Doma in Sydenham is not a restaurant in the conventional sense - and that’s precisely the point. Set at 172 Dartmouth Road, this intimate, event-led space operates on its own terms, opening once a week for carefully planned gatherings that centre around food, family and Balkan hospitality.
Doma is the latest chapter from Spasia, known to many as Mystic Burek, whose cooking began as a deeply personal project rooted in her grandmother’s Macedonian recipes. What started in 2020 as hand-rolled burek made at home and sold via Instagram grew into sell-out pop-ups across London, before evolving again into something more deliberate. Today, Doma is run as a family business by Spasia and her partner Tom, shaped around the idea of cooking for people the way you would at home.
The name says it all. Doma means “at home”, and everything here follows that logic. Rather than daily service, the space hosts a rotating programme of events - some ticketed, some walk-in - each with its own rhythm. One week might be a Balkan barbecue, another an intimate seated dinner for just 25 guests. These Ruchek dinners are the heart of the project: a long table, endless plates of food, Macedonian wines and a sense of being briefly transported elsewhere. It’s communal, generous and deliberately unhurried.
Food is rooted in Balkan tradition and made largely in-house. Expect freshly made kajmak, preserves, cheeses and sausages, alongside grilled meats, traditional dishes and substantial desserts. For long-time followers, burek and baklava appear on the last Saturday of every month. Events are announced via the ‘Events at Doma’ page, with tickets released for the monthly dinners, making each visit feel considered and intentional.
And, in the warmer months, the experience will expand outdoors. By spring and summer 2026, Doma’s garden will open for al fresco dining and Balkan-style celebrations, using home-grown ingredients and extending the sense of hospitality beyond the table.