Suvlaki restaurant - London, UK

Greek fare is a somewhat under-represented cuisine in London and entrepreneurs Yannis Theodorakakos and Michael Kantartzis are on a mission to shift the outdated perception of their homeland’s cooking with a new restaurant in Soho that focuses on the beloved Athenian street staple, suvlaki. ‘Gone are the days of the Greek tavern and plate smashing,’ says interior designer Afroditi Krassa, who lent her discerning eye to the small space. Here, casual dining tables are set against a wall lined with raw stone pillars, while a palette of whites and blues – a spectrum ranging from inky petrol to bright turquoise – give the room a gentle intimacy and offer subtle Hellenic references. Notably, Krassa’s chic Pentagon pendant lamps hang overhead, setting the scene for chef Elias Mamalakis and his team to create vibrant meat and vegetable dishes, perfectly charred in the restaurant’s robata grill.