This autumn, Marylebone’s beloved restaurant Jikoni will bring their celebrated “no-borders” kitchen and ethos to the Barbican, joining forces with the Darbar Festival — London’s annual celebration of Indian classical music — to nourish festivalgoers with a vibrant vegetarian and vegan menu inspired by South Asian heritage, layered with imagination, memory, and joy.
The special residency, marking 20 years of the Darbar Festival, will run from 23–26 October.
Delivered in partnership with Benugo, who operate the Barbican Kitchen on Level G of the Barbican Centre, the residency will create a unique cultural moment where food, music, and community meet in joyful harmony.
This collaboration is a celebration of shared values: Darbar Festival preserves and uplifts a centuries-old tradition of South Asian music, while Jikoni reimagines maternal cooking, immigrant foodways, and the art of hospitality for a modern audience.
Festival guests can indulge in street food favourites such as Vada Pao with dry garlic and tamarind chutney, the textural delight of Sweet Potato Bhel with yoghurt, sev, and pomegranate, and the refreshing brightness of a Charred Watermelon Poke Bowl.
Warm, comforting bowls will include Squash & Lime Leaf Pakora Kadhi, hearty Rajma Pulao, and soothing Khichadi with carrot achaar and devilled cashews.
From Jikoni’s playfully pluralistic oven come pizzas topped with Saag Paneer or fragrant Soy Keema. At the cold counter, guests can discover a colourful array of salads and dips — from a creamy smoked aubergine dip to Green Bean, Coconut & Peanut Thoran, the zesty kick of Spicy Peanut Butter Potato Salad, and the gentle sweetness of Smoked Beetroot Agrodolce. Sandwich highlights include the vibrant Mushroom Banh Mi with pickled carrots and the nostalgic comfort of a Chilli Cheese & Bean Toastie.
The collaboration continues across the Barbican’s performance bars, where audiences can enjoy Jikoni’s Nimbu Paani — a spiced Indian limeade that tastes of both nostalgia and renewal — and the Jikoni Gin & Tonic, featuring a savoury mango gin with house tonic.
Ravinder Bhogal, founder of Jikoni, says:
“We have always believed that food, like music, is a joyful medium that crosses divides. Darbar Festival invites London to celebrate the depth and beauty of South Asian culture in an iconic British institution, and we are honoured to play our part by nourishing audiences at the Barbican. This collaboration reflects everything Jikoni stands for: plurality, connection, and the power of hospitality and culture to restore and open doors.”
Helen Wallace, Head of Music at the Barbican, adds:
“Each October, the Darbar Festival fills the Barbican with a multi-sensory celebration of performances, workshops, and encounters. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Jikoni on a menu that mirrors the artistic richness of the music — enhancing our audiences’ experience of this iconic event.”
Produced by the Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust, this year’s festival will feature this first-ever culinary collaboration with Jikoni, honouring Indian classical music and the enduring legacy of Bhai Gurmit Singh ji Virdee’s vision and values.
@benugouk | Benugo.com
