Tata Naka

Designer duo Tata Naka from London, founded by Georgian sisters Tamara and Natalia Surguladze, has become one of the most talked about among the new generation of progressive young designers. Having started in the legendary Central St. Martin’s in 1996, Tata Naka launched their first collection in 2000. Their star-fans include Sara Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz, Natalie Imbruglia, Reese Witherspoon and Julian Moore. The girls shared with us the most inspiring places in London. 

FOOD

We live in Chelsea and we are totally in love with the area. Chelsea is like a tiny picturesque town within Greater London. It has a Mediterranean charm. The area is also associated with world classic icons such as Oscar Wilde, Agatha Christie (her house is just next door) and many other creative individuals. Every street breathes with history here. The best place in the neighbourhood for breakfast and brunch is Tom’s kitchen. We come here a lot. You should try the poached eggs or pancakes – they’re delicious! 

We also like Soho. We used to spend a lot of time there when we were students. Soho has a very vibrant energy, full of contrasts. La Bodega Negra is one of our favourite places to hang out in Soho. It serves Mexican food and has a very lively atmosphere. There is also La Bodega Negra café just opposite the restaurant. It looks like a sex shop from outside. But it’s actually an underground bar with live music and very artistic crowd. For Italian food we go to La Bocca di Lupo. Italy is our favourite summer destination. The food here is great and the place has a cozy Italian atmosphere. The chef here prepares dishes from different corners of Italy. It reminds us of a tapas place, where you can try a little bit of everything. However, if you are craving Italian desserts we suggest going to Princhi café, also in Soho. For a rest from the bustling London atmosphere, pop down to Petersham Nurseries in the suburbs. The area is known for its beautiful flower shops. Petersham Nurseries features an Eclectic shop, cozy café and a restaurant. There are plenty of interesting things here to be found here. You can also sit in the café and enjoy the sunny weather with your cappuccino. 

AFTER DARK

We have recently discovered the best place for drinks in London – The Little House. It’s a members club in Mayfair, but the atmosphere’s very different from stereotypical Mayfair places. It has a retro-interior and unique aura. There’s also live music playing every night. We also like the newly renovated Library Bar in Electric House in Notting Hill. The place reminds you of 1950’s New York with its underground jazz bars and vibrant energy. It feels like travelling in time.

SHOP

The best shopping for us is at the Hammersmith Antique Fair. It is run every 2-3 weeks in the Hammersmith Town Hall. The entrance is by invitation only, so you have to sign up in advance.  You can find a lot of original vintage pieces here: Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta or Marilyn Monroe dresses. We used to buy a lot of vintage decorations here for our college coursework.  There’s always a great selection of vintage jewellery.  

ART & CULTURE

For our cultural program, we like going to Tate Modern and Royal Academy.  They always have the most interesting exhibitions. Victoria & Albert Museum has great textile archives - you can spend the whole day looking through them. It’s best to book a time slot in advance. 

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