There are worse ways to spend an evening than strolling down Sloane Street, past Prada, Hermès, Giorgio Armani and all the other shops where you could quite easily do some serious damage to your bank balance, before turning into Cadogan Place and arriving at Jumeirah Carlton Tower. It’s a gorgeous part of London, wonderfully bougie, with all the glamour you’d expect from Knightsbridge, but the hotel itself is slightly tucked away, which I rather like. You feel as though you’ve discovered somewhere special, and that’s before you’ve even stepped through the doors.
I’ve always loved the Jumeirah hotels in Dubai, and there’s something about them that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s partly the scent when you walk in, partly the way you’re greeted and partly that feeling that everyone is genuinely pleased to see you. It’s almost as though you can smell Dubai the moment you step through the doors. I know that sounds a little strange, but if you’ve stayed at a Jumeirah property, you’ll probably know exactly what I mean. There’s all the luxury and glamour that Dubai does so well, but it’s the warmth of the hospitality that really makes you feel like you’re on holiday.
We’d been invited to try A Taste of Diwali, a special menu created by five chefs, and I was particularly excited about this one. Not just because I love Indian food, which probably goes without saying, but because of the people involved.
Sameer Taneja from Benares, Asma Khan from Darjeeling Express, Cyrus Todiwala from Café Spice Namasté, Dipna Anand from Brilliant Gastro and the hotel’s own Mario Perera have each contributed dishes to a menu celebrating different regional influences and cooking traditions.
It’s quite a line-up, and I can’t imagine getting five chefs of this calibre to agree on anything is particularly straightforward, let alone putting together one menu.
What I really liked was that each chef had brought something of their own story to the table. There’s a lovely mix of familiar flavours, family influences and a few unexpected combinations. It’s not trying to make Indian food something it isn’t, but there are some interesting interpretations of dishes we all know and love. And at £75 for three courses, in Knightsbridge, I think it’s a pretty good deal.
Marigolds, Champagne and the Most Extraordinary Bread
The evening was held in a room filled with fresh marigolds, which were absolutely gorgeous. Not a few little arrangements dotted around for effect, but beautiful, vibrant flowers that immediately gave the room that lovely festive feeling. There was Laurent-Perrier Rosé being poured, some fabulous cocktails, including one with chai and saffron notes that I really enjoyed, and a room full of people who were clearly looking forward to their dinner.
We were lucky enough to be given a tasting of the different dishes, so rather than choosing one starter, main and dessert, we got to try a little of everything. Which, as you can imagine, was no hardship whatsoever.
We started with Sameer Taneja’s pani puri, with apple chutney, sour apple water, pineapple and green mango achar. I love pani puri anyway, but this was a really interesting combination. It had that lovely sharpness you want, with the sweetness of the apple coming through, and the achar was absolutely fantastic.
Then there was the bread.
I know there were five chefs involved and some very impressive dishes to come, but I have to tell you about this bread because I am still thinking about it.
There was a selection including roast pan, coconut roti and Seeni Sambal Pan, along with Pol Sambal and Seeni Sambal butters. The Seeni Sambal Pan had this gorgeous sweet onion filling, almost like an onion marmalade, and it was ridiculously good. The butters were just as delicious. I kept going back for another little piece, telling myself it would be the last one, which of course it wasn’t.
The starters were a lovely mix. Dipna Anand’s Samosa Chaat Blast had all those familiar flavours of chickpeas, yoghurt, tamarind, pomegranate and crunchy sev, and it was exactly the sort of dish that makes you want to keep dipping your spoon back in. Sameer Taneja’s Malabar scallop came baked in its shell with a coconut and curry leaf sauce, served with laminated paratha, which was a really lovely combination.
Asma Khan’s chicken momo came with a spicy Himalayan chilli dip, while Cyrus Todiwala’s Patra Ni Machchi was sea bass with green coconut chutney, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed. I particularly enjoyed the variety because these weren’t four variations of the same thing. Every dish had its own character, and you could really see the different influences coming through.
Five Chefs, Five Stories and Some Very Good Food
The mains were equally interesting, although by this point I was beginning to wonder whether I should have shown a little more restraint with the bread.
Asma’s saffron chicken korma was inspired by Hyderabad, with yoghurt, almonds, fried onions and saffron. It was beautifully fragrant, and I liked that it wasn’t trying to overwhelm you with spice. Dipna’s masala lamb cutlets were quite different, with her signature 31-spice Magic Masala and a sauce inspired by her grandfather’s Kenyan cooking. I loved that little connection because so many of our family food traditions have travelled with us, changed along the way and become part of how we cook today.
Cyrus Todiwala’s chicken dish, Murghi Na Farcha Nay Eeda Papaeta Ni Salad, came with apricots and crisp straw potatoes, which was another interesting combination, and Mario Perera’s Jumeirah Carlton Tower biryani was a proper centrepiece. Fragrant basmati, saffron, rose, gold leaf, mango chutney and raita, with a choice of West Country lamb or a vegetarian version with artichoke and heritage cauliflower.
There are vegetarian options across the menu, although we sampled the meat and seafood dishes on the night, so I can only speak for those.
Dessert was a choice of boondi and rose baked cheesecake, Five Walla Chai Tea Tiramisu and coconut payasam. We tried all three, naturally, and then finished with Kara Chai and Indian street sweet treats.
And really, you can’t have Diwali without mithai. Even when you’re absolutely stuffed, there’s somehow always room for one more little sweet.
What I particularly enjoyed about the whole menu was that it felt like a celebration of Indian food rather than an attempt to impress people with how clever the chefs could be. There was plenty of creativity, but the flavours were still recognisable, and the dishes had a warmth and familiarity to them.
For £75, you choose from the selection of starters, mains and desserts, rather than being served everything we tasted. There are also additional sides available, including dhal makhani, rice, paratha and naan. Drinks and extras are additional, and there’s a discretionary 15% service charge.
Considering the chefs involved, the location and the overall experience, I think it offers really good value for a special Diwali dinner. It’s the sort of place you could go with your partner, a group of girlfriends or family, get dressed up and have a lovely evening without feeling you need a second mortgage for dinner.
But I Really Think You Should Stay the Night
Now, the dinner was fabulous, but I have to say that the hotel itself was just as much of a treat.
I’ve stayed in some lovely hotels over the years, and what I always notice is the difference between somewhere that’s simply expensive and somewhere that really knows how to look after people. Jumeirah Carlton Tower definitely falls into the second category.
Our rooms were beautiful. There was a huge, incredibly comfortable bed, a corner sofa, a massive television and a lovely dressing area. Everything was immaculate, but it was the little things that made me smile.
For example, our slippers had our initials on them. So did our face cloths. Now, I know personalised slippers aren’t going to change anyone’s life, but there’s something really lovely about arriving somewhere and finding that someone has gone to the trouble of doing that for you.
The bathroom was gorgeous too, with two sinks, a deep freestanding bath and a lovely double shower. All the toiletries were beautifully presented, and even the tea and coffee facilities had been thought through properly, with lovely crockery tucked away in little drawers. Everything had its place, and nothing felt like an afterthought.
There was even a yoga mat in the room, although after the amount I’d eaten, I think getting into the bath was probably the closest I was going to get to exercise that evening.
One of the things I particularly noticed was the turndown service. When we came back after dinner, everything had been straightened and arranged so nicely. Our toiletries were laid out beautifully, the room felt fresh again, but our personal things, like handbags, had been left alone. It was done with such care and discretion.
And there’s something about coming back to a room like that, after a lovely evening, that makes you feel completely relaxed. You don’t have to tidy anything, organise anything or worry about anything. You can just enjoy it.
The hotel also has The Peak Fitness Club & Spa, with a spectacular 20-metre indoor swimming pool, which is one of the things I would absolutely go back for. I’ve experienced the Talis spa in Dubai, and I love that whole feeling of being somewhere that makes you want to switch off for a few hours. The pool here is absolutely stunning, and if you’re someone who enjoys a proper swim, it’s a real treat.
There’s also an executive lounge with fabulous views across London, so you really could make a lovely weekend of it, particularly if you’re celebrating something.
It’s the People Who Make the Difference
But the thing I probably loved most, and the reason I keep comparing it to Dubai, was the service.
Every single person we encountered was so lovely. They were polite, attentive, always smiling and genuinely seemed happy to be there. Nothing was too much trouble, and it never felt forced or overly formal.
I’ve always thought that the Jumeirah group does hospitality particularly well. In Dubai, you become quite accustomed to a certain standard of service, and sometimes when you come back to London, you realise just how much you miss it.
But here, they’ve absolutely got it right.
There’s none of that feeling you sometimes get in very posh hotels where you’re slightly conscious of whether you’re dressed appropriately or whether you should be behaving in a certain way. It’s a beautiful, luxurious place, but it’s also incredibly welcoming.
And for me, that’s what makes the difference. You can have the most expensive furnishings, the most beautiful bathrooms and the fanciest restaurant in the world, but if the people aren’t lovely, it rather spoils the experience.
At Jumeirah Carlton Tower, the people really are lovely.
So if you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate Diwali this year, I would definitely recommend taking a look at A Taste of Diwali.
It’s a great opportunity to enjoy food from five very talented chefs, in a gorgeous setting, at a price that I think is surprisingly reasonable for Knightsbridge.
And if you fancy treating yourself a little more, stay the night. Have the dinner, enjoy the cocktails, sleep in that enormous bed, go for a swim in the morning and make a proper occasion of it.
We all spend so much time rushing around, organising things and looking after everybody else that it’s really rather nice, once in a while, to have somebody look after you.
And remember those personalised slippers I mentioned earlier? Well, I brought mine home. And now, every time I slip my feet into them, I’m reminded of that beautiful room, the wonderful food and, more than anything, how lovely everyone was. Which, when you think about it, is rather clever of Jumeirah. They’ve managed to make sure I remember my stay long after I’ve checked out.
Although I suspect I would have remembered it anyway.
A Taste of Diwali at Jumeirah Carlton Tower
Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, London
Dates: 16 October to 8 November 2026
Price: £75 per person for the three-course Diwali menu. A discretionary 15% service charge applies. Drinks and additional sides are charged separately.
Bookings: Jumeirah Carlton Tower
Luxurist was invited to experience the Diwali menu and an overnight stay as guests of Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
