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Celebrate the spirit of Türkiye as World Raki Week comes to London
By Tempus | 4 December 2025 | Food & Drink
Yeni Raki returns to present the world’s biggest celebration of Raki, hosting a series of events across London, Berlin and Amsterdam
For those longing for a taste of Türkiye in the heart of London, or who wish to discover a spirit that is rarely celebrated in the UK, World Raki Week returns to London for its third year. Created by prominent spirits brand Yeni Raki, the event sees a series of events at the brand’s pop-up, The House of Yeni Raki, in Covent Garden from 2-7 December 2025, with parallel celebrations in Berlin and Amsterdam.
The lively and fun-filled events will spotlight Türkiye’s best-loved spirit as well as Turkish cuisine, culture and entertainment, with a range of dining events, DJ sessions and masterclasses to enjoy. 
Culinary highlights range from mezze to main courses and desserts all inspired by Turkish traditional dining, featuring signature dishes such as haydari yogurt dip with garlic and herbs, crispy calamari, sumak meatballs and more on the menu during the popular Meyhane Nights dining experiences.
The national drink of Türkiye, Raki is an unsweetened, anise-flavoured spirit made from distilled grape pomace and aniseed. Popular throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean, Raki is known as ‘Lion’s Milk’ due to the milky-white colour it turns when classically served mixed with cold water. 
During Yeni Raki’s celebrations, inventive cocktails will also be on hand to try – and learn to make – including the Istanball, the Meyhane Martini (complete with pickled watermelon and feta-stuffed olives), and a warming Mulled Raki created especially for the season. The grand finale, The Last Sip, on 7 December will see Turkish musician Zeynep Önkaya take to the stage to lead celebrations.
Meanwhile in Berlin, electro-acoustic trio Islandman will play out the event with their contemporary Anatolian sound and, in Amsterdam, a modern take on an ‘Öğle Rakısı’ – or ‘noon raki’ (when intellectuals came together for debate over a glass of raki and mezze) will add inspired dining and a live DJ to keep the conversation – and cocktails – flowing.
Tickets available at yeniraki.com