Six London Wine Bars - Find. Eat. Drink.
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The wine lists are focused, the food is chef-driven and the mark-ups are low. Here are five wine bars the pros recommend checking out in London.
The wine lists are focused, the food is chef-driven and the mark-ups are low. Here are six wine bars the pros recommend checking out in London.
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September 25, 2014
London Wine Bars Worth Popping Into
6 Picks from The Pros
Come for the wine and stay for the food or visa versa. They have over 150 selections that include unique picks like Kabaj wines from a French winemaker in Slovenia and Bea’s biodynamic wines from Umbria. Former Scott’s chef Tom Fraser is curing meats in-house with specialities like truffle and pistachio salami, juniper berry loin, bresaola, chorizo and lardo. On weekends, they feature a brunch menu.
“This place is great for drinking interesting wines or splurging on that special bottle without paying a large markup. They have a slightly smaller and concise list to navigate through. Great margins, well-selected wines and delicious house-made charcuterie.”
- Wine Director Courtney Stebbings (Lyles)
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181 Clarence Road, London E5 8EE
T: +44.(0)20.8986.4723 | www.verdene5.com
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The Pros
- Wine Director Courtney Stebbings (Lyles)
- Tom Bell and Ed Wyand (Verden)
- Liam Kelleher of P. Franco and Noble Fine Wines
- Pastry Chef Claire Ptak (Violet Cakes)
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Verden
Photograph courtesy of Verden
Newly opened from the Sager + Wilde folks, the focus here is all about California. The list is extensive and ranges from Arnot Roberts to Kistler to Scholium Project. If you’re not a New World fan, they do have an Old World list as well. If you get hungry, the menu changes daily and features dishes like Crispy Pig’s Head, Duck Pappardelle, and Grouse with liver toast and figs.
“We love what Michael and Charlotte have done at Sager + Wilde, so we are expecting great things at Mission.”
- Tom Bell and Ed Wyand (Verden)
250 Paradise Row, London E2 9LE
T: +44.(0).20.7613.0478 | www.missione2.com
Mission
Photograph courtesy of Mission
Wine bar meets retail store with just 12 seats. Browse the shop, buy a bottle or two and then sit down, hang out and drink. They source the best salumi and cheeses to nibble on while you’re sipping. Owner Liam Kelleher says, “the wines are built for drinking, low alcohol, fresh, nimble, glou-glou wines.”
“This is the recently opened sister shop to Noble Fine Liquor. Not only can you buy wine to take out, but you can sit at the communal bar table and have a glass of wine with some cheese.”
Wine Director Courtney Stebbings (Lyle’s)
“It’s a great little bottle shop / bar on Lower Clapton Road. Well worth popping into.”
- Tom Bell and Ed Wyand (Verden)
107 Lower Clapton Road, London E5 ONP
T: +44.(0)20.8533.4660
The specialty here is wines from the Loire region. The food is also influenced by the river with lots of seafood as well as lamb neck, pork belly, and veal tongue.
“Get some of their small plates to share and work your way through the wine list, which is Loire-based. It's an interesting region as there are four wine zones that cover three climate categories. You can taste some really cool stuff.”
- Wine Director Courtney Stebbings (Lyle’s)
“From the same owners as Brawn, Soif and Terroirs, but The Green Man is my favorite because the wine list is based on wines from the Loire. It’s a massive list and it’s really interesting to see a place that is so focused on one region. The people are really approachable and the chef, Ed Wilson, is great with the food.”
- Chef James Lowe (Lyle’s)
Opened in 2008, they source wine from small growers who work sustainably, organically or biodynamically.
“If you are in the centre of town and in need of a thirst quencher then you must stop at Terroirs. It and its sister restaurants and bars are leading lights in the London wine scene.”
- Tom Bell and Ed Wyand (Verden)
5 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DW
T: +44 (0) 20.7036.0660 | www.terroirswinebar.com
Terroirs
Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
When the critics started writing about this Bermondsey wine bar, the locals weren't happy. They wanted to keep it a secret. Only open a few days a week and no reservations, they serve natural wines at affordable prices.
“This is a fantastic wine bar. The chef, Stevie Williams, is really good and one of my favorite chefs in London. He changes the menu every week and does a lot of British food, some retro dishes, but you feel like they're a new invention. The place has a really nice small and independent vibe.”
- Chef James Lowe (Lyle’s)
“A fantastic place to eat. It should be called the Richard Olney restaurant because they are so heavily influenced by the man's approach to simple Provençal cooking. The combination of Steve's meticulous cooking and the natural wines of Europe mean every bite is a taste experience without being fussy or overly rich. You leave feeling sated, not stuffed.”
- Pastry Chef Claire Ptak (Violet Cakes)
“The food is great and the wine even better, always something I’ve never heard of. Owner Raef Hodgson is one of the best in the business and it is always a pleasure to talk wine with him.”
- Liam Kelleher of P. Franco and Noble Fine Wines
40 Maltby Street, London, SE1 3PA
T: +44.(0)20.7237.9247 | www.40maltbystreet.com
40 Maltby Street
Photo Credit: Ewan Munro [flickr]
Photograph courtesy of Mission
