Bars
The 5 Best Wine Bars in London
A short, clever list and a few good plates: the London wine bars worth a detour.
In short: our top picks are Gordons Wine Bar, Noble Rot and Sager + Wilde. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
A good wine bar is one of London’s great low-key pleasures: a short, clever list, a few plates worth ordering, and no pressure to make a night of it unless you want to. These are the ones worth a detour.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gordons Wine Bar | Embankment | ££ |
| Noble Rot | Bloomsbury | £££ |
| Sager + Wilde | Bethnal Green | ££ |
| The Remedy | ££ | |
| Vagabond Wines | Battersea | ££ |
-
Editor’s choice
Gordons Wine Bar
Why we pick itTrading from the same candlelit cellar since 1890
Worth knowingNo reservations for the cellar, so queues run out onto Villiers Street after work, and service slows to a crawl once the room is packed.
For sheer candlelit atmosphere.
-
Noble Rot
Why we pick itWine list curated by the team behind Noble Rot magazine
Worth knowingBuilt entirely around the wine list, so the food alone does not justify the prices if you are not drinking, and close tables make it noisy when full.
When the food matters too.
-
Sager + Wilde
Why we pick itThe room that more or less started the conversation, now well past its tenth year and still pouring a list that changes by the day. Order the toasted cheese sandwich, a fixture since the early days, and let whoever's on tell you what's open.
The best all-rounder.
-
The Remedy
Why we pick itA tiny Fitzrovia bar with a low-intervention list and a short, sharp menu.
For the adventurous list.
-
Vagabond Wines
Why we pick itA self-pour urban winery where you taste your way along the wall by the measure.
For tasting your way to a favourite.
Before you book
Tell the staff what you usually drink and a price you are happy with, and let them point you somewhere new; that is the whole point. Most do excellent small plates, so order a few. And many are walk-in, so they make a great first or last stop.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Gordons Wine Bar is our editor's choice: Trading from the same candlelit cellar since 1890. Gordons Wine Bar, Noble Rot and Sager + Wilde lead the guide, with 5 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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