Name: Daquise
Address: 20 Thurloe Street, South Kensington, SW7 2LT, London, GB
Telephone: 020 7589 6117

The story

Daquise Restaurant London: A Historic Polish Institution in South Kensington

Daquise has anchored South Kensington as London's oldest Polish restaurant since 1947. The menu reflects a history spanning more than sixty years, preserving recipes that attracted filmmaker Roman Polanski and exiled President Edward Raczynski.

A Storied Past

The room witnessed political intrigue during the height of the Profumo affair, hosting Christine Keeler and Yevgeni Ivanov, the Soviet Embassy naval attaché and KGB spy. Polanski frequented the kitchen for dumplings and goulash while filming Repulsion in the area. Raczynski operated an unofficial headquarters here, planning campaigns to overthrow the Communist regime from the dining tables.

The Dining Room and Kitchen

Guests settle into a noisy, high-ceilinged hall where crystal chandeliers hang above crisp white tablecloths. Professional waitstaff navigate the space, which expands beyond the building's modest facade. Starters feature Polish-style stuffed eggs and 'ruskies', pierogi stuffed with cheese, potato, and onion. Mains offer substantial plates like pan-fried calf's liver with apples and onions, or a veal schnitzel crowned with a fried egg and mashed potato.

Vodka and Viability

The drink list highlights straight and flavoured vodkas, with the orzechówka hazelnut variety pairing well with a sweet cheese-stuffed pancake. European wines are available starting at £26. Interest has surged recently, doubling pressure on tables after reports of a potential move due to tube station redevelopment. The lease retains a six-month break clause, giving the restaurant time to continue operating while plans evolve.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026

The Good Food Guide

Good

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good

Cuisines Polish

History

On the record

2026

The Good Food Guide — Good

A wave of panic has swept through South Kensington. It seems TFL plan to expand the tube station, developing the buildings around it, one of which houses Daquise, London’s oldest Polish restaurant (established in 1947). This threat to its continued existence has sparked such a resurgence of interest that it now has a new lease of life and pressure on tables has doubled. As it last appeared in the Guide in 1987, we thought we should take another look. Our findings? There’s no doubt Daquise is an institution and the Guide is glad to have it back in the listings. Outside remains unpromising, but inside is a noisy, high-ceilinged, chandelier-hung dining room (much larger than we remembered – we suspect two rooms have been knocked through), with plenty of white-clad tables and a brigade of thoroughly professional waiting staff. The menu deals in reasonably priced Polish classics, and we were particularly impressed by the Polish-style stuffed eggs and the ‘ruskies’ (pierogi dumplings made with cheese, potato and onion), followed by generous plates of pan-fried calf's liver with apple and onions as well as a spot-on veal schnitzel topped with a fried egg and served with mashed potato. To drink, there’s a line-up of straight and flavoured vodkas – we loved the orzechówka (hazelnut) version with our sweet cheese-stuffed pancake – as well as a straightforward list of European wines starting at £26. And the good news is that with a six-month break clause in their lease (yet to be invoked), you still have time to try it yourselves before it's gone.

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Established

Location

Find us

20 Thurloe Street, South Kensington, SW7 2LT
London, United Kingdom
020 7589 6117
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