Christmas, Valentine's and Future Plans

Three Months at Khachapuri

Christmas Day was one of the most important days we’ve had so far.

We opened our doors to the community — especially people out on their morning walks and families who wanted to do something different together. We gave away free mini khachapuri and invited families to come inside and make their own from scratch.

It was simple. Hands in dough. Cheese everywhere. People smiling. It felt generous and it felt right.

That day set the tone for what we want this place to be.

After that, we introduced Etude’s coffee. We didn’t want to just serve “a coffee.” We wanted something we were proud of. Something that matched the quality of the food. Since launching it, mornings have felt stronger and more complete.

Valentine’s Day was another big moment. We made heart-shaped khachapuri and the response was incredible. We were fully booked. People really embraced it — it was fun, relaxed, and full of good energy. Seeing the café completely full like that, only a few months in, meant a lot.

Behind the scenes, Masha and I have been working constantly on the space itself. We’ve installed new panelling to make it feel warmer and more homely. We built a new restroom ourselves — tiling it, finishing it, doing everything we could to make it comfortable and thoughtful.

We’ve been slowly shaping the café into somewhere that feels personal, not generic.

The best part has been how well it’s been received. People have noticed. People have said it feels cosy. That feedback matters.

And in just three months, we’ve broken even.

That’s something we’re genuinely proud of.

Now we’re renovating the basement so we can introduce live music. We want to create more than just a place to eat — we want atmosphere, culture, something that grows with the community.

It’s been a lot of work. But it feels like it’s working.

There's more to come, an event on 26th March with The Sourcing Table, early morning openings with pastry Khachapuri, khachapuri making masterclasses and Georgian wine tasting.

We love how many of you have made our place your new hangout - and we can't wait to keep growing and sharing all of our plans with you.

Peace and love to all of you in Crystal Palace.

Ps. sorry it has been such a long time to get a new blog post done. We'll try to get more of the history and events that have happened and our future plans written here and documented to look back on.