A Wine Lover’s Guide To The Best Wine Bars In London

Stable Wines

This wine bar offers an intimate, cellar experience, with stone walls lined with bottles to choose from. Let the in-house sommeliers guide your pours; they know the list best.

Don’t miss the signature small plates to soak up each glass. Take your time in the space, wander among the bespoke artwork, and sip some of the most distinctive wines in the city.

Let the in-house sommeliers guide your pours; they know the list best.

Where: 344a Essex Rd, London N1 3PD
Website: www.stablewines.com

Bar Flor

Located above the acclaimed Wildflowers in Newson’s Yard, Bar Flor is the playful, high-energy sibling to chef Aaron Potter and stylist Laura Hart’s debut restaurant. The name “Flor” serves as a double nod to the Spanish word for flower and the unique yeast layer used in wine aging — a fitting tribute to a space that balances botanical charm with a serious, character-led wine list.

Expect a menu that changes weekly; the blue cheese, walnut, truffle honey pintxos, and Iberico Bellota chorizo are absolute must-orders. Pair each bite with a glass or a bottle, and you’ll be set for the night.

La Compagnie Neal’s Yard

Tucked away in Neal’s Yard sits one of Covent Garden’s best-kept secrets. Spilling out onto the vibrant and quaint courtyard with a carefully selected wine offering from independent and small producers, you will be sure to discover a handful of new names to try (and love). A standout bottle The Handbook recommends is Champagne Laherte Frères Blanc de Blanc, which pairs beautifully with their freshly made small plates.

Tucked away in Neal’s Yard sits one of Covent Garden’s best-kept secrets.

where: 8-10 Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP
website: www.compagniedesvinssurnaturels.com

Vinoteca di Sartoria

Vinoteca di Sartoria highlights a classic Italian kitchen, inspired by great food, wine, and relaxed, everyday hospitality. Seasonal menus, carefully chosen wines, and welcoming spaces sit at the heart of each location, shaped by its neighbourhood feel.

Menus are designed to be enjoyed at your own pace, whether you’re stopping in for a few small plates or settling in for something more substantial, with wines chosen to complement the food naturally, not compete with it.

Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.vinotecadisartoria.com

Bar 190

Just moments from the Royal Albert Hall, Bar 190 blends a rich musical legacy with a standout wine list. Long associated with visiting music legends, the bar continues to draw a creative, cultured crowd, its warm lighting, leather armchairs, and intimate booths creating the perfect backdrop for discovery.

At its heart is a deep commitment to English wine with one of the largest English wine lists in London. Settle in to enjoy a thoughtfully curated selection of international bottles, classic cocktails, and an all-day dining menu.

Where: 190 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5EX
Website: www.collezione.starhotels.com

Peckham Cellars

For those on the south side of the river, Peckham Cellars is a must-visit for its relaxed, easygoing atmosphere and an impressive wine selection. The knowledgeable staff is always ready to guide you through the extensive offerings, with a list focused on Europe, specifically France and Spain.

Complement your drink of choice with simple, seasonal dishes like burrata with roasted peaches or beef + pork skewers for a perfect evening.

The knowledgeable staff is always ready to guide you through the extensive offerings.

Where: 125 Queen’s Rd, London SE15 2ND
Website: www.peckhamcellars.coM

Diogenes The Dog

Diogenes The Dog at first stands out for its name, paying homage to the Greek philosopher’s inquisitive spirit, and reflecting the bar’s commitment to offering unique grape varieties and wine styles. From Poland to Texas, they explore unusual regions, showcasing undiscovered bottles from around the globe.

What makes this place even more inviting is its relaxed ambiance and approachable staff — a rare gem for unique wines and an easygoing atmosphere.

Where: 96 Rodney Rd, London SE17 1BG
Website: www.diogenesthedog.co.uk

Templar

New in Stratford Cross, Templar is the hottest wine bar and sharing plates restaurant. From the creators of DARKHORSE, the menu emphasizes small sharing plates made with quality ingredients.

The restaurant has a wide selection of old wines and a deliciously unique cocktail list. To start your dining experience, we recommend the Desert Garden Margarita with Mezcal, cucumber, lime & honey. Follow up the marg with salmon tartare, whole seabream, and truffle ricotta ravioli.

Where: 5 Redman Place, Stratford, London E20 1JQ
Website: www.templarlondon.com

The Drop

In the heart of Coal Drops Yard, this cosy wine bar is making waves under the Hart brothers’ expertise. Known for their restaurant successes across the capital (think Barrafina and El Pastor), their hidden gem of a bar offers an unpretentious haven for wine lovers. 

The venue is nestled under Victorian arches and has the air of a French wine cellar, with bare brick walls and rows of wine bottles on display. The menu boasts a selection of unique, low-intervention wines for enjoying a glass or carafe of something entirely new.

Where: Unit 22-24 Bagley Walk Arches Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DH
Website: www.thedropbar.com

Noble Rot

This late-night spot is a “shrine to the vine”, so they say, as well as an award-winning restaurant. The kitchen oversees an à la carte menu and small dishes in the bar, including ricotta and honey on toast, salame toscano, as well as nibbles like flavourful olives.

Never ones for snobbery, the wine list is inclusive and inspiring enough to expand your horizons — from undervalued wines by the glass to rare bottles from great estates.

BOTTLES

They know a thing or two about wine — the Italians, after all, have been making it since the time of the Romans.

And thanks to BOTTLES (all caps, not a typo), there’s a place to get your taste buds around some Italian flavours from the wine bar’s extensive collection, specialising in sustainable, independent, organic and bio-dynamic producers in the country.

Specialising in sustainable, independent, organic and bio-dynamic producers in the country.

Where: Old Spitalfields Market, 67 Brushfield Street, E1 6AA
Website: www.bottleswine.bar

Gordon’s Wine Bar

We’re huge fans of Gordon’s Wine Bar. The city’s oldest, serving Londoners for over 135 years, there’s a certain historic charm about this place that can’t be beat.

Candlelit, low-ceilinged, and totally romantic, they offer hearty cheese boards, charcuterie, and vegetarian and vegan options to complement their extensive selection of wines from around the world. Most are sold by the glass, all are available by the bottle, and prices are incredibly good value. Just make sure to arrive early — they don’t take bookings and the queue can get busy at peak hours.

Where: 47 Villiers St, London WC2N 6NE
Website: www.gordonswinebar.com

Humble Grape

After humble beginnings, Humble Grape now boasts wine bars in Fleet Street, Battersea, Bow Lane, Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street, and Islington with a winning laid-back vibe (except in Fleet Street, where things are slightly bigger and slicker), encouraging you to experiment by the glass, bottle, or carafe. Humble Grape imports over 500 organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention wines from 100% sustainable, small, family-run vineyards across the world, making it a particularly striking choice for a glass.

The wines can be paired with small plates, and there’s always a wine tasting on, giving guests the chance to learn from the pros.

Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.humblegrape.co.uk

The Wine Tasting Shop

This Balham neighbourhood wine shop is the perfect option whether you’re looking to broaden your drinking horizons, looking for a midweek glass or two, or looking to sample a tasting.

Friendly and knowledgable, they specialise in top-quality wines handpicked from smaller or lesser-known producers, offering a range of wines from around the world with over 300 bottles available in-store, including organic, biodynamic, and natural wines. They also run regular wine-tasting events for you to get involved in.

where: 18 Hildreth St, London SW12 9RQ
website: thewinetastingshop.com

Sager + Wilde

In East London, Sager + Wilde’s wine bar is, of course, one of the city’s coolest spots to hang out. You’ll be in for a treat as you’re presented with a wine you’ve probably never heard of — but put your trust in the knowledgeable staff, and you can’t go wrong.

To go alongside, there’s quite a long snack menu including cheese and charcuterie plates with apricot jam. If you’re feeling particularly ravenous after you’ve had one too many Sauvignon Blancs, there’s even hearty toasties on offer to soak it all up.

Where: 193 Hackney Rd, London E2 8JL
Website: www.sagerandwilde.com

Champagne + Fromage

One way to let people know you’re the place to go for cheese and wine is by having it in your name. Champagne + Fromage does exactly what you’d think. With bistros in Brixton, Covent Garden, and Greenwich, the fromagerie sells more than 50 French cheeses from Comte and Brie to baked Camembert.

When it comes to drinks, they have a vast selection of award-winning grower Champagnes, which you can buy to take home or sit down with a glass alongside their cheese afternoon tea.

Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.champagneplusfromage.co.uk

The 10 Cases

Covent Garden’s The 10 Cases brings a wine-focused bistro experience to central London. The key draw here is the fact that they limit themselves to just 10 bottles of white, red, sparkling, rosé, and sweet wines at a time. No wine has been on the list twice; the selection changes each time the 10 cases are through, and there are just 10 tables.

The accompanying food is of remarkably high quality, making this a memorable stop-off on any wine bar crawl, while remaining affordable and, by and large, unpretentious.

Where: 16 Endell St, Covent Garden WC2H 9BD
Website: www.10cases.com

Porte Noire

An evening at a wine bar owned by Idris Elba? Um, yes, please — where do we sign up? Aside from the fact that the place was founded by the Luther star, the intimate space is inspired by the wine bars of continental Europe, and its seemingly endless selection of hand-picked wines is pretty impressive — including the critically acclaimed Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru vintage Champagne.

The cosy bar also plays host to an accompanying list of sharing plates, including tuna tartare with whipped feta and aubergine caviar, cheese boards, and charcuterie plates.

Where: Gasholder 10, unit A, London N1C 4BY
Website: www.portenoire.co.uk

Vagabond Wines

It wouldn’t be Vagabond without their super-fun wine machines — allowing you to taste over 100 wines by the glass. Handy tasting notes guide your selection, so grab a Vagabond card from the bar and go on a wine tasting adventure.

The menu also boasts a host of delicious dishes from small nibbles to larger plates, and, of course, cheese-sharing platters — the perfect pairing for a glass of wine.

Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.vagabondwines.co.uk

WC Bloomsbury

Public toilets, cheeseboards, and charcuterie should never go together. Except, that is, when you’re in Bloomsbury or Clapham and the public toilet is WC Wine and Charcuterie, in which case we’ll make an exception.

The former underground loo block has been converted into a wine and charcuterie joint, and once you’ve gotten your head around the fact that this was a water closet for a century before they started serving brie, it’s a delight. The wine list is decent, while the cheeses served with sourdough are a selection from the UK and Europe.

Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.wcbars.co.uk

The Buxton

Tucked away just off London’s iconic Brick Lane is The Buxton. While unsuspecting from the outside, inside is a cosy bar with an extensive offering of natural wines.

Plus, unlike other wine bars that offer cheese and charcuterie snack options, The Buxton has a bigger menu of small plates — don’t leave without trying the baked camembert with hot honey.

While unsuspecting from the outside, inside is a cosy bar with an extensive offering of natural wines.

where: 42 osborn street. london e1 6td
website: www.thebuxton.co.uk

116 Pall Mall Champagne Bar By Searcys

116 Pall Mall’s cosy underground bar is the stuff of sparkling wine lovers’ dreams. Guided by champagne aficionados Searcys, guests are invited to try an array of fizz, alongside creative cocktails, British bar bites, and catering offerings for your next event.

Enter through the original iron gate doors to the converted cellar with vaulted ceilings, exposed brickwork, plush navy-blue seating, and a long wood-topped bar. Then choose from a selection of Brut, Demi-Sec, and Rosé, alongside the biggest list of magnums in London from the likes of Moët et Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and R de Ruinart.

WHERE: 116 PALL MALL, ST. JAMES’S, LONDON SW1Y 5ED
WEBSITE: WWW.116PALLMALL.COM