The best London wine bars
There is not much I love more than a glass of wine. Mon passe-temps préféré consists of sharing of a bottle of orange (my newfound love) with friends over an elongated dinner party, sipping on something fizzy to mark a celebration, paired with the obligatory “woo” when the cork is popped, or trying the locally-made wine when abroad, where you wind down the backstreets of a random Italian town and have to bring your own plastic bottles to fill up with red.
The glasses enjoyed at these times tie you to the memory, the scent of the tipple reaching to the core. Wine isn’t just about getting that lovely wine buzz, it’s about savouring every sip and bringing people together. Perhaps my love letter to a tempranillo should end there.
But in London, we’re lucky to have an abundance of spots that take wine seriously and serve up delectable drinks. From natty wine to more spenny delights, these are London’s best wine bars.
Bar Levan
The perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink as it sits right next door to Levan, the restaurant. It’s cosy, on the corner by Peckham Rye station, with bottles lining the walls. Not cosy in a first-year uni student way, but in a chic, wax-dripping, ambience-creating kind of way.
Bar Levan is a natural wine bar offering an exciting range of organic and biodynamic wines from across Europe, with seats facing out in front of the shop in true Parisian style. Get in the mood with music inspired by its namesake, Larry Levan, played from vinyl on a vintage sound system.
Must try: The vin du jour
Peckham, SE15 | barlevan.co.uk
Sol’s
With front windows slung open when the weather is warm, Sol’s will be my go-to West London wine bar this summer. It serves low-intervention European wines in a “can you take a pic of me with this rose?” setting.
Perch on the bench out the front and sip and natter until your heart’s content. Because that really is what enjoying a wine with your mates is all about.
It also serves Papo’s Bagels on the food menu, which is obviously a win in my eyes.
Must try: Caramboulle from Rhone, France
Bayswater, W2 | sols.london
Lower Wine Bar
A neighbourhood wine bar in Waterloo, Lower Wine Bar has a working cellar shop for wines to drink in or take away.
With wide windows that get steamed up in a “rom-com characters go to the local village pub” way, this central location is as cute as the wine selection is long.
Perfect to stop by for date night, pre-theatre, or as a sophisticated post-work drink. It’s intimate and cosy, and I almost wanted to gatekeep this one.
Must try: 2022 François Cotat, 'Les Caillottes', from Sancerre, Loire Valley, France –Sauvignon Blanc
Waterloo, SE1 | lowerwine.com
Crystal Palace Wine Club
Not only is this a cute South London spot, but they do funky wine pairing nights. Like six glasses of wine paired with six of your favourite fast-food bites, including the “famed” orange wine and chicken nugs.
Its slogan is “wine without the bullsh*t”, just great tasting glasses and bottles. There are 10-15 wines available to try by the glass each day, with a range of over 105 wines sourced from across the world in the bar and shop. Truly something for everyone.
Must try: An expert rec from the team
Crystal Palace, SE19 | crystalpalacewineclub.com
Half Cut Market
This North London wine bar and shop will leave you walking out half cut, in a delightful wine haze, after tasting some of the best glasses our capital has on offer. Specialising in natural wines, you can grab a bottle of your favourite to take home to carry on the good times.
The Half Cut Market food menu is a fraction of the size of its wine list, but the accompanying plates are the perfect pairing. It changes regularly, but you can expect things you want to pick up with a toothpick, like pickles and olives, plus flatbreads, skewers, and fried garlic and honey potatoes (petition for these to be on every wine bar menu, just perfect).
Must try: Matt Gregory, ancestral natural English sparkling
Islington, N7 | halfcut.world
Joyce
This Brockley wine bar does good drinks, plain and simple. All wines served at Joyce are from independent makers, making each sip even more special, knowing you’re supporting those small businesses.
The founders also run the Brockley Natural Wine Club, hosted at Joyce, where you join for a tasting evening and can sip and enjoy with like-minded wine lovers.
Must try: The best white wine from the blackboard
Brockley, SE4 | joycebrockley.com
Wingnut Wines Shop & Bar
This spot showcases underrepresented natural wines and gives you the opportunity to try stuff you wouldn’t readily be able to find elsewhere. Wingnut Wines is the place for interesting bottles and glasses, with flavour profiles that will pique your interest and satisfy your taste buds.
They stock small amounts of each bottle, with new wines added weekly, meaning there is always something new and exciting to try.
There’s also something about drinking vino surrounded by vino ready to take home. A bottle shop means business, and Wingnut is CEO.
Must try: A glass of Terra Forte, plus a bottle to take home
Netil Market, E8 | wingnutwines.com
Henny’s
Highlighting the personality of the grower, wine at Henny’s is organic, biodynamic or, at the very least, sustainably produced. This is to highlight the places the wines come from.
The wine menu is fun and changes weekly, with a variety to suit all wine tastes. From sparkling and crisp to your full-bodied red, this Balham spot needs to go on your summer wine-drinking list ASAP.
Plus, the wine glasses are really nice, which is clearly important when drinking with your eyes first.
You can also order Yard Sale Pizza to the shop. OK, now I’m done.
Must try: Pink Diesel Provence from France
Balham, SW12 | hennyswine.com
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