Kinkally, Fitzrovia: Georgian Food Reimagined in London
Looking for an honest Kinkally London review? Here’s what to expect from the modern Georgian restaurant on Charlotte Street, from handmade khinkali and Georgian wine to the open kitchen and cocktail bar downstairs.
This post may contain affiliate links. Check out my Disclosure & Privacy Policy for more information.
Georgian food isn’t something I come across particularly often in London.
So when I heard there was a restaurant on Charlotte Street doing handmade khinkali, Georgian wine and a very contemporary open kitchen, I was curious.
Opened in December 2023, Kinkally takes some of Georgia’s most recognisable food traditions and puts them into a setting that feels very much at home in Fitzrovia.
Shall we?
About the Author
Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.
On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.
P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.
The Ambience at Kinkally
First things first, if you can, sit at the counter!
The open kitchen runs along one side of the restaurant, so you’ll be front-row to your dinner coming together.
The rest of the restaurant goes in a similarly modern direction—with wood, steel and a total industrial feel vs. the old folklore you might picture when someone says “traditional Georgian restaurant”.
The Food at Kinkally
What I liked most about the food here was how familiar ingredients became (infinitely) better once Georgian flavours got involved.
The beef tartare was probably the cleanest example: with three neat layers of bread, soft mascarpone and beef tartare…then there was the baked aubergine with spiced satssebeli and vanilla matsoni. Which somehow managed to be creamy, sour, sweet, spicy and savoury all at once—with a divine umami punch.
On the wine side we dipped into their tasting menu staples—from a 2024 Mamuka Chelidze Orange to their 2020 Merab Ediberidze.
Complemented by locally-sourced produce and five spices straight from Georgia.
The Cornish plaice and corn-fed poussin followed, both finished with plenty of fresh herbs and both the sort of plates I’d happily order again.
The Khinkali
After a deeply enjoyable meal it was time for the star of the evening, khinkali.
Kinkally takes its name from Georgia’s famous soup dumplings, each one folded by hand into its distinctive little topknot before being cooked.
Fair play that the versions here move well beyond the most traditional fillings. On our visit we tried a rich Wagyu with peppercorn and plum sauce, alongside langoustine with wasabi and matsoni.
But, word to the wise: eat them properly!
Pick one up by the top, bite a small hole into the side and drink the broth first before eating the rest. The thicker knot at the top can be left behind.
Finishing off with a rich matsoni cream-led dessert fit with lemon and halva.
The Drinks at Kinkally
The good news about Kinkally is dinner doesn’t necessarily have to finish upstairs.
Downstairs you’ll Bar Kinky, a much darker cocktail bar with seasonal drinks alongside the classic offenders.
We had one built around quince, followed by an espresso-martini-style cocktail with lavender that made for a fabulous pre-theatre tipple.
Does lavender have much to do with Georgia? Not particularly. But that’s kind of the point!
Is Kinkally Worth Visiting?
Yes.
Everything I had is something I’d happily order again, but the combination of Georgian wine, locally sourced produce and those handmade khinkali is what made the evening feel genuinely different from most of what I’ve eaten around Fitzrovia recently.
If Georgian food isn’t already on your London list, perhaps it should be…
Practical Bits:
Address: 43 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RS
Nearest Tube: Goodge Street or Tottenham Court Road
Price: ££
Perfect for: Date nights, pre-theatre dinners, curious foodies and anyone wanting to try Georgian food somewhere contemporary.
Good to know: Ask for a counter seat if you want to watch the kitchen at work. Khinkali fillings can change depending on availability, and Bar Kinky downstairs is walk-in only if you want to stay for drinks afterwards.
Happy Londoning,
Candace x
Plan the Rest of Your Fitzrovia Day
Still planning your day out? Read my guides to discover what to do, where to eat and where to stay around Fitzrovia and nearby Central London.
