Being in central London can be a total nightmare but is a necessity we all have to face once in a while. Why is it so bad? Well central London tends to be heaving with annoying tourists blissfully blocking your way, is filled with overpriced and mediocre eating and drinking venues and altogether usually does not present itself as an area I would choose to travel to if I was after a relaxed glass of wine with a friend.
However, I have often ended up in need of exactly that lovely glass of wine in a nice atmosphere after a Saturday spent looking around the shops or straight after work on a Friday and for long had struggled to find places away from the crowds that offered a cosy and classy escape from the masses.
My below discoveries are not only places that will sell you a reasonably priced and good glass of vino but also offer a great atmosphere and some grub to wash it all down because as we all know I bloody love a nibble!
Especially during this rather grey and dull period following Christmas nothing can beat a good catch up with a friend and perhaps a little break from Dry January at one of these spots while we wait for spring to make an appearance
NEAR SELFRIDGES
SOURCED MARKET
Sourced Market, located behind Selfridges and tucked away from the madness that is Oxford street, is a lively cafe and deli during the day but transforms into a cosy wine bar at night. The setting is casual yet friendly with wine and nibbles ordered and picked up from one of their counters but it’s obvious that real attention has been paid to their wine list and the food to go with it.
We sampled their excellent cheese board, offering a fine selection of European cheeses and quince jelly, a delicious tortilla with feta, peas and mint and some wonderful olives, all washed down with some ice-cold Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which you can also pick up from their deli to enjoy at home.
Prices are very reasonable at Sourced Market considering the location, basically in the midst of Mayfair and Marylebone, and it is the perfect refuel stop after some heavy retail therapy especially if you are after a down to earth and unpretentious spot where it’s all about good wine and good food.
COVENT GARDEN
10 CASES
We sampled their excellent cheese board, offering a fine selection of European cheeses and quince jelly, a delicious tortilla with feta, peas and mint and some wonderful olives, all washed down with some ice-cold Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which you can also pick up from their deli to enjoy at home.
Prices are very reasonable at Sourced Market considering the location, basically in the midst of Mayfair and Marylebone, and it is the perfect refuel stop after some heavy retail therapy especially if you are after a down to earth and unpretentious spot where it’s all about good wine and good food.
COVENT GARDEN
10 CASES
I’ve walked past the 10 Cases bistro and wine bar on just about every lunch break since I started working at my current job and have been dying to try it for about that long too. On a quieter side street off Seven Dials and between Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road, 10 Cases is a little piece of French bistro haven that you would never guess is only a 5-minute walk away from the crowded Covent Garden piazza.
Their premise is incredibly simple and charming, offering a short list of 10 white, 10 red, sparkling, rose and sweet wines of which everything is available by-the-glass/carafe/bottle and is always purchased in 10 Case orders.
That same straightforwardness applies to their food offering which is built around a monthly changing menu made from 3 starters, 3 main and 3 desserts as well as a range of wine-friendly tapas style dishes that are perfect to share.
You can book a table at the proper bistro but I adored the cave a vin walk in side of the restaurant, all dark wood, small tables and low lighting. It’s probably the most romantic place I’ve come across in London and we adored the wine and nibbles on offer, especially their out of this world polenta truffle fries. It’s a tiny place and a not so hidden gem so be prepared to wait, it will be worth it. A piece of French bistro culture in Central London everyone should try for themselves.
OXFORD CIRCUS
THE WIGMORE
Their premise is incredibly simple and charming, offering a short list of 10 white, 10 red, sparkling, rose and sweet wines of which everything is available by-the-glass/carafe/bottle and is always purchased in 10 Case orders.
That same straightforwardness applies to their food offering which is built around a monthly changing menu made from 3 starters, 3 main and 3 desserts as well as a range of wine-friendly tapas style dishes that are perfect to share.
You can book a table at the proper bistro but I adored the cave a vin walk in side of the restaurant, all dark wood, small tables and low lighting. It’s probably the most romantic place I’ve come across in London and we adored the wine and nibbles on offer, especially their out of this world polenta truffle fries. It’s a tiny place and a not so hidden gem so be prepared to wait, it will be worth it. A piece of French bistro culture in Central London everyone should try for themselves.
OXFORD CIRCUS
THE WIGMORE
I’ve already declared my love of The Wigmore in my post on the perfect Christmas in London and will stick to my verdict of it being the most universally appealing version of a pub that will please and excite any crowd or companion, a sort of idealised and sophisticated version of an old school pub without the price tag to match. I adore the amazing retro inspired interior, think plush dark green walls, lots of shiny brass and dark brown leather high stools.
It’s got something a little ‘Mad Men’ about it, if Don Draper went to a pub in London it would be here, and you quickly forget that you are in fact literally next door to the worst tube entrance in the whole of London (yes looking at you Oxford Circus), the kind of watering hole that once you enter into through the thick velvet curtain by the entrance you will stay at many hours drinking their excellent house white wine.
And please make sure you order a portion (or three) of utterly delicious thick Bloody Mary salt chips, they alone are a reason to visit the Wigmore, not that I need any more. Whether you are taking your mother, your lover or your friend I dare you to not have an absolute fantastic time at the Wigmore, I’ll see you at the bar.
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
TERROIRS
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
TERROIRS
On a bit of an unplanned bar crawl adventure one Saturday night before Christmas, Maddie and I were recommended Terroirs wine bar by a rather helpful (and dashing) sommelier at 10 cases and we would have been stupid to not follow his advice! Indeed, Terroirs turned out to be a buzzing wine bar that had an electric atmosphere on a busy Saturday night plus a great wine list to match.
On this occasion, we only tried the (nonetheless outstanding) bread and butter and couple of glasses of their house wine but I can’t wait to go back here to explore their seasonally changing small plates menu, Terroirs being a true gem particularly considering its slightly odd location by the Strand where culinary high points usually mean going to the huge Pizza Hut by Charing Cross station, not escaping to this little wine bar haven. One to revisit asap for me and one worth discovering by any wine lover.
On this occasion, we only tried the (nonetheless outstanding) bread and butter and couple of glasses of their house wine but I can’t wait to go back here to explore their seasonally changing small plates menu, Terroirs being a true gem particularly considering its slightly odd location by the Strand where culinary high points usually mean going to the huge Pizza Hut by Charing Cross station, not escaping to this little wine bar haven. One to revisit asap for me and one worth discovering by any wine lover.
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