Picture this: a restaurant with walls of faded terracotta, warm-toned fairy lights bob overhead and Mamma Mia-esque turquoise chairs decorate the space, which is defined by a central, Mediterranean-style tree. Now, you're not in Greece - in fact, you're in the heart of London. That's right, Tavernaki is a traditional Greek restaurant in one of London's most desirable areas, sitting in the middle of Notting Hill on Portobello Road.
While its location is undoubtedly incredible, you'll forget you're even there after making yourself at home at this family-run restaurant which aims to serve up authentic Greek plates and atmosphere, but with a contemporary twist. It's not just the decor which will make you feel like you're on holiday, either. The atmosphere brings customers back again and again, with live bands often playing and encouraging diners to get up and dance in pairs, enjoying that summer feeling. So, if you're looking for somewhere unique to host your next event - be it a birthday party, hen do, or work dinner, the team at Tavernaki would be more than happy to host you. While the restaurant doesn't appear to have a private dining space persay, you can speak to the team about taking over an area of the restaurant, or even the whole thing, depending on the occasion and party size.
Onto the food and you can expect flavourful, authentic Greek dishes such as feta me meli kai sousami to start, which is feta cheese wrapped with phyllo pastry, drizzled with Greek oak honey and roasted sesame seeds, alongside kalamarakia, which you'll no doubt know as fried rings of seasoned squid with garlic dipping sauces. For mains, choose from dishes cooked in the oven or over the grill, with ingredients like octopus with caramelised onions, stuffed aubergine or chicken skewers, all of which sound delicious.