Is This the Best Place to Drink Turkish Wine in London? | Kismet London Review

Some restaurants stay with you because of a single dish.

Others because of a memorable bottle of wine.

Kismet manages to do both.

Hidden upstairs at The Globe Tavern, just a short walk from Borough Market, this Turkish-Cypriot restaurant residency is one of the most exciting places I've discovered recently for anyone interested in exploring Turkish wine in London.

Yes, the food is exceptional. The atmosphere is warm and effortlessly welcoming. But what makes Kismet stand out is its commitment to showcasing a wine culture that many people have never had the opportunity to experience.

If you've ever wondered where to drink Turkish wine in London, this is the place I'd recommend.

When people think of the world's great wine-producing countries, Turkey rarely makes the list.

Yet it should.

Turkey has been making wine for thousands of years and is home to well over 1,000 indigenous grape varieties, making it one of the most genetically diverse wine-producing countries in the world.

Many of these grapes remain relatively unknown outside Turkey, which is exactly what makes them so exciting to discover.

Depending on what's available on the wine list, you might come across varieties such as Narince, known for its freshness and texture, Emir, prized for its bright acidity and citrus character, or red grapes like Kalecik Karası and Öküzgözü, each expressing a unique sense of place.

For wine lovers who enjoy discovering regions beyond the classics of France, Italy and Spain, Turkish wine offers something genuinely different.

Kismet isn't simply serving Turkish food alongside wine.

The two feel intrinsically connected.

Located upstairs at The Globe Tavern near Borough Market, the restaurant embraces the spirit of a traditional Turkish meyhane, where meals are designed to be shared, conversations linger long into the evening and wine plays an important role at the table.

The menu is full of generous meze, beautifully grilled dishes and vibrant flavours that naturally invite food and wine pairing.

It's exactly the sort of place where ordering several dishes for the table allows the wines to evolve throughout the meal, revealing different characteristics with each plate.

As someone who is always looking for restaurants that champion lesser-known wine regions, this felt refreshingly different from many London wine lists.

There was one dish I couldn't stop thinking about after I left. The baklava.

It's often easy for baklava to become overwhelmingly sweet, but this struck the perfect balance.

Delicate layers of crisp filo pastry, generous pistachios and just enough syrup to bring everything together without overpowering it.

Quite simply, it's one of the best baklava desserts I've eaten in London.

If you're visiting Kismet, don't skip dessert. You'll regret it.

I'd certainly say it's one of the most exciting places in London to drink Turkish wine?

Not because it's trying to reinvent Turkish cuisine or create an elaborate fine dining experience, but because it does something much more valuable.

It introduces people to a fascinating wine culture in an approachable, welcoming setting.

For many guests, this may be their first encounter with Turkish wine. I hope it won't be their last. Because restaurants like Kismet remind us that some of the world's most exciting bottles are often the ones we've never considered ordering before.

Whether you're searching for the best Turkish restaurant in London, planning a visit to Borough Market or simply looking to explore one of the world's oldest wine-producing countries through food and wine, Kismet deserves a place on your list.

📍 Visiting Kismet London: Location: Upstairs at The Globe Tavern, Borough Market, London

If you're looking for Turkish wine in London, the best restaurants near Borough Market, Turkish-Cypriot food, food and wine pairing experiences or restaurants with unique wine lists, Kismet should be firmly on your radar.

It's a reminder that wine discovery doesn't always begin in a vineyard.

Sometimes, it begins around a restaurant table with a glass you've never tasted before.

Elizabeth Hawthorthwaite

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