What makes a great wine bar?
There are many things to consider when you’re choosing a wine bar, particularly in a city as saturated as London. Are you looking for natural or biodynamic wine? These slightly sour bottles are growing ever more popular thanks to their lack of additives and pleasant, refreshing qualities. If you prefer something classic, look out for a wine bar with a good selection of Old World wines. These are the ones we know and love, with many London locations offering superb vintage choices.
The atmosphere varies right across the city, while those serving food are the right choice if you’d like to spend longer in your chosen bar. There’s no single best winebar in London, only the best one for you and your party.
Finding your perfect London wine bar
When we say there’s an ideal London wine bar for everyone, we aren’t exaggerating. Some serve cheese, others offer small plates. There are cosy, brick-walled bars, perfect for chilly winter nights, and bright, windowed spots with sun-drenched terraces for summer.
Perhaps you’d like to stay local, visiting the best wine bars in London’s outer boroughs. Maybe you’re willing to head into the city centre for a buzzy night of drinks, dinner, and theatre. Whatever you’re planning, choose a wine bar to elevate your London experience.
1. Authentique Epicerie & Bar
Authentique Epicerie & Bar is what happens when four French foodies come together. Browse French produce in the shop, sure. But stay for the wine bar. With over 30 wines by the glass and more than 300 by the bottle, this is one of London’s best places for discovering French wine. You can sample from every region in France here. Choose your favourite, and pick up a few bottles to take home!
2. The Laughing Heart
If food is a crucial consideration in your search for a wine bar, choose The Laughing Heart in Hackney. A restaurant first, The Laughing Heart offers perfectly prepared small plates, combining local ingredients with world inspiration. The wine cellar supports artisan farmers in selecting authentic, independent wines by the glass and bottle.
3. Diogenes the Dog
Looking for a wine bar in Elephant and Castle? Wherever you’re coming from, Diogenes the Dog is worth the journey. This multi-award-winning spot offers undiscovered wines of the world, with hospitality and atmosphere firmly at the forefront. Here, the sommeliers push boundaries, choosing bottles from alternative wine regions like Texas, Poland, and China. Trust them – they know what they’re talking about.
4. Sager + Wilde Hackney Rd
Saeger + Wilde’s Hackney Road wine bar is a perfect choice for low-key drinks at any time of day. Enjoy a punchy red and a selection of cheeses or a light, crisp white in the summer. Wine takes centre stage, but there’s a good selection of beer, cocktails, and spirits too, with something to keep everyone happy.
5. Renegade London Wine
This urban winery is much more than just a bar. Renegade London make their own offering, transporting chilled grapes from Bordeaux before working their magic and dispensing the wine into quirky bottles. Their produce is far from traditional. The winemakers here combine ancient and modern techniques to create something truly unique. The atmosphere is fun, casual, and moreish. Be sure to visit if you’re in Bethnal Green.
6. The Remedy
For a cosy wine bar in Fitzrovia, head to The Remedy. This lovely little spot is run by two friends who are passionate about food and wine. Settle in, discover something new, whether it’s a red, white, rosé, or orange, and enjoy!
7. Furanxo
Furanxo specialises in Spanish natural wine, charcuterie, cheese, tinned fish, and vermouth. Step into this tiny spot, and you could very well be in Madrid. It’s a perfect choice for a cosy, intimate, and laid-back drink and a bite to eat with friends. This bar’s Dalston location means it’s an excellent option if you’re in North East London, though you can take the tube here from anywhere.
8. The Mountgrove Bothy
One of our favourite wine bars in Finsbury Park, The Mountgrove Bothy is a family-run option that caters gladly to locals and visitors alike. Explore the menu of traditional and rare wines, with plenty of choices by the glass or bottle. There’s some delicious food on offer too, so head out hungry to make the most of it.
More excellent wine bars in London
A few more of our favourite choices include 10 Cases in Covent Garden, and Humble Grape with bars in Battersea, Islington, and Canary Wharf. Try Silver Lining in Hackney, or head to Gordon’s in Charing Cross, London’s oldest wine bar!
Whether you’re staying in London for a few days or planning a more extended visit, be sure to check out some of the city’s atmospheric wine bars for an experience to cherish.
