Best London wine bars: From beginner to wine w*nker
Wine bars have been having a prolonged moment, especially among younger generations. According to recent reports, Gen Z and Millennials are flocking to the places – even if they’re not drinking, with neighbourhood wine bars offering an alternative to the local down the road.
Whatever your budget, from East End hole-in-the-wall with graffiti on the shutters to swish Mayfair postcode, there's a wine bar for everyone. If you've never heard the term 'skin-contact wine' or, conversely, you already have the second edition of your local wine bar's tote bag, these London wine bars will provide you with a lovely evening out.
The casual London wine bars
No dress code, no central postcode, just good old neighbourhood spots without all the fuss and frills and – most importantly – quality wines.
Dan’s
East London’s preference for casual wine bars means you’re never short on great neighbourhood spots where people won’t look at you funny for mispronouncing the name of the wine – they’re probably mispronouncing it too, but that’s the whole point, a lack of self-conscious pretentiousness (well, sometimes, but if you let wine w*nkers prevent you from visiting wine bars you'd miss out on a lot of good wines).
Dan’s is a no-reservations kind of place, cosy, and low-lit with windows that open out onto the Dalston streets. You can expect a rotating menu of wines by the glass, curated by people who seriously know their business. Dan’s is probably one of the most entry-level London wine bars, after one visit you’ll want to become one of those wine people you used to roll your eyes at because at Dan's wine is super accessible.
Dalston, N1 | dans.wine
Forza Wine
Anyone who lives north of the river may baulk at the idea of trekking to Peckham, but Forza Wine’s formidable reputation makes that journey worth it. With a rooftop location providing stellar views of the London skyline and wines imported by Les Caves de Pyrene, it's popular for a reason. Trendy, yes. Hipster-esque, maybe. But if you abstained from going places and doing things just because of trendy London types, you’d do very little in this city.
When you’re new to wine, always ask your server for recommendations, and for the seasoned drinker, the menu at Forza Wine has a proclivity for the colourful – instead of ordering a classic white or red wine, lean into the pink and orange.
Peckham, SE1 | forzawine.com
Sager + Wilde
This London wine bar should be well-known to the seasoned drinker, and for the novice, this is one to bookmark.
From the outside, Sager + Wilde might look like another one of your standard Victorian London pubs, this is because it is – or was, anyway. Refurbished in 2013, it's a diminutive spot, paying homage to its location with a bar made of an old pavement light that contributes to the cosy glow of the room. Along with a backlit bar, candlelit tables and globe lights, this is a wine bar for people who hate putting on the big light.
In the wine bar-saturated region of East London, Sager + Wilde’s more than 10 years in the game, and owner Michael Sager’s Midas-like touch with London’s drinks scene, gives this London wine bar reliability and respectability.
The wine list is extensive but servers are on hand to make suggestions and help the less educated among us choose something we’ll enjoy. Sager’s sommelier knowledge is evident in his discerning selection of wines seemingly all colours of the rainbow, and the variety alone makes this a place to book – and I do recommend you book.
Hackney, E2 | sagerandwilde.com
Pedro's Wine Bar (OPS Wines)
In an area known for its beer mile, Bermondsey's Druid Street harbours a rustic wine bar under one of its signature Victorian railway arches – Pedro's Wine Bar (online shop: OPS Wines).
On my first visit, the server caught me looking at all the Portuguese names and regions and simply asked me what flavours I liked and whether I was after a red or a white. After detailing the flavours I enjoyed, he recommended one of the best white wines I've ever had – the Beyra Muscatel Galego White. The experience wasn't embarrassing, rather I realised I was speaking to someone who had trained palate and nose on them and I appreciated it immensely.
Bermondsey, SE1 | opswines.co.uk
Vagabond
This one is for the novice drinker. Vagabond is pretty entry-level, with eight locations across London and the novelty of self-pour machines. The chain offers more than 100 wines from around the world and its Battersea winery. Vagabond's vineyards are just two hours from London and the wines are certified sustainable, with minimal intervention and get the job done – which is all you need to know if you’re new to wine.
There’s an unpretentiousness to Vagabond that’s exceedingly attractive for those whose wine talk is limited to “that tastes good” or “this one not so much”. There’s no posturing, and many visit just to have a drink with friends and indulge in something from a well-rounded small plates menu.
Various locations | vagabondwines.co.uk
When you’ve got cash to splash
You’re looking at a central postcode with prices to match, these are the wine bars for when you feel confident in dropping cash on a fancy bottle of wine for a special occasion or you have a pedantic urge to tell the person behind the bar all about your wine knowledge.
The Remedy Wine Bar & Restaurant
This Fitzrovia spot is the epitome of the intimate, cosy wine bar. While it looks and feels like a casual wine bar, it’s somewhere between casual and got-cash-to-splash. Firstly, you need to make a reservation. Secondly – and most importantly – the menus has prices that aren’t to be sniffed at. There’s always a selection of wines by the glass but expect starting prices for a bottle at around £40 with many averaging in the £50 - £60 range.
Having said that, their wine selection is superb but I would save the Remedy for when you’re comfortable knowing the flavours you like and don’t like or you're already a seasoned wine drinker.
Regarding the atmosphere, the Remedy is cosy but still lively and the kind of place you’ll want to while away the hours – if your wallet allows it.
Fitzrovia, W1T | theremedylondon.com
Plume Wine Bar
‘Speakeasy’ is an overused word these days. Most don’t have any secretive policy, and some barely have hidden entrances, but that’s the nature of marketing trends. Plume Wine Bar & Speakeasy is located in Charles Dickens’ former publishing house – a draw for anyone with an interest in literary history– and offers wines and cocktails.
A handy ‘wine atlas’ is there to help if you want to choose by location, while another more traditional list splits the menu by wine colour. From Romania to Japan to Argentina, a trip to this London wine bar will take you all over the world. Plume's selection of English wines is great, and for the novice among you, English wines have been on the up and up for a while.
Covent Garden, WC2E | plumewinebar.com
Red Room
The Connaught’s wine bar is a place to go once you’ve graduated from the previous locations. It’s what many would call ‘a classy joint’, an art gallery in its own right, displaying artworks from female artists including Jenny Holzer, Louise Bourgeois and Trina McKillen.
Red Room is for vintage wines and fortified wines and nibbling ‘snacks’ – oysters, beef tataki and caviar (oh, yes! Those snacks!). There’s also the requisite cheese and cured meats selection.
Just walking into the bar and taking a seat on one of its comfy armchairs is already impressive. When the initial awe wears off, you’ll find a select variety of the finest reds, whites, rosés, champagnes and fortified wines from the Connaught’s cellar, along with cocktails inspired by the hotel’s art.
This is the kind of place where you start daydreaming about a different version of yourself who swans around being stylish and doesn’t need a job. As you sweep out of the room in your imaginary gown, relishing your hard-earned knowledge of the world of wine, be careful not to spill anything on the pristine white rugs.
Mayfair, W1K | the-connaught.co.uk
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