Together In Bloom, a limited-edition menu celebrating a unique partnership between Babur and the Horniman Museum and Gardens

If you're planning a visit to the Horniman Museum and Gardens this summer, why not make a day of it and include lunch at Babur? Located at 119 Brockley Rise, just a short walk from Honor Oak Park station, Babur is well worth seeking out if you're spending time in this part of South London. From now until 20 September, the restaurant is celebrating both its 41st anniversary and the Horniman Museum's 125th birthday with its limited-edition Together in Bloom menu, inspired by the herbs, flowers and botanicals found throughout the Horniman Gardens.

This collaboration gave us the perfect excuse to visit Babur, and we're so glad it did. From the moment we arrived, the restaurant felt warm and welcoming, with attentive but relaxed service that immediately put us at ease. We went for lunch, but if you're making a real occasion of your visit, Babur has an impressive cocktail menu and a thoughtfully curated wine list with pairing options to complement the food.

What really surprised us was how different the food was from what many people might expect from an Indian restaurant. This isn't your average Indian cuisine. Rather than relying on fiery heat, the dishes were light, fragrant and beautifully balanced, with herbs and delicate spices taking centre stage. Every plate was creative, innovative and beautifully presented, while still staying true to Babur's Indian roots. Lunch began with an Elderflower and Ginger Cooler, which was wonderfully refreshing on a warm summer's day, while the Hapusa Dry Gin brought subtle notes of cardamom, juniper and almonds with an incredibly smooth finish. As we enjoyed the obligatory poppadoms and dips, beautifully presented dishes soon started arriving at the table.

The Charcoal-Grilled Pandan Chicken Tikka was wonderfully tender with just the right amount of smokiness from the grill. Served with mustard mayo, mint and coriander chutney and a sweet mango sauce, it was packed with flavour without overpowering the palate.

For me though, the Crispy Filo Coated Spiced Hung Yoghurt Kebab completely stole the show. The filo pastry was incredibly crisp, giving way to a creamy, delicately spiced yoghurt filling that was simply delicious. The roasted green mango jelly added a gentle sweetness, while the pink peppercorn and dill oil lifted the whole dish with fresh, fragrant notes. It's one of those dishes you find yourself talking about long after the meal has finished, and without doubt my favourite dish of the afternoon.

The Sea Bream with Lemon, Garlic and Cumin continued the lighter theme of the menu. It was perfectly cooked and served with fennel and potato, a vibrant green mango and coconut sauce and a crisp samphire fritter. Alongside it, the Tandoori Rack of Lamb offered something richer, paired with mixed lentil kedgeree, wild thyme, toasted pumpkin seeds and a fragrant catmint jus that beautifully reflected the botanical inspiration behind the collaboration.

The accompaniments were just as enjoyable. The fragrant Lemon Rice with Cashews was light and citrusy, while the basket of laccha paratha, garlic naan and plain naan was impossible to resist and perfect for mopping up every last bit of sauce. The Green Bean Foogath, with its fresh green beans and sweet coconut, completed the meal beautifully and showed that even the side dishes had been given just as much attention as the mains.

Despite feeling comfortably full, there was still room for dessert. The Spiced Apricot and Fig Crumble was warm, comforting and packed with fruit, while the silky saffron custard added a luxurious finish. We rounded everything off with fragrant jasmine tea and green tea before reluctantly bringing a thoroughly enjoyable lunch to an end. What we loved most about this collaboration is that it never felt forced. The botanical inspiration is subtle, allowing the quality of the food to shine while celebrating one of South London's best-loved attractions. It's creative, innovative cooking that's beautifully presented, proving that Indian cuisine can be delicate, elegant and full of fragrant layering, rather than simply relying on heat and spice.

The Together in Bloom menu is available until 20 September, so if you're planning a visit to the Horniman Museum and Gardens over the summer, we'd definitely recommend adding Babur to your itinerary, it’s a restaurant for all seasons, with a range of dishes to tempt any palate, from gently warm to hot and spicy. It's family friendly and relaxed, with the charm and spirit of a local restaurant that just serves great food - made fresh.

Address: 119 Brockley Rise, London, SE23 1JP

For more information, click here.

Words and photography by Claire Bloom