Where To Celebrate The Mid-Autumn Festival In London

Also known as the Moon Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an East Asian tradition dating back thousands of years. It’s held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which falls this year on 25 September 2026, but many celebrations run throughout the month. 

The event is marked in a number of ways, from moon gazing to lanterns, but food is also a big part. Mooncakes are the festival’s most famous tradition: round sweet or savoury pastries which symbolise togetherness and harmony, but dishes like rice dumplings and roasted duck are also commonly eaten around this time.

Festivities are particularly big in countries like China, South Korea and Japan, but the UK’s Asian restaurants get involved too with special menus and boxes of mooncakes. Here’s where to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in London in 2026.

Mid-Autumn Festival: Why Are Mooncakes Eaten?

The Mid-Autumn Festival dates back more than 3,000 years. Coinciding with the autumn harvest, it was initially viewed as a time for farmers to pray for a bountiful year ahead, but eventually it became a practice among the general public too. 

Mooncakes have long been entwined with the festival. In Chinese tradition, a full moon signifies completeness, hence the round shape and whole egg yolks which are often found inside, and they are believed to bring good luck for the year. The pastries are made in a labour-intensive process which requires skill and precision: flour, sugar, oil and water is mixed together, then the dough is carefully kneaded to make it suitable for shaping. They are then filled and moulded, before a delicate design is etched on the top.

Across China, there are various different regional fillings. In Southeast China’s Guangdong Province, for instance, they’re often sweet and use ingredients like lotus seed paste – one of the most traditional mooncake fillings. Teochew mooncakes, meanwhile, feature layered pastry and sweet fillings like yam or red bean, while Suzhou mooncakes are typically made with a flaky crust and pork filling.

Mooncakes are often gifted to friends and family, served in elaborate boxes which many brands spent months designing. Around the world, they’re traditionally sold from late summer until the festival passes, available from Chinese bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets and hotels. 

Mid-Autumn Festival Menus & Mooncakes In London

The Peninsula London

Mooncakes are a big deal at The Peninsula hotels group, particularly at the Hong Kong branch, where people queue round the block to get their hands on a box. They’re made using a special recipe created by pastry chef Yip Wing Wah, which is now patented and owned by the Peninsula brand – each box sold comes with a special QR code proving its authenticity. You can try the signature mini egg custard mooncakes here in London, available at The Peninsula Boutique & Cafe. Plus, head to the hotel’s Cantonese restaurant Canton Blue to try a five-course festival-inspired tasting menu featuring the likes of steamed seabass with mustard cabbage, wok-fried wagyu ribeye and mango pudding.

£38 for a box of four mooncakes, Canton Blue menu available 29 September – 12 October from £188pp. peninsula.com

Le Café, Burlington Arcade

Esteemed French pastry chef Nicolas Rouzaud has created an exclusive mooncake for Le Café in Burlington Arcade. Built using a traditional dough recipe shared with Rouzaud by one of his own Chinese chefs, the dessert is made with layers of mango compote, black sesame praline and a light vanilla mousse, finished with delicate mango coulis. 

Available until 4 October, £9 takeaway or £11 dine in. cafenicolasrouzaud.com

Mei Ume

Fine dining Chinese restaurant Mei Ume – located within the Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge – is serving its own handcrafted mooncakes. This year’s offering includes a mix of traditional and contemporary flavors, such as White Lotus Seed & Salted Egg Yok, Jasmine Tea & Raisin and Roasted Black Sesame, presented elegantly in a box of six.

Available for collection until 25 September, £56 for a box of six. fourseasonstowerbridge.giftpro.co.uk

BAO Borough

On 24 September, BAO Borough will transform into a market-style moon market, with grills sizzling up smoky skewers all day long. Then, at the City, Borough, King’s Cross and Marylebone branches, a special set menu will be on offer from 29 September – 25 October, featuring sharing dishes designed for the table: first up there’s grilled wagyu bao ahead of a platter of skewers, with BAO’s signature Moon Face BAO for dessert. 

Moon Market is on 24 September from 12 – 4pm, set menu available from 29 September – 25 October for £35pp. baolondon.com