12 best things to do in London – from Georgian food to £5 rosé in the sun

We’ve handpicked a selection of some of the best Georgian restaurants in the capital (Picture: Supplied)

Welcome back to The Slice – our exclusive guide to what’s on in London, where we bring you trusted reviews, sneak previews, and amazing deals and discounts.

Georgian food is having a moment, so it was only right that we got to work and did our research. We tried three Georgian restaurants serving up famous boat-shaped cheese bread Acharuli Khachapuri, oozing-with-flavour Khinkali dumpling and more.

One of them is the new kid on the block DakaDaka, a Mayfair spot you can try for the luxe Georgian experience and an intro to the cuisine.

It’s forecast to reach 16 degrees in London next week, and every time it does you can head down to Half Cut Market to get a £5 glass of rosé chosen by a top sommelier. 

Our resident food writer Courtney is also telling you her verdict on Decimo at The Standard. Hotel restaurants aren’t normally her go-to, but the Baja Newlyn Cod tacos and sweet potato with indulgent cascabel butter were all it took to change her mind. Find out why below.

Plus: If there’s one city in the world that rivals London for its food, then it’s Rome. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Wowcher to give away a two-night trip to the Italian capital. Find out more below and enter here. 

See you next week!

Things to do this week in London

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 10 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital.

1. Jump into Mexican and Spanish flavours at Decimo at The Standard

Their tacos are to die for (Picture: Supplied)

By Courtney Pochin

I’ve never really given much thought to hotel restaurants. They’re not places I seek out, unless I’m staying in said hotel, but Decimo proves I should have been paying them more attention. Located on the 10th floor of The Standard, this restaurant hits you with dazzling views of the city right from the get go, and the food is just as impressive.

The menu mixes Mexican and Spanish cuisines with tremendous tacos (the Baja Newlyn Cod and Suckling Pig Carnitas are standouts), as well as meat, fish, and vegetable dishes. We try the sweet potato with cascabel butter, the Iberico pork chop, and marinated tomatoes. The potato is soft as butter, with a deep, chargrilled smokiness to it, while the pork is incredibly tender and pairs delightfully with a fruity morita salsa. The tomatoes are a side, but a very generous one at that: salty, oily, and a little sweet.

The £27 Caesar Salad catches my attention. The high price tag is due to the spectacle involved in making it – a Caesar Salad trolley is set up table side, and the ingredients are tossed in front of your very eyes. Is it worth the money? Probably not. Did we enjoy every bite? Absolutely. It’s a cracking Caesar Salad. And for a sweet fix, Decimo also has a chocolate mousse trolley. Dished up at the table, the rich dessert is topped with fancy olive oil and sea salt flakes and is the perfect way to round out the meal – if you still have room.

Para picar from £6, tacos from £8 each, mains from £9. The Standard, 10 Argyle St, King’s Cross, WC1H 8EG. Book here.

2. Try an excellent value Prix Fixe menu from Michelin star chef patron, Anthony Demetre

By Beatrice Aidin

At Bistrot at Wild Honey in Pall Mall, the Prix Fixe menu comes with a side order of sensational value from Michelin star chef patron, Anthony Demetre. Situated in a former banking hall with vast chandeliers and peacock-coloured soft furnishings, the restaurant is glamorous yet relaxed. To start, we share a salad of Italian tardivo, the king of radicchios, its tartness contrasts delightfully with sweet pomegranate, alongside a hearty rigatoni with venison. An unmissable cheese soufflé and a heartening cottage pie with a perfect green salad follows. And there is no question about skipping the canelé, it is the finest you will eat.

The evening ‘le cinq à sept’ heralds the hours when the French traditionally steal away from work at 5pm for an illicit liaison to be home by 7pm. Wild Honey has a more innocent interpretation of a glass of wine with a choice of cracking croquettes – but do bring your lover or other and go wild, honey. 

£25 for two courses or three for £29, 12pm to 6.30pm, ‘Le cinq à sept’ £11pp. Sofitel Hotel, 6 Waterloo Place, St James, SW1Y 4AN. Book here.

3. Get succulent steak and more at new opening MRBL

‘What MRBL lacks in vowels, it makes up for in steak square footage’ (Picture: Bob Crocker)

By Rebecca Cook

The steaks served in London’s restaurants so rarely live up to the juicy, pink T-bone steaks of cartoons or the emoji keyboard. More often, they’ve been thinly sliced and fanned out to cover as much plate real estate as they can. No such thing can be said of MRBL, the new red meat spot in the City’s oldy-worldy Leadenhall Market. What MRBL lacks in vowels, it makes up for in steak square footage. Your juicy slab of meat (my pick was the ribeye) is perfectly paired with crisp chips, plus a shallot and marrow sauce I nearly licked from the dish.

Elsewhere on the menu, the chargrilled prawns atop a fermented chilli sauce or the lemon tart with a burnt brûlée top are well worth your time. I’ve already decided to return for the MRBL Happy Meal: cold martini and fries. Throw in a toy and it’ll be heaven.

Starters from £9, steak from £11, sides from £6. 23 – 25 Leadenhall Market, City of London, EC3V 1LR. Book here.

4. Delve into London’s Georgian food scene

DakaDaka

Best for: an intro to Georgian food 

I can’t think of a better spot for those long, stretch-into-the-night dinners where time just disappears and the staff keeps everything flowing. They are more than eager to please, so if you’re new to Georgian food or just feeling curious, let them take the reins.

Expect great traditional dishes (Badrijani, Imeruli, and the staple Khinkali) with just enough of a modern twist to keep things interesting. The natural highlight is the mushroom Khinkali with Scottish girolles at the centre, almost melting on the tongue as black pepper adds a gentle heat. Whether you’re a homesick expat or a curious first-timer, you’ll leave both satisfied and intrigued. And of course don’t forget about the wine – DakaDaka has plenty of excellent ones to choose from. If you’re after a moody, candle-lit dinner, this is your spot.

Saziaro (snacks) from £6.50, other plates from £11.50. 10 Heddon St, Mayfair. Book here.

Review by Patrycja Zaras.

Kartuli

Best for: classic Georgian dishes 

An old David Greig grocer shop, complete with original Victorian thistle tiles, towering ceiling, and quirky carpet-lined conservatory, is an odd venue for a Georgian restaurant – but East Dulwich’s Kartuli makes it work.

Start your feast with Acharuli Khachapuri – the legendary Georgian bread boat, its hull oozing with cheese, butter, and an egg yolk, beaten into gooey submission at your table. Next try Khinkali – plump, hand-pleated dumplings bursting with hot, meaty broth – with a side of Ajapsandali, Georgia’s rich, deeply spiced answer to ratatouille. If you have room left, you’ve done it wrong. But you should still squeeze in a slab of their honey cake, its tiny, syrupy layers sandwiched together with sweet caramel cream. Good luck waddling home!

Mains from £16 (all sharing plates). 65 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. Book here. 

Review by Sophie Laughton.

Saperavi Social

Best for: the full Georgian experience – wine included 

Take a trip to the Caucasus and visit the ‘birthplace of wine’ without leaving London. Saperavi Social, a cozy wine bar turned restaurant, champions Georgia’s ancient winemaking tradition. The wines – full of depth and character, tell stories shaped by centuries of history and resilience. They pair beautifully with an authentic menu designed for sharing.

Crowd-pleasers include the Acharuli bread boat, Pkhali (herby vegetable pâté), and Badrijani (aubergine rolls with walnut paste). For those well-versed in Georgian cuisine, the rich, familiar flavours are some of the most authentic you will find in London. And if you’re new? Pull up a seat at the bar and let the warm, knowledgeable staff guide you through the menu. Insider tip: ask for the veggie khinkali – not on the menu (yet), but these cheesy, herby dumplings truly steal the show.

Starters from £8, mains from £16. 212 Essex Rd, Islington. Book here.

Review by Maria Astardjieva.

5. Dine at GAUCHO for £30 with their legacy set menu

Get your nostalgic feast (Picture: Supplied)

It’s not too late to try GAUCHO’s £30 legacy set menu. They’ve thrown it back to 1994 for a blast from the past. Guest favourites like the 2012 Ecuadorian Ceviche are available – and you’ve got until the end of March to have a taste. Book here.

6. Say goodbye to Shackfuyu as you know it and hello to a brand new Bone Daddies

After 11 years as Shakfuyu on Old Compton Street, the restaurant is relaunching as a brand new Bone Daddies on 6 April.

But their iconic dessert Kinako matcha French toast dessert and matcha soft serve lives on! So you’ll still be able to catch it on the menu. 

7. Celebrate The Parakeet’s birthday with some bargains

Kentish Town pub The Parakeet is turning three and they’re celebrating by treating you to £3 oysters and £3 Guinness for three hours on 31 March. Just head down from 6-9pm to be part of the fun. 

8. Save money on sweet treats for the kids at Bebeto

Yum! (Picture Will Ireland)

Have you seen the price of sweets and Easter eggs lately? Bebeto has, and they’re tackling the issue by installing a gigantic 6ft sweet egg. They’re calling it eggflation relief and it means free sweets for Londoners until Easter. Just head down to Swan Court, 11 Worple Rd, Wimbledon between 24 March-2 April to get yours.

9. Sip on top rosé in the sun for just £5 a glass

Spring is on its way! (Picture: Supplied)

The weather is set to be glorious next week – and every time the temperature reaches 16 degrees and above, Half Cut Market will offer £5 glasses of rosé.

And it’s a real bargain too, as top sommelier Holly Willcocks has chosen a vibrant and refreshing Reserve de Gassac Rosé from the South of France. 

10. Celebrate 15 years of Record Bars with these events

Record Bars is celebrating 15 years and they’re going big with events across four Saturdays. It kicks off with a full night of music at Eastcheap Records on 4 April with music from All-Stars House Band, resident selector Kengo San and DJ duo The Nextmen. Find out how Old Street Records, Northcote Records and Venn Street Records are celebrating!

11. Look forward to experiencing London’s brand new hangout spot

Brand new cocktail and activity bar Rocket Room launches next month. Get ready for axe throwing, beer pong, darts, shuffleboard and proper grown up cocktails.

Thanks to its intimate feel, it works for date night just as much as it does for after work socials. Keep an eye on their website to stay posted on when you can book. 

12. Experience powerful coming of age story Choir Boy

Choir Boy, a coming of age story centered around a prep school for boys, starts showing at Stratford East from tomorrow. Produced by the creator of Moonlight Nancy Medina, it explores spirituality, sexuality, race, identity, brotherhood and class. You’ll hear plenty of a cappella and gospel, as confident singer Pharus earns his position at the school as a soloist and explores what it means to be a young, Black, queer man. It follows a premiere at Bristol Old Vic in 2023 and three awards for Best Production and Best Director at the Black British Theatre Awards.

Stratford East. Tickets from £10 (with a Pay What You Can showing on 30 March). 26 March-25 April. Book here. 

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