Have you noticed? London has gone Greek.
Recently, every time I look for a new restaurant, something Greek pops up! A new taverna seems to open every other week and the ones I’ve made it to have all been delicious (there’s a little guide at the end, if you’re after somewhere to book).
There must be something in it. Why now?
Is it a wave of new chefs or Athens having its moment or simply what the food and the vibe reminds us of? I’m not going to pretend I need convincing, I’ve always said I must have Greek blood somewhere and for those who know me, they are probably bored out of their minds of hearing how much I’d love to move to Athens…
This is my mood board of how to spend a Greek summer. And then, because I can’t help myself, how to set a table like a taverna.
It is nothing special and visually quite boring, let’s be honest, but there is something about a taverna table that makes me instantly comfortable. The design philosophy behind it, if we can call it that, is to make you linger, to share the food, to allow stains on the paper on the table or kids drawing on it.
And it manages it all with almost nothing. They use the same little glasses everywhere, they are Duralex, French and unbreakable. Blue and white is of course the original palette. It comes down to a couple of things. Here’s a taverna kit.
The Duralex Picadie glasses in a clear color or not. Depends whether you want to be true to the taverna look.
If you want something slightly different and durable, I love these Falcon metal plates. Same principle: stay in the blue and white colorway or go a bit crazy with the red.
Next, is the wine carafe. A couple of options depending on your style. The Bollenglass one is hand-blown and will add an added touch of elegance to your table.
The one with ripple design is more traditional. All depends on your taste.
Napkins I would be playful. Something summery stitched. Always linen of course. I’ve always loved these fish ones.
And if you prefer shells, there’s also an option here.
And then leave the whole setup slightly undone, a taverna table that looks styled has missed the point.
And if you’d rather someone else did the work, London is having its Greek moment after all, here’s where I’d send you:
Maza (Mayfair) - 80s Athens, all buzz.
Halepi (Bayswater) - the old guard, since '66.
Kima (Marylebone) - serious about fish.
Clio (Marylebone) - modern, grown-up.
OMA (Borough Market) - souvlaki and smoke.
Stay cosy until next time, Jx
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