London’s best wine bars

I love British pubs, especially the really old ones with tons of history. The problem is, I’m not really a beer drinker or a lover of spirits and usually the wine in pubs is not great. So when I fancy going out for a glass of wine, I go for a wine bar instead – that way you’re guaranteed to have a great glass of wine (and no football on in the background). London has plenty of wine bars to choose from but here are some of my favourites.

Cecilia’s Wine House

Located in the heart of Covent Garden on Drury Lane, you’ll find Cecilia’s Wine House. Boasting a wide range of wines, including a good selection of new world wines, there’s something for everyone. When we visited we ordered the Vilarnau Gold Reserva Cava and I was happy to see that their sparkling wine selection included Cava, Prosecco, Crémant and English sparkling wine and not just Champagne.

The wines are really reasonable too with lots of glasses starting at just £6.50. They also serve nibbles, such as nuts and olives and if you’re looking for something more substantial they have a selection of bruschetta, sharing platters and charcuterie boards – which is what we ordered. And it was substantial!

The decor is really lovely and the lighting is quite low, making it perfect for a date night. If you’re heading to the theatre in Covent Garden then Cecilia’s is a great choice for a pre-theatre drink or a nightcap afterwards.

Bedford Street Wines

Bedford Street Wines is owned by the founders of the award-winning restaurant The Oystermen and is located in Covent Garden. There’s a large kitchen-style dining table in the middle of the bar and shop as well as smaller, more intimate tables by the windows.

They have a vast selection of wines and craft beers and focus on smaller producers. Every day between 3 and 5pm they have a happy hour and on Mondays and Tuesdays they offer free corkage. They also run regular ‘free pour’ events when they showcase a vineyard. It’s really a lovely winebar!

I took my friend Jenny for their happy hour, after our rooftop sauna experience, as part of her birthday gift and it didn’t disappoint!

Lady of the Grapes

Not technically just a wine bar as they have a French bistro too but who wouldn’t want to support a wine bar that celebrates wine made by female winemakers? In fact, 95% of their wine list features female winemakers.

The wines they offer at Lady of the Grapes are all organic with minimal intervention – so no additives and little to no sulfites (which means little chance of a headache the next morning!). There’s also over 500 bottles of wine to choose from with around 40 sold by the glass or carafe. As well as a wine shop, they offer wine masterclasses with female winemakers throughout the year.

Vine Bermondsey Street

Bermondsey Street is one of my favourite streets in London. There are so many amazing restaurants and shops as well as the White Cube Gallery and the Fashion and Textile Museum. And now it has a cute and cosy wine bar and shop – Vine Bermondsey Street!

It’s very small inside so only offers walk-ins, although they have outside tables when the weather is good. They also have a bigger wine bar around the corner in Bermondsey Square that has more seating so is better if there’s a group of you. I’d recommend heading here for a drink before dinner at one of the great restaurants in the street. I highly recommend Fluerie , Casse-croûte, Baccalà and Laphet.

Antidote Wine Bar is Wine Shop

Located off Carnaby Street in Soho is Antidote Wine Bar & Wine Shop. It’s got a very cool vibe about it and is quite intimate although there is a fair amount of seating. Upstairs is their wine shop, which can be booked in the evening for private events.

What’s quite unique about them is they only work with growers who use organic and biodynamic practices and all the wine they serve is naturally fermented with low intervention. The staff even wear shirts that say, on the back, ‘F*ck Aperol Spritz, Drink Pat Nat’ – so they take that very seriously!

They also have a selection of small dishes to go with your wine, such as cheeses and charcuterie, sardines, wood pigeon and more. This is a great wine bar to pop into after a spot of shopping in and around Oxford Street or before the theatre.

Tannin and Oak

You’ll have to head slightly out of central London for Tannin and Oak but it’s worth it though as it’s located in the gorgeous neighbourhood of West Hampstead. It’s only about 5 stops from Bond Street on the Jubilee Line so very easy to get to.

Established in 2016, it’s a firm local favourite. You can book a table or just turn up and the staff are very knowledgeable and can help you to select the perfect wine. They sell wine by the glass or you can select a bottle off the shelf (or fridge) for just a £10 corkage fee. And they have artisan cheese, charcuterie boards and a selection of nibbles if you get hungry.

Amelie’s Wine House

Amelie’s Wine House in Bloomsbury describes itself as a ‘Southern French-style wine house.’ They’re located on Store Street, which is a lovely street with a great vibe – especially when the weather is good!

They have an extensive wine list but if you’re struggling to make a choice their Head Sommelier Marco, or one of his knowledgeable team, will help you choose the perfect glass. Their sparkling wine by the glass includes Champagne, Prosecco and Cava but they are on the pricey side with Cava or Prosecco setting you back £13.50 a glass – at that price, it’s more cost effective to buy a bottle if you’re planning on having at least two glasses per person.

And if you’re feeling peckish, they have cheeses and charcuteries – all originating from France or Italy – or try their seasonal small plates, bruschetta and salads.

Vagabond Wines

Vagabond Wines started as a small wine shop in Fulham and has now grown into wine bars in several locations across London as well as an urban winery in Canada Water where they make their own award-winning wine. In fact, they won the WineGB Boutique Producer of the Year award!

They believe that great wine should be accessible to everyone, which is why they constantly rotate their wine selection so that there’s always something new to discover. It’s not your ordinary wine bar though as you self pour through their wine machines. It’s a great concept as it allows you to learn about and try different wines at an affordable price. They even have a ‘sip’ option. I chose that option to taste some Orange wine as I’d never tried it before and didn’t want to buy a whole glass in case I didn’t like it. It cost me about £1.80 to try it, which is expensive but it meant not spending £8 – £9 on a wine I didn’t like.

If you’re a wine connoisseur or just dipping your toes into the world of wine, put Vagabond Wines on your list!

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