DakaDaka
Wine has a birthplace, and it’s not France or Italy, it’s Georgia. Long before Bordeaux or Tuscany became synonymous with great wine, Georgia was fermenting grapes in clay qvevri, laying the foundations for one of the world’s oldest culinary traditions.
Every day there are new restaurants opening in London, but every so often a restaurant comes along that feels genuinely different. DakaDaka, tucked away on Heddon Street just behind Regent Street, is one of those places. The latest addition to London's growing Georgian food scene, it offers something that's still refreshingly unfamiliar to many diners, despite Georgian cuisine quietly becoming one of Europe's most exciting culinary exports.
From the moment you step inside, it's clear this isn't aiming to be another polished West End restaurant. Music fills the room, the open fire crackles away in the kitchen and the atmosphere is lively from the first plate to the last. Some will find it a little loud, but that's rather the point. DakaDaka feels less like somewhere to quietly work your way through dinner and more like somewhere to settle in, order generously and embrace the energy around you.
The menu is built around the sort of dishes that reward sharing. Expect pillowy khinkali dumplings, smoky grilled aubergines, cheese-filled breads, skewers cooked over fire and deeply comforting bean dishes that showcase just how underrated Georgian cooking remains. Alongside them sits an impressive list of Georgian natural wines, many available by the glass, making it one of the best introductions to the country's remarkable wine culture.
What I admired most about DakaDaka wasn't simply the food, but its confidence. Rather than diluting Georgian cuisine for a London audience, it leans wholeheartedly into its identity. In a part of the city often dominated by familiar restaurant groups and polished concepts, DakaDaka feels unapologetic, bold and soulful. If you haven’t had Georgian cuisine before, this restaurant offers a wonderful introduction.
10 Heddon St, London W1B 4BX
