Bruno is tucked away in Victoria Park Village and is one of those totally unassuming, cosy little joints. The outside has that charming, old-school brick building vibe, but the interior just oozes modern and sexy with the moody lighting, slick interiors, and just the right amount of edge. They’ve nailed that balance between keeping it classic and giving it a glow-up.

We went on a Thursday, and just a heads up – from Monday to Thursday they only open from 4pm, so if you’re a daytime sipper, maybe save this one for the evening. But honestly, the place feels so sophisticated at night, we think it’s better that way.

They serve wine by the glass starting around £10 and going up to about £35, depending on how bougie you’re feeling. To be a little savvy (because, cost of living and all that), we went for a bottle of the François de Nicolay Chardonnay. Just saying that name out loud makes you feel posh. And drinking it? Even posher.

They’ve also got non-alcoholic options, beers, and cocktails for the winos-in-denial. But let’s be real – if you’re here, you’re here for the wine.

Have to try: François de Nicolay (white wine) and the sourdough bread
Perfect for: Date night, evening out with the girls
Approx price for 2: £40-£130 (depending on what wine you get)

Gordon’s Wine Bar is an absolute must, just stepping inside this place is its own experience. Being the oldest wine bar – 19th century type old – we expected great things, and great things we got.

You’re basically walking into a wine cellar. It’s got barrels that are actually filled with port, and you’re surrounded by wooden and brick interiors. It’s truly magical and historic with its concave ceiling.

We checked out their specials and fine wine list, where they’ve specially curated a list of wines you don’t tend to see on regular menus (not that we know the normal menus that well either tbh). These were slightly more expensive, so we stuck to by the glass. The cheapest option was a white – Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, France – coming in at £27. But in this case, ordering the cheapest is absolutely valid because you just know it’s still gonna taste like a million dollars.

Have to try: Any of the wines from the specials menu and the burrata
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £55–£70 (2–3 glasses each depending how carried away you get)

Bar Levan is giving total homely Italian vibes – wooden chairs, red interiors, and a wall full of wines that’ll have your eyes darting all over the place (in the best way). It feels like that cosy neighbourhood spot you just stumble into in Rome, but without the flight.

They recently refreshed their wine cellar list (as of May 2025), which we love — always nice to know they’re keeping things exciting and up to date. We came on a rainy evening, so it was a red wine kinda night. We went for the La Stoppa, 2016 from Italy — came in at £92 (definitely on the pricier side for us), but you immediately get why. Deep, rich, and ridiculously smooth.

Bar Levan also doubles as a restaurant — and it would honestly be illegal not to eat while you’re here. We tried the stracciatella dish which came in the form of peach and tomato caramelle pasta. Sounds wild, we know, but the sweet and savoury buttery combo actually blew our minds

Have to try: Straciatella with red wine
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2: £100–£140 (shared bottle + 1–2 plates)

Diogenes the Dog is definitely one of the most modern-looking wine bars on this list — but not in a flashy, in-your-face way. The vibe is more naturistic and minimal, with lowkey interiors that are just what you want from an evening of sipping.

We went for their private wine tasting flight experience, which comes in at £89 per head, lasts two hours, and includes two small plates per person. The menu changes all the time, but they clearly know exactly what kind of food pairs best with the wines they’re pouring.

For example, we got the baked camembert and the smoked red pepper hummus dip. Sounds overly simple, like something you’d whip up on a Friday night with a supermarket bottle — but here, the ingredients are so fresh, the presentation is elevated, and honestly, when you’re paying this much, it better slap – and it did.

Have to try: Wine tasting experience
Perfect for: Fun with friends, special occasions
Approx price for 2: £180 (if you do the tasting experience)

Noble Rot is a classy, sophisticated joint (it is in Mayfair, after all). From the moment you walk in, you can just tell everyone here knows exactly what they’re doing — and you’re about to get gently schooled in the art of wine appreciation.

The wine list? Absolutely massive. So instead of pretending we knew what we were doing, we just told the waiter our preference (white), rough budget, and flavour profile — fruity, citrusy, light. He recommended the A Viola, Grillo ‘Note di Bianco’; Sicily, Italy 2024 and honestly, it was spot on.

They’ve also got a solid bar menu full of nibbly bits to go with your wine. We got the roasted peppers and oysters – because balance. Bonus: they’ve got a terrace that opens up in the warmer months, and we already know that’s where we’ll be living on those rare sunny days.

Have to try: White wine with oysters
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2: £95 (2 small plates + bottle of wine)

Half Cut Market brings a much more upbeat, buzzy vibe to the wine bar scene — think neon pink lights, good music, and the kind of energy that makes you want to stay way longer than planned.

One of the coolest things about their menu is how they switch it up seasonally. Since we went in May, they were in full-on summer mode, so we went with their rec: Lost in a Field, Frolic Pet Nat — a pink fizz made from abandoned English vines. It was fruity, fizzy, and just fun. Food-wise, we paired it with the fried honey and garlic potatoes and seasonal peppers — both proper moorish. The waiter said their dessert is a fan fave, so we had to try the strawberry and chocolate eclair, and yeah, they weren’t lying.

We loved that this place goes totally against the grain of your usual wine bar vibe. It’s not all hushed murmurs and stiff sophistication. It’s playful and feels like somewhere you’d bring your mates for a casual (but still quality) night out.

Have to try: Wine from the Summertime Wine Spotlight menu
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £80 (bottle of wine + 2 small plates + dessert)

Cork & Bottle, tucked right into the chaos of Leicester Square, somehow still manages to feel super cosy and homely – like a little wine hideaway just off the madness. The menu is expansive (we love options), and it was a nice touch seeing not just wine but also ports, sherries, and even a bit of sake in the mix.

We went for one of their Coravin beauties – the Chenin Blanc Old Vibe, which had notes of baked apple and cinnamon. Sounded like the perfect sip for such a snug little setting, and it delivered.

To share, we grabbed the tempura prawns with wasabi mayo. Crispy, light, and the ideal nibble to pair with whatever you’re sipping. 

Have to try: One of the Coravin Beauties wines
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2:  £65 (2 glasses + shared small plate)

Clarette in Marylebone is one of those spots that’s modern, simple, and just downright wholesome. Think soft pink bar stools, all kinds of blue tones, and the kind of interior that just makes you happy to be there.

We sat on the heated outdoor terrace which had such stunning views — the perfect spot to fully relax, wine in hand. Their wine list? Basically a novel. But we appreciated how they split it up by region, so it’s way easier to either find your fave or try something completely new.

We went for the 2020 Pinot Gris, Greywacke from Marlborough, New Zealand — crisp, citrusy and just really hit. For food, we did their £29 lunch deal (2 courses). Starter was stracciatella with grilled courgettes, melon, and pistachios — every texture and flavour going. Then came the pea, mint and spring onion ravioli, super light and fresh, total spring on a plate.

Have to try: Pinot Gris and the broccoli coated in chilli and garlic butter
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2: £90 (2 lunch deals + 2 glasses)

Antidote Wine Bar is another one that’s more on the casual side of things, appreciates that you want good wine but not in a snobby setting.

We went for their wine tasting experiences, and they offer three different packages: a classic, an unconventional, and a prestigious one which they call “taste the stars”. We went for “taste the unconventionals” — wines that don’t necessarily fit the flavour profiles you’re used to, but still slap. It’s £60 per person, and included in that you get 4 tastings, a charcuterie selection, and a cheese board. All super high quality, so we’d say the spend is definitely worth it. Plus, it’s just a fun way to get involved and try out wines you probs wouldn’t normally go for.

Have to try: The “taste the unconventionals” wine tasting package
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2: £30 + (depending on if you do the tasting experience or not)

Oranj, located in Shoreditch, stays true to its name with orangey, sunset-toned interiors and a warm, inviting glow. It’s another modern wine bar vibe — nothing too pretentious, just cool, laid-back, and perfect for a day or evening out with friends.

They serve up cocktails alongside their wine list, and the food offering is all about fancy small plates to keep you going. We went for the corn tempura, which came with a creamy, spicy gochujang mayo, and the crab risotto. Bit of a wild combo, we know — totally different cuisines — but they both sounded too good to skip.

Also worth mentioning: the music here is actually curated. Like, they take it seriously — it’s not just some Spotify playlist on shuffle.

Have to try: Corn tempura with gochujang mayo
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £110 (2 small plates + bottle of wine + 1 cocktail)