While, traditionally, the UK hasn’t been famous for its wine – we’ll happily leave that to the rolling European vineyards in Tuscany, Burgundy and even those further afield in South Africa and Australia – we do love drinking it, as is evident by the sheer number of wine bars in the capital. Although not all are new. Gordon’s Wine Bar is something of an institution having opened in 1890, while other top tables include Noble Rot and La Fromagerie – which both have numerous outposts in the city to meet demand. There’s no bottom of the barrel stuff here (ahem), just good bottles sourced by world-class sommeliers complemented by small plates from celebrated chefs. Ready to enter wine wonderland? Discover the best wine bars in London to visit when in search of a good glass of vino… 

Forza Wine, across London

Last month, Forza Wine opened its third and largest London wine bar to date, nestled on Soho’s Manette Street. Following successful outposts at the National Theatre and in Peckham, Forza is run by childhood friends and co-founders, Bash Redford and Michael Lavery, who have the same irreverent approach to seasonal Italian plates, interesting wines, and popular cocktails. 

The drinks list opens with a £5 vermouth over ice – aptly named ‘the Forza Fiver’ – which preludes a cocktail list filled with classics and inventive creations, such as the chilli mezcal martini, and, of course, an all-natural wine list. Accessible and well-priced, glasses start from £6 and are designed to complement both lighter bites and heartier plates. All restaurants boast an ever-changing 12-dish menu, ranging from warm parmesan-laden brioche and pane carasau with gorgonzola and pickled celery, to larger plates of cod with winter tomatoes, vinegar, and hazelnuts, and pork tenderloin with cabbage and mustard. 

Visit forzawine.com 

Tiny Wine, Fitzrovia

Tiny Wine, one of London’s smallest wine bars (hence the name), opened last autumn in the former Crudo site in Fitzrovia. The new neighbourhood spot comes from Maria Yanez and Carlos Socorro, founders of Latin American restaurant group Crudo Cocina Latina, with Tiny Wine offering a combination of two of their favourite things: a thoughtfully curated wine list with bold Latin American small plates and snacks. Inside, the shop-cum-bar features textured walls, soft arches and a central bar, with seating for 22 covers at high tables and 10 al fresco tables ideal for soaking up the Fitzrovia buzz. 

The wine list is intentionally small in size (around 50 bottles), made up of mostly natural or low-intervention wines sourced from small producers. All tapas are made for sharing; expect mixto ceviche, smoky octopus gilda and Miami-inspired sandwiches, such as the Cubanito: pulled pork, honey ham, cheese, Dijon mustard and pickles. 

21 Foley Street, W1W 6DR, visit eatcrudo.com 

Bar Flor, Belgravia

Images: Oli Hillyer-Riley

Bar Flor is the second act from Wildflowers – the famed Belgravia restaurant helmed by chef-owner Aaron Potter. Having tapped interior stylist Laura Hart, it opened above its sister restaurant last October and pours an evolving selection of wines, vermouths, Basque ciders, and signature cocktails, alongside a tapas menu inspired by the founders’ favourite parts of Spain. Meaning ‘flower’ in Spanish and doubling as a wine-ageing term, think of Bar Flor as Wildflowers’ playful sibling, where you can wine and dine on the likes of Cantabrian anchovies on baguette, seafood gildas, and blue cheese, walnut and truffle honey pintxos. 

57 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NE, visit wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk 

Amie and Weezie’s, Victoria

Those who are already fans of Amie Wine Studio in Victoria's Eccleston Yards – if you're yet to visit, where have you been? – will be delighted to learn that founders Abbie Roden and Will Sandbach opened a neighbouring pizzeria earlier this month. Named Weezie’s – after Roden’s Kentuckian grandmother, Louise, affectionately known as ‘Weezie’ – this is the spot for thin-crust pizzas, sharing small plates, cold pints, and orange wine. At the helm of the kitchen is Sumant Sinai, delivering a menu that keeps things simple but seriously good: expect crisp, thin-crust pizzas topped with the likes of fior di latte mozzarella, Curing Rebels sobrasada, creamed sweetcorn, hot honey, West London stracciatella and Calabrian chillies. 

Drinks are designed to match the food: Guinness on tap, Harbour Brewery beers, a small but precise cocktail list including negronis, spicy margaritas, and an old fashioned made with Kentucky straight bourbon. A bespoke orange wine has been created exclusively for Weezie’s and is poured by the glass, alongside Amie’s full range of delicious rosé, white and red wines, which are also served next door on Amie Wine Studio’s heated terrace and in its candle-lit interior. 

13 Eccleston Yards, SW1W 9AZ, visit drinkamie.com and weezieslondon.com  

Sova, Notting Hill

Images: Rebecca Hope Photography

Wine and vinyl bar, Sova, opened earlier this month to offer Londoners a taste of low-intervention and skin-contact wines produced in countries including Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine. The word 'sova' translates to ‘owl’ in several Slavic languages, nodding to its associations as a wise, contemplative and, of course, nocturnal, creature in traditional folklore – the perfect embodiment of the Sova way, where guests are encouraged to sit back and discover a world of new wines while listening to a curated selection of vinyl late into the night. 

The wine list has been curated by sommelier Cristian Vega, drawing on his extensive experience at London restaurants Wilton’s and Le Boudin Blanc, and opens with a selection of sparkling wines, including pét-nats and a Ukrainian-style brut, followed by an eclectic range of skin-contact and Georgian orange varietals, as well as a Serbian pinot grigio and Slovenian malvasia. Food also follows Slavic influences thanks to Moldovan chef Denis Calmis – think cold starters of beef tartare on Borodinsky bread with horseradish mayonnaise, and miso-glazed duck confit served with roasted Jerusalem artichokes and plum sauce for main – while music combines electronic and contemporary sounds, alongside guest DJs. 

9 Blenheim Crescent, W11 2EE, visit sova.london 

Isla at The Standard, King’s Cross

Isla, The Standard hotel’s chic but casual ground-floor restaurant, is entering a new chapter this spring as a neighbourhood wine bar. A place where after-work drinks stretch into dinner on a hidden terrace, the wine programme blends low-intervention bottles with more classical expressions, sourced from growers who work with care and through suppliers including Dynamic Wines, Vine Trail and Renegade. Familiar grapes, such as riesling, chenin blanc and gamay, sit alongside more distinctive varieties including jacquère, listán negro and niellucciu, creating a balance between the recognisable and the unexpected. 

The food menu follows suit with a light Mediterranean influence, with small plates including pumpkin fritti with kumquat, stracciatella on anchovy toast, beef tartare with potato rösti and grilled Scottish langoustines. Whether you’re looking for a quick glass, an al fresco aperitivo, or a shared meal, we have no doubt you’ll return here again and again.

10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG, visit standardhotels.com

Marjorie’s, Soho

Friends and hospitality gurus Michael Searle and Josh Anderson, alongside head chef and business partner Giacomo Peretti (ex-Le Gavroche and Firebird), opened Marjorie’s – a Parisian-inspired restaurant and wine bar on Soho’s Foubert’s Place – earlier this year. Named after Searle’s late grandmother, a self-certified Francophile, and taking inspiration from the numerous bar à vins scattered across Paris' arrondissements, the trio have brought a true taste of je ne sais quoi to the capital. 

Located just off Carnaby Street, Marjorie’s is split over two floors and serves a concise, all-French wine list curated by Searle himself. The list aims to showcase the breadth of wine across the country, allowing for both contemporary, small-batch producers as well as more classic varietals, and the team selects a handful of bottles to serve by the glass daily – so you’ll never have to try the same thing twice. The food menu by Naples-born Peretti offers a modern take on French cuisine in the form of chicken liver rocher with hazelnut and morello, escargot in seaweed and pine nut cream, and bavette topped with egg yolk and girolles. Bon appétit. 

26 Foubert's Place, W1F 7PP, visit marjorieslondon.co.uk 

Ria's, Notting Hill and Soho

Images: Amy Louise Ruse

First and foremost a Detroit-style pizza restaurant, Ria's is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team David and Ria Morgan-Ratcliffe – and one of the coolest West London foodie hang outs. The pizzas here are made using Cotswold Shipton Mill flour – which is slowly fermented for 72 hours and then baked to create a crisp, chewy crust – and topped with garlic wild mushrooms, Cobble Lane pepperoni and vegan nduja complemented by a curated list of natural wines.

When its sister Soho outpost opened last year, it took Ria's wine list up a notch. Set across two floors, head downstairs to discover a wine cave nestled among dough mixers and bags of Cotswold flour. Here, order an array of wines by the glass or bottle, ranging from chilled reds and juicy oranges to pink pét-nats and unique serves by small, independent producers. Very good pizza and very good wine – what more could you want?

Visit rias.world

Goodbye Horses, Islington

One of the capital's best listening bars (not sure what that is? Read more here), Goodbye Horses is vibrant new wine bar in Islington catering to North London's hippest oenophiles and foodies. The kitchen, led by Jack Coggins, brings a playful and creative touch to seasonal, shareable dishes while wine director Nathalie Nelles has curated a European-focused wine list that balances approachable classics with more adventurous finds. The setting is as much of a highlight: designed by renowned Swiss architect Leopold Banchini and featuring an extensive collection of over 4,000 records, played on vintage Tannoy Lancaster speakers.

21 Halliford Street, N1 3HB, visit goodbyehorses.london

La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, Covent Garden

In 2012, a wine bar opened its doors in Paris’ Saint-Germain des Pres neighbourhood. Curiously called Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, or CVS, the name was a nod to the emerging natural wine trend. Since its inception, the menu has featured grower champagnes and hard-to-find bottles, primarily focused on French domaines, with snacks and small plates working in harmony. Shortly after the opening of the first CVS, the wine bar branched out across the Channel to Neal’s Yard in London’s Covent Garden.

Spread across two floors, with hundreds of wines stored in the cellar, CVS is a thorough study of wine, offering more than 1,000 references from France, USA, Italy, Spain and further afield in Lebanon, Greece, Hungary and Brazil. The team here are well-versed in finding great wines for all budgets and one of its most fun features is the Mystery Wine offering: a challenge that offers oenophiles the opportunity to win a bottle, should they guess the wine correctly.

8-10 Neal's Yard, WC2H 9DP, visit compagniedesvinssurnaturels.com

Cloth, Farringdon

Cloth founders Joe Haynes, left, Tom Hurst and Ben Butterworth

Friends and wine importers Joe Haynes and Ben Butterworth, together with chef Tom Hurst, opened restaurant and wine bar, Cloth, in Farringdon to bring something different to The City’s food scene. Having spent years supplying London’s top restaurants through their seperate wine businesses, Haynes and Butterworth joined forces with Hurst – formerly of Brawn, Levan, and Larry’s – to launch the trio’s first restaurant inside a Grade-II listed building on Cloth Fair. Inside, low ceilings, wood panelling and antique wall lights create a cosy, intimate atmosphere, while marble tables, long, dark wood banquettes and antique crockery create the feel of a classic bistro.

Half of Cloth’s 41-page wine 'bible' is made up of bottles from Hayne’s Penzer Wines sourced from Germany and Butterworth’s eponymous import, specialising in grower champagnes and new-wave Bordeaux, as well as winemakers from Alsace, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Loire, and Luxembourg. The other 50 per cent of the list features wines from friends in the industry championing small, independent, and sustainable producers, such as Emile Wines, The Winery, Fingal Rock, Carte Blanche, Winemakers Club, and Raeburn. Pair with Hurst’s seasonal plates – burrata tortellini, Maldon Rock oysters and roast lamb saddle – and you’ve got a perfect night out in The City. 

44 Cloth Fair, London, EC1A 7JQ, visit clothrestaurants.com

Plume, Covent Garden

Plume, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, specialises in bubbles, English wines, and all things theatrical. An unrivalled date night location, Plume is spread across two-floors of Charles Dickens' former publishing house, with charming, cosy upstairs seating and an intimate downstairs speakeasy with private booths. The team has curated a selection of serves focusing on unusual vintages, including small and unknown experimental winemakers that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else – and all are complemented by sharing plates of fried cauliflower with crispy capers, and chips topped with mango chutney, coconut raita and crispy shallots, and locally-sourced cheese and cured meat boards. 

26 Wellington Street, WC2E 7DD, visit plumewinebar.com

Bar Levan, Peckham

Levan has long been a mainstay on Peckham’s food scene, specialising in delectable French-inspired dishes. Its latest chapter arrived in 2023, when the restaurant integrated a 34-seater wine bar next door, aptly named Bar Levan. Offering a more dynamic and playful menu, the bar focuses on organic and biodynamic wines alongside a selection of older vintages and unique 'one-offs' by the glass, soundtracked by music inspired by its namesake Larry Levan played from vinyl on a vintage sound system. You’ll also find a focused aperitif list, vin du jours (wine of the day) curated by the team and bar snacks created by the Levan kitchen – think devilled eggs with trout roe, charcuterie, cheese, and the signature croque monsieur with brown crab. 

12-16 Blenheim Grove, SE15 4QL, visit barlevan.co.uk

Finch, Brixton

Finch is a pocket-sized cabinet of curiosities in lively Brixton Village. The neighbourhood outpost – decked out in pinstripe wallpapers contrasted with bright yellow furnishings – is the ideal spot for a romantic rendezvous, where visitors can stop off to share a few glasses (or bottles) of wine before exploring the bustling food outlets across the arcade. Pick from French sparkling, South African whites, Californian reds and ‘something in between’ orange wines from Georgia – and pair with small plates of grilled cheese sandwiches, gordal olives and cheese and cured meat boards. 

Granville Arcade, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS, visit finchwinebar.com

Firebird, Soho

Firebird is a female-owned, open-fire Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar which opened to rave reviews in 2022. Co-founders Anna Dolgushina and Madina Kazhimova curated a 46-cover space designed to recreate memories of afternoons spent in courtyards on the continent. Those just looking for a drink, however, are invited to simply have a seat at the bar for a glass of something special. The considered and extensive wine list champions small, natural, organice and biodynamic producers from across Europe, paying respect to nature and soil. With years of dedicated service in the hospitality industry, you’ll be in the safe hands of head sommelier Dolgushina, who showcases a number of bottles from across Europe with a special focus on juicy, vibrant and elegant varieties. 

29 Poland Street, W1F 8QR, visit firebirdlondon.co.uk

Peckham Cellars, Peckham

Founded in 2019, the bill of fare here is strictly small plates from Spanish-native Pablo Urain Alfonso and an 'eclectic yet considered' European wine list. While we’d recommend sampling the tempura sardines, burrata and roasted peaches, and patatas bravas, the wine offering is really the jewel in the crown. The Cellars’ philosophy focuses on wines that taste great, 'speak clearly of where they’re from' and are farmed organically and sustainably. You’ll find the list focuses on Europe with the core bottles from France and Spain, as well as highlighting lesser-known regions and exciting new producers. Stuck for choice? Leave recommendations in the hands of the Peckham Cellars team and you won’t be disappointed. 

125 Queens Road, SE15 2ND, visit peckhamcellars.co.uk

Henny’s Wine, Balham

Having started life in Tooting Market in 2017, Henny’s has evolved into a chic wine hangout up the road in Balham, becoming south west London’s one-stop shop for ethically- and sustainably-sourced biodynamic wines. Establishing itself as one of the boudoirs for Beaujolais, Henny’s aims to encourage its guests to try new wines and to drink differently. Don’t expect an extensive bottle list, but wines by the glass or carafe starting at an impressive £5.50 a pop. Foodies will be delighted that the bar has teamed up with Yard Sale Pizza, so you can have piping-hot pizzas delivered directly to your table – that’s Friday night sorted then. 

195C Balham High Road, SW12 9BE, visit hennyswine.com

Gordon’s Wine Bar, Charing Cross

Image: Paul Marc Mitchell

Image: Chio Photography

It would be rude to be in Embankment and not acquaint yourself with Gordon’s Wine Bar. Having opened in 1890, it’s London’s oldest wine bar – step inside the candlelit wine caves on a Friday night and you’d be forgiven for thinking nothing much has changed since then. The comprehensive wine list has been compiled by Gordon’s esteemed experts and is home to a number of rare and popular wines from across the world. Sip outside in the sunshine at the bar’s Parisian-style outdoor tables or head inside to enjoy a romantic hour or two in the wine caves, while tucking into a selection of sharing boards – think freshly-baked French bread, salted butter and chutney with all the trimmings. However, Gordon’s is notoriously busy and it doesn’t take reservations so we recommend you get there early to grab a seat. 

47 Villiers Street, WC2N 6NE, visit gordonswinebar.com

67 Pall Mall, St James's

If you’re looking for something more upmarket, and don’t mind splashing more than £100 per bottle, we recommend a trip to 67 Pall Mall. Opened in 2015 as a private members’ club ‘founded by wine lovers, for wine lovers’, 67 Pall Mall occupies club rooms and lounges adorned with historic oak panelling, an array of art and striking bar areas. Downstairs, members are welcome to store their wine in the club’s extensive cellar (once a bank vault used by the building’s former occupier, Hambros Bank) which you can enjoy onsite or request to be delivered to an address once you’re ready to pop it open. Staff ensure the vault remains at optimum wine conditions while a bespoke air handling system maintains the temperature between 13-14°C and 65-70 per cent humidity. In terms of what to drink, we suggest leaving it to the experts… 

67 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5ES, visit 67pallmall.com

Noble Rot, across London

Noble Rot’s three wine bars had an unconventional beginning. It started – and still is – the name of a quarterly food and drink magazine which opened its first bar in Bloomsbury in 2015. The flagship Bloomsbury bolthole is a cosy spot for catching up with friends by the roaring fire; its Soho sister poses the perfect setting for history buffs being situated on the former site of the Gay Hussar on Greek Street (the notorious bolthole of many left-wing politicians); and its Mayfair location can be found in the atmospheric alleys of Shepherd Market. All offer a celebrated wine selection – voted Wine List of the Year at the World Restaurant Awards 2019, and at the National Restaurant Awards in 2016, 2017 and 2018 – which ranges from undervalued wines by the glass to rare mature bottles from esteemed estates. 

Visit noblerot.co.uk

Sune, Hackney

Honey Spencer from Sune

Image: Philippa Langley

Renowned sommelier Honey Spencer and partner Charlie Sims opened neighbourhood restaurant Sune at the foot of bustling foodie paradise, Broadway Market, in 2023. Perched on the canal, Sune is a pared-back space designed to transform throughout the day, from a sun-filled spot for brunch to a candlelit dinner destination serving small plates by chef Michael Robins. Regarding the wine list, Spencer draws on her extensive network of producers and suppliers to champion wines which are bold and full of natural vigour, including magnums, sakes and a variety of skin-contact wines (white wines made like red wines) alongside an extensive selection of whites, rosés and reds. 

129A Pritchard's Road, E2 9AP, visit sune.restaurant

La Fromagerie, across London

La Fromagerie – with locations in Marylebone, Bloomsbury and Highbury – is an award-winning combination of cheese shop, wine bar and restaurant. Each location boasts a cosy and calm atmosphere where you can try a selection of wines that have been curated around taste and tradition, and, of course, La Fromagerie’s first love: cheese. Expect wines from the Savoie, Alsace, Gascony, Provence and the mountains of Northern Italy with thoughtful cheese pairings and seasonal dishes to complement. Not only can you visit La Fromagerie for an impromptu drink, but the shops also host tastings, workshops and supper clubs. Ranging from cheese and wine pairings to deep dives into regions exploring fabulous wines, clear your diary now for the next one.

Visit lafromagerie.co.uk

Carousel, Fitzrovia

Carousel is an exciting place – one where you’re lucky enough to sample exclusive, limited-edition menus by talented chefs who take up residences at the Fitzrovia restaurant in monthly stints. It would be remiss not to mention its bar, as no culinary experience is complete without a tipple or two. Offering a menu of minimal-intervention wines and signature cocktails, the drinks list focuses on small, independent producers – such as Ganevat, Labet, Leroy, Bernadeau and many others – served by the glass, carafe or bottle. The white wine collection is one of the largest in the capital, comprising 62 variations spanning France, Spain, Italy and the US, while Carousel’s own label wines are definitely worth a try. 

19-23 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RW, visit carousel-london.com

Ten Trinity Square, Tower Hill

A collaboration between Four Seasons at Tower Bridge, Reignwood and French wine estate Château Latour, the Tower Hill-based society describes itself as the finest private members’ club in The City, with membership costing £3,000 per year. Displaying some of Château Latour’s famous red wines, the sampling experience has been curated by the award-winning sommelier team to form a truly unique part of the membership experience with 45 wines by the glass and carefully selected vintages. In addition to Château Latour, members have the opportunity to sample more wines from the principal estates of Artémis Domaines, including Château Grillet, Domaine d’Eugénie, Clos de Tart and the Eisele Vineyard in Napa Valley. In traditional gentlemen’s club style, Ten Trinity also has its own cigar shop and sampling lounge.

10 Trinity Square, EC3N 4AJ, visit tentrinitysquare.com

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