar menu features a lentil soup with toasted focaccia starter. For main, there’s a choice of fried lamb ribs tossed in a green chilli paste, braised beef ribs in a light korma sauce, or grilled chicken marinated in satay sauce, all served with fragrant jewelled rice. And for dessert, a sweet finale of rose-flavoured muhallabia rice pudding.
The first floor of the restaurant will be transformed into a dedicated prayer space, with separate areas for men and women.
Meet Bros, 29-31 Craven Road, London, W2 3BX. Friday 28 February to Sunday 30 March, 5pm-11pm daily.
Price: £42 per person unlimited buffet.
Om Waleed is back this year with her iftar buffet at Fait Maison offering a menu based on traditional homemade Middle Eastern food. Waleed’s daily changing menu of starters, mains, desserts and drinks will be available at two of Fait Maison’s five London locations.
All Fait Maison restaurants are highly Instagrammable, with floral garlands and charming vintage-inspired furnishings.
Fait Maison, 144 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4SZ; 13 Berkeley Street, London, W1 8DU. Friday 28 February to Sunday 30 March, daily.
Price: £5 per person, attendees must be aged five or above.
The Green Deen Tribe and Poplar Union are holding their annual Ethical Iftar evening, inviting guests to break their fast in a warm atmosphere while enjoying a variety of ethically-sourced vegetarian dishes. The event emphasises sustainability and mindful practices, with inspiring talks on ways to reduce meat consumption, food waste and plastic use during Ramadan.
Poplar Union, 2 Cotall Street, London, E14 6TL. Saturday 15 March, 4.30pm-8pm.
Price: iftar four-course set menu £70, à la carte menu with main courses from £26.
Chef Ayesha Kalaji has teamed up with InterContinental London Park Lane to present a unique Iftar menu. The Jordanian Welsh chef’s cooking blends French and traditional Middle Eastern techniques to create dishes that are distinctively her own.
Guests can indulge in standout dishes like baba ganoush with pomegranate, lemongrass and pickled onions, or braised pressed hogget with Persian lime and chickpea dukkah. And for dessert, there’s an orange blossom and butterfly pea creme chiboust, with pistachio kataifi.
InterContinental at Park Lane, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London, W1J 7QY. Friday 28 February to Sunday 30 March, 6pm to 10pm, with a special celebration on International Women’s Day on 8 March.
International Women’s Day Ramadan Iftar
Price: £45 per person.
Tower Hamlets grassroots organisation Women’s Inclusive Team (WIT), is holding an iftar event in Bow for Muslims and non-Muslims highlighting the importance of International Women’s Day and their 22 years of achievement.
The evening will feature a Somali dining experience. Guests will also be treated to halal entertainment including poetry and have the chance to support local women’s enterprises by buying merchandise from their stalls.
There will be prayer facilities at the venue.
Regents Lake Banqueting Venue, 221 Grove Road, London, E3 5SN. Saturday 8 March, 4pm-9pm.
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