International Women’s Day offers numerous opportunities to honor the women in your life across London. From vibrant markets spotlighting female entrepreneurs to special lunches and free interactive installations, here’s a guide to the best events and experiences this week.
Celebrate Holi at Cinnamon Bazaar
Cinnamon Bazaar’s Holi menu captures the essence of Indian bazaars and home cooking. Start with samosa chaat and hakka aubergine stir-fry, featuring meltingly soft aubergine with peanuts and balanced spices. Follow with morasabadi dal chaat and tamarind sorbet for a refreshing contrast. The standout dish is duck Nilgiri korma with turmeric and lemon rice, tender and enveloped in a silky coconut-poppy seed sauce. Desserts include rose and almond kulfi or rasamalai tres leches cake. Enjoy four courses for £35 per person, including a cocktail (minimum two people). Available at Richmond and Covent Garden locations.
Modern Cantonese Flavors at Cafe Kowloon
Newly opened Cafe Kowloon in London Fields serves inventive Cantonese dishes. Prawn toast uses E5 Bakehouse bread with crispy prawn heads and pickled fennel. Beef tendons offer a compelling noodle-like texture, while steamed duck egg with yauh ja gwai provides silky comfort enhanced by black vinaigrette. Save room for Ovaltine mousse with milk ice cream. Snacks start at £3, shared plates from £8. Located at 392-393 Mentmore Terrace, E8 3PH.
International Women’s Day Highlights
KERB Francis Road IWD Market
KERB Francis Road in Leyton features talented female traders. Sample crispy karaage from mother-daughter team Banzai Kitchen and Middle Eastern dishes from Syrian entrepreneur Hind Danoun. Explore nearby women-owned spots like Phlox Books bookshop-cafe.
Cavita’s IWD Lunch
Five renowned female chefs—Adriana Cavita, Maria Bradford, Ayesha Kalaji, Keshia Sakarah, and Sabrina Gidda—host a special lunch. Expect Caribbean snapper ceviche, Indian spiced chickpea and potato chaat, and more, plus a live Q&A on their careers. Profits support Refuge, aiding women and children affected by domestic abuse. Tickets £80, including five courses and a welcome drink. March 8, 12:30pm–4:00pm at 56-60 Wigmore Street.
Borough Yards Free Interactive Mirror Wall
From March 5-8, visitors can write messages to influential women on a mirrored installation at Borough Yards, Stoney Street, creating a tribute mural in London Bridge. The first 50 participants receive complimentary treats from After School Cookie Club and Santa Nata. No booking required.
Other IWD Events
AllBright’s Step Forward Summit on March 6 features talks on women’s wealth, empowerment, and confidence, including Jill Scott MBE. Affordable Art Fair’s IWD exhibition from March 4-8 showcases works by 22 contemporary women artists, exploring themes of female relationships and womanhood.
More London Highlights
Italian Greyhound Scarpetta Brunch
The Italian Greyhound in Marylebone launches its Scarpetta brunch on March 7, every Saturday thereafter. Indulge in cicchetti like courgette pesto cavatelli with smoked burrata and tagliatelle with lamb ragu pangrattato. Pair with exclusive sparkling wine ‘Frolic’. Complimentary focaccia and extra sauce with select dishes. Pasta from £14. 62 Seymour Street, W1H 5BN.
Chuku’s Book Swap and Brunch
For World Book Day on March 8, Chuku’s offers a literary brunch with three sharing plates, three drinks for £40 per person (40% off), and an Afrobeats DJ.
Upcoming Openings and Collaborations
Bánh Bánh Brixton, from the Lai Rai Peckham team, opens soon with home-style Vietnamese cơm nhà dishes. Albers and Firangi collaborate March 3-14, serving ghee-podi flatbread with pickled wild garlic and masala scotch egg with black olive caramel and thecha.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
This uplifting musical, based on Rachel Joyce’s novel, stars Mark Addy as Harold Fry and Jenna Russell as his wife Maureen. Triggered by a letter from old colleague Queenie, Harold embarks on a transformative walk. Accompanied by Passenger’s gentle score, the production avoids bombastic anthems for a deeper, life-affirming tone. Directed by Kary Rudd. Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Tickets from £35 until April 18.
