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The London wine bar scene is once again in rude health and growing at an impressive rate, thanks to a handful of innovative wine entrepreneurs. Openness, diversity, menus to rival top restaurants and accessibly-priced glasses are the hallmarks of the new wine movement. We've put together our updated list of the best places to drink wine in London. Each is distinctive and in every case, worth the journey.
North
Cadet
Stoke Newington - 57 Newington Grn, London N16 9PX
This newish wine bar on Newington Green was a ragingly hot hit right out of the gate. The dream team involved are Francis Roberts and Tom Beattie who run the wine importers Beattie & Roberts and are responsible for the wine list with food supplied by charcutier George Jephson and chef Jamie Smart. The regularly changing wine list focuses on “ winemakers who, as much as possible, eschew the use of chemicals in the vineyard and the winery”.
The Drop
King's Cross - Unit 22-24 Bagley Walk Arches Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DH
Set in a bustling corner of the Coal Drops Yard development in King's Cross, The Drop is a modern wine bar from the Hart Brothers Group (Barrafina, Parrillan, El Pastor). Here, the team has created a spacious drinking spot that features a short menu of British plates alongside a short but regularly changing list that champions low-intervention wines from small and offbeat producers, mainly from Europe.
Oak N4
Finsbury Park - 5-7 Wells Terrace, London N4 3JU
This cosy wine bar behind Finsbury Park station has built up a strong local following since they opened in 2017. Regulars are usually found perched chatting with staff at the counter, or if the weather allows - around wine barrels placed out front. All of the wines here are available to drink in or take away. The wine list is always evolving - and whilst the regular favourites are never far away, they're always introducing new drops. They also run regular wine events and tastings and the charcuterie and cheese boards are huge and well priced.
Also see...
Bottle 2.0 (Highgate) - This bottle shop turned wine bar (hence the name) offers great people-watching over a good glass of wine on the high street in Highgate.
Forest Wines (Walthamstow) - Supplying Walthamstow residents with a range of low intervention wines, natural, organic, biodynamic and vegan you can also drink in with a range of snacks to go alongside the wines.
The Nook (Islington) - Wines at this Islington bar and restaurant are chosen for affordability, tastiness and originality. Look out for the specials board for regularly changing offerings.
Porte Noire (King's Cross) - The Idris Elba co-owned wine bar saw the actor teaming up with the founder of Connaught Wine Cellars, David Farber. The duo's own label wines are particularly good and there's a tasting area for private bookings.
South
40 Maltby St
Bermondsey - 40 Maltby Street, London SE1 3PA
40 Maltby Street started life as a small and focused wine importing business and blossomed into a wine bar and bistro. This humble operation may be based in a railway arch, but it's a critic and punter favourite. Unsurprisingly, the wine here is worth shouting about with a changing list is made up of wines sourced from small producers, and is organic, biodynamic or natural. To successfully navigate this list seek help from proprietor Raef Hodgson. As for the food, chef Steve Williams' menu changes daily and is produce-led. A glass of wine and one of their daily sandwiches would be a lunchtime dream.
Aspen & Mersault
Battersea - 96 Westbridge Rd, London SW11 3PH
From the team behind Diogenes the Dog - this Battersea wine bar wants to demystify natural wine for Londoners, showing that they don’t need to be ‘funky’. Owner Sunny Hodge is a self-taught wine buff and his list here ranges from the bar’s own label wines through to more unusual takes like Canadian ice wine. For food there's local London charcuterie, organic Brie from Normandy and veggie dips with sourdough.
Bottle & Rye
Brixton - Ground Floor, 404-406 Market Row, London SW9 8LD
A jewel of a wine bar just inside the entrance to Brixton Market, this comes from the successful restaurant and bar duo Sarah and Robin Gill (Darby's, Sorella, Maria G's). Think a slice of Paris bonhomie looking out onto Coldharbour Lane. GM Lewis Wright is behind the wine choice here with a focus on minimal intervention wines from across Europe.
Diogenes The Dog
Elephant & Castle - 96 Rodney Road, London SE17 1BG
What was initially a locals' wine bar has evolved. A daytime cafe and grocer by day, the tables are set and transformed into a cosy wine bar by night. Owner Sunny Hodge runs a list which highlights the underdogs of wine. It's not uncommon to see new and emerging regions such as Wales, Bulgaria, Poland, and even China highlighted on their list alongside more classic choices. look out for their own 'Natural House Wines'. Developed in partnership with a winery in Puglia. There's a small but interesting food menu comprised of light bites and small plates.
Peckham Cellars
Peckham - 125 Queen's Rd, London SE15 2ND
Located on Queen's Road, Peckham this neighbourhood wine bar, shop & restaurant is run by a trio of hospitality veterans and longtime friends. On the wine front, founder Benjamin McVeigh has drawn upon years of experience as a wine buyer and supplier to craft an adventurous but sensitively priced wine list with plenty available by the glass and carafe as well as a bottle. The food menu is an enticing mix of snacks and small dishes.
Look out for their new Camberwell wine bar, Little Cellars, opening soon.
WC Clapham
Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 7AA
This subterranean space hidden beneath the pavement next to Clapham Common, WC (Wine & Charcuterie) is a perfectly formed operation. Making the most of a small space, the low lit bar uses a combination of candle and pavement light from above to create a moody and intimate atmosphere. Like its surroundings, the wine list at WC is small & intimate with a diverse selection of styles and grape varieties. Whilst charcuterie is in the name, the WC menu is more than just cold cuts. This was the first wine bar we've seen which offers a 'Plant Based' charcuterie board which features smoked vegan cheddar, cashew cream cheese and Mushroom Pate 'black pudding'.
Also see...
D Vine Cellars (Clapham) - This super-friendly Clapham spot has a broad selection of everything from “ a classic burgundy to “a freaky natural wine” - their words.
Henny's (Balham) - Coffee bar by day and wine bar by night. Enjoy a list of ethical and sustainably sourced biodynamic wines with Yard Sale pizzas delivered to your tables.
Tap & Bottle (London Bridge) - this incredibly atmospheric wine bar in a Grade II listed building features an approachable list with everything available by glass, carafe and bottle.
Unwined (Waterloo and Tooting) - We're big fans of this friendly south bank wine bar which changes its list seasonally.
East
Dan’s 
Dalston - 2-4 Tottenham Rd, London N1 4BZ
Wine merchant Dan Long of Natty Boy Wines is the man behind this Dalston wine bar (although the bar is actually named after Australian booze merchant Dan Murphy's). Not only does he offer plenty of options by the glass, but here you can try any of the 600+ wines on his natural wine-focused list with a corkage fee. There's tinned fish, charcuterie and other bites to go with your glass of wine, but do check out the Aussie snack selection to buy on your way out.
Newcomer Wines
Dalston - 5 Dalston Ln, London E8 3DF
Don't be fooled by the name, this Dalston wine shop, bar and garden features a deep selection of wines imported by founder Peter Honegger - including a wide selection from his native home of Austria. Newcomer features a wine counter at the front, and a wine shop and wine garden out at the back. Peter has curated an impressive range of growers you won't find elsewhere by the bottle or glass. Local food features on their bar menu - expect cheese and charcuterie from Provisions and bread from Dusty Knuckle just round the corner.
Oranj
Shoreditch - 14 Bacon Street, London E1 6LF
Oranj began life as an online bottle shop specialising in, you guessed it, orange wines. Now they're a very busy Shoreditch warehouse bar which does a tight line in enticing interesting food residencies. They bill their offering as "the latest and greatest in low-intervention natural wine".
Passione Vino
Shoreditch - 85 Leonard St, London EC2A 4QS
Whilst the breadth of a wine list is always an attractive feature at any wine venue, who doesn't love a place which can also show depth and focus? Few others can compete with the sheer array of Italian wines which Passione Vino. Headed by the ebullient Luca Dusi, this Italian wine mecca charges a small mark up for wines from the shop drunk in house. There isn't a wine list, instead staff will talk to you about what you like and start making suggestions from there. Food is inspired by Luca's Venetian grandma's cooking.
Renegade Urban Winery
Bethnal Green - Arch 12 Gales Gardens, London E2 0EJ
Renegade is a truly novel concept. As one of the city's very first urban wineries - who select, vinify and bottle their very own crus - it's difficult to say where you might get a fresher glass of wine anywhere in the capital. This grape to glass pitch is more than a gimmick however, the founders have built a sustainable and community-oriented operation. Guests are invited to sit on trestle tables amongst French barriques of ageing stock, each of which has its contents scrawled in chalk.
More about Renegade Urban Winery
Sager + Wilde
Hackney - 129 Hackney Road, London E2 8J
First launched in the dark ages of wine bars (back in 2013), Sager & Wilde found fame serving rare wines, all by the glass, for insanely low mark-ups. Unsurprisingly the idea struck a chord and a cult wine bar was born. Their format and approach has changed slightly since those heady days, but this doesn't make Sager & Wilde any less appealing. The formula is simple - an ever-changing selection of ‘benchmark’ wines from leading producers, served in impressive glassware, in unpretentious surroundings. They do a nice line in cheese and charcuterie to go alongside the wines, as well as offering a cheese toastie selection.
Also see...
56 West Smithfield (Smithfield) - run by the family behind the Château De La Cômbe winery this wine bar sells wine at vineyard prices.
Bleeding Heart (Farringdon) - set in a history Dickens'-namechecked yard, Bleeding Heart serves up a mix of classic wines with newer organic options.
Bottles (Spitalfields) - If Italian, biodynamic wine is your thing, this Spitalfields spot is the place to go.
Oeno House (Bank) - sit on the terrace and enjoy glasses of iconic and fine wines from this high end wine shop and bar.
Weino Bib (Dalston) - This Dalston wine shop, delicatessen & wine bar is all about natural, sustainable wine drinking
West
28-50 Chelsea
Chelsea - 300 King's Rd, London SW3 5UH
The first 28-50 was opened as a collaboration between star sommelier Xavier Rousset and chef Agnar Sverrisson back in 2011. The founders have since moved on and the group has spread its wings - now operating wine bars in prime sites across London. Over the years, the team has carved out a niche for serving top-quality wine in a relaxed and unpretentious environment and were amongst the first to spearhead the 75ml measure for all of their wines by the glass, allowing guests to try a range of high-quality wines before splashing out on a bottle.
Drop Kensington
Kensington - 37 Earls Court Road, London, W8 6ED
This offshoot of the original Drop in Covent Garden is a bar and bottle shop owned by wine buff Dominic Condon who’s put together a list of 200 wines that are, he says, a mix of off-the beaten track varieties as well as icons of the wine world. There’s a wide selection available by the glass and carafe and food comes in the form of a regularly-changing selection of cheese and charcuterie.
Kensington Wine Rooms
Kensington - 127-129 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LP
Just 12 months after opening and this West London wine bar had already been named Decanter’s newcomer of the year. Now firmly part of the Kensington drinking landscape (and with a sibling bar in Brackenbury) works on a pre-paid card basis to allow you to try as much of the 40 wines by glass as you see fit. They also run regular wine classes if you fancy expanding your wine knowledge. As for food, y ou can nibble on French terrines or Cornish crab tians or go larger with steak and chips.
More about Kensington Wine Rooms
Central London
10 Cases Cave à Vin
16-18 Endell St, Covent Garden, WC2H 9BD
The 10 Cases Cave a Vin was first launched as an extension to the original restaurant. The 'Cave' has built its own following thanks to its relaxed atmosphere, slick service and regularly changing selection of fairly-priced wines by the glass. The cosy space sees drinkers seated alongside shelves stacked high with wines that are also available to buy to take away. With a daily changing list of ten wines available by the glass, even the fussiest of wine drinkers will be well catered for here. The next-door restaurant bistro serves up seasonal snacks, small plates and main dishes
Antidote Wine Bar & Shop
12a Newburgh St, Soho, W1F 7RR
This French-run wine bar & shop is one of Carnaby’s best-kept secrets. Tucked away on a quiet corner of Newburgh Street, this French-owned natural wine hub is the ideal place to start (or finish) an evening out in Soho. Spread over two floors with a cheese and charcuterie bar on the ground floor and a bright and elegant dining room on the first floor. The outdoor terrace is also bookable and a popular spot to grab an afternoon or early evening glass.
Bar Crispin
Soho - 19 Kingly Street, London, W1B 5PY
Bar Crispin is the sophomore effort from the well-regarded Crispin in Spitalfields. Founders Dominic Hamdy and Oliver Hiam have looked to replicate the success of their first restaurant bringing a talented chef and sommelier team to a ground floor and basement venue on Kingly Street, Soho.
The ground floor space has room for twenty with half as much again outside and there's also a ‘Green Room’ for private dining. During the day Crispin serves breakfast pastries and speciality coffee before transitioning into a wine bar complete with lunch and evening menus..
The Black Book
Soho - 23 Frith Street, Soho, London W1D 4RR
Initially launched as a members club for hospitality, the Black Book now welcomes the public too. From wine industry veterans Gearoid Devaney and Xavier Rousset, it uses its discreet location to provide guests with a highly personal experience. The name is a nod to the 'black books' which sommeliers are said to keep, noting their favourite wines and tasting notes.
The subterranean space has quickly become the default after-hours drinking space for Soho somms, who flock here post-shift to drink their way through this well-priced, exceptional selection which has been personally curated by Rousset. The food menu is built around snacks and sharing plates, broadly Mediterranean in style.
Clarette
44 Blandford Street, W1U 7HS
Based in a three-storey London townhouse, Clarette offers a predominantly French list bolstered by exceptional wines from around the world. It's a partnership between Alexandra Petit-Mentzelopoulos, heiress of the Château Margaux family and restaurateur Natsuko Perromat du Marais.
The bar is set across four areas, guests are invited to a large and welcoming bar on the ground floor complete with a large communal table - similar to those found in the grand Château of Bordeaux. The first floor features more intimate surroundings with a beautiful fireplace and cosy surroundings. Finally, an outdoor terrace is the perfect place to watch street scenes of Marylebone. As you would imagine, there's an extensive selection of Chateaux Margaux wines on offer here.
Cork & Bottle
44-46 Cranbourn St, WC2H 7AN
Located directly beneath Leicester Square, Cork & Bottle is a must-visit. This well-kept secret is full of charm, soul and personality - the work of the late Don Hewitson, a larger-than-life character from New Zealand, who opened the bar back in 1972. Every nook and cranny of this tiny space is packed with interesting and esoteric wines and the list has a strong Antipodean bias. Their cheese and charcuterie offering is old school but that doesn't stop dishes such as chicken schnitzel and duck liver paté from being any less tempting, especially when you're three bottles deep
Compagnie des vin surnaturels
8-10 Neal's Yard, WC2H 9DP
Tucked away in Neal's Yard, Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels (or CVS for short), brings a Parisian townhouse feel to the London wine bar scene. The wine list here is unsurprisingly French in focus, however the rest of Europe has not been forgotten - to the point that there's also a strong selection of Swiss wines as part of the list. If you want to go all out, their 400-strong cellar list includes bottles from cult producers all at very reasonable markups. If you're looking to impress a wine snob, this is one of the places to do it...
More about Compagnie des vin surnaturels
Gordon's Wine Bar
47 Villiers St, London WC2N 6NE
No review of London wine bars would be complete without including Gordon's. Established in 1890, it is London's oldest wine bar, housed in a building which was home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s and, more recently, Rudyard Kipling. The bar occupies a prime space on the bank of the Thames next door to Embankment station. The food is as hearty as it probably always has been and wine is still served in 175ml glasses (huzzah!). Even now, it remains a hive of activity for the post-work crowd. Keep your eyes on the blackboards scattered around the interior of the bar. These carry specials, bin ends and half bottles, many of which aren't listed on the main list.
Lady of the Grapes
16 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7NJ
Lady of the Grapes is a wine bar, restaurant and shop in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. Owned and run by Carole Bryon, Lady of the Grapes shines a light on female winemakers with a list that focuses on organic, biodynamic and natural wines. The food menu veers French - think Comté gougères and crab millefeuille.
Noble Rot
51 Lamb's Conduit St, WC1N 3NB. Also Mayfair and Soho.
Does the perfect wine bar exist? A quick whip around of our wine-loving colleagues would suggest that Noble Rot comes pretty close. Since opening in 2015, the Lamb's Conduit Street wine bar and restaurant has garnered a cult following, marking its place as a must-visit for the London wine scene. Divided into 75ml and 125ml pours, the Noble Rot glass list allows guests to sip their way to a final decision on what to drink. When you do arrive, the full bottle list is nothing short of a wine lover's dream - a 30-page tome which comprehensively covers the wine world from 'Aligote to Zibibbo'. Chef Stephen Harris from The Sportsman is behind the food menu here. Must order - the slip soles.
The Mulwray
28 Rupert Street, Soho, W1D 6DJ
Tucked away above the Rupert Street boozer, The Blue Posts, The Mulwray is without question one of the most exciting new wine bars openings of recent years. Palomar Group founders Zoe and Layo Paskin have scooped up star sommelier Honey Spencer to head up their wine offering. this compact but vibrant attic space. Guests are encouraged to explore niche varieties from new and exciting regions and less known growers. The adventurous list is divided into chapters - rather than regions and covers old-world classics as well as more adventurous contemporary natural bottlings.
Quality Wines
88 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3EA
This cosy deli shop cum wine bar in Clerkenwell is an exercise in the clever use of space. Starting its life as a corner deli and butchery, designed to service next door restaurant Quality Chop House, this quiet outpost has been transformed under the guidance of head chef Nick Branham. A showcase of creativity aligned with a knowledge of the way that people want to eat now, the daily evolving menu is matched with an enviable collection of wines - which in our eyes makes this one of the hottest tables in town.
Wines by the glass change daily and bottles can be purchased from the shelves plus a ‘drink in’ corkage fee. For those looking for a few glasses, rest assured - there’s always something fizzy, something orange as well as whites and reds ready to pour.
The Remedy
124 Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 6PG
Located on a quiet street towards the northern end of Fitzrovia, The Remedy is an intimate neighbourhood wine bar reminiscent of Marais wine bars found on similarly proportioned streets across Paris.
The name, a cheeky nod to medicinal cures of yore also hints at the owners' approach to showcasing wines made with care in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the cellars, which for anyone who's had the pleasure of visiting, will attest that the team do with great passion. Founder Renato's insatiable curiosity sees that The Remedy's wine list is updated weekly with an average of 20 wines available by the glass. With a tiny downstairs kitchen space, The Remedy has always maintained a decidedly simple but perfectly-judged food offering - think homemade sourdough, fresh pasta and artisan-crafted cheeses and charcuterie.
The Winemakers Club
41a Farringdon St, London EC4A 4AN
Run by the ever-effervescent John Baum, this venue (it was a wine cellar for 150 years before becoming a wine bar) has attracted a loyal following of locals and professionals from the surrounding areas of St Paul's and Chancery Lane. The list is built to showcase the producers whose wine The Winemakers Club exclusively imports. As per John's experience, the focus hovers around Italian and Hungarian producers, but also includes bottles from small family growers with an emphasis on small-production, organic and low-intervention wines.
To eat there are all of the staples one could wish for, Coombeshead Farm bread, Raclette Cheese Toastie with optional Mortadella and a plate of seasonal French and British cheeses.
More about The Winemakers Club
Also see...
Brooks Mews Wine House - tucked away behind Claridge's Hotel, this is a seriously useful spot if you're looking for a decent glass of wine in central London.
Shepherd Market Wine House - this old-school wine bar tucked away in Mayfair's Shepherd Market has a French-focused wine list at decent (for Mayfair) prices.
Additional reporting by Louis Fernando
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