The best wine bars in London

Humble Grape stocks over 400 bottles of wine that are all biodynamic, organic or sustainably sourced and imported from small, family-owned estates. The ethos for sustainability continues with the food - expect seasonal small plates and charcuterie and cheese boards sourced from independent suppliers. The venues are light, airy, and minimal, and you won't find any pretentiousness or snobbery. The staff are always on hand to help you decide.

Oenophiles in London simply can't miss Gordon's Wine Bar – it's the oldest in the whole city. This centrally-located institution was established in 1890 and has a weathered interior packed with history and wine bottles. There's a terrace too. An extensive array of wines are available, plus a huge selection of cheese to pair with your drink of choice.

Renegade produces its own wines up in Walthamstow, and operates two bars where you can try the drinks for yourself. The venues are modern and rustic with a friendly atmosphere. As well as sampling Renegade's own vintages, bottles from guest wineries are available, including drinks from unexpected regions like Scandinavia.

This cosy neighbourhood wine bar and deli in Highbury serves natural wines in a chic setting - think raw brick with sleek white tiles, and hanging chalkboards, complemented by handpicked playlists in the background. Seasonal plates inspired by the owner's Turkish roots are an ideal accompaniment to the wines, like courgette dolma bites with wild garlic and lemon yoghurt. They also supply deli products to take away, craft beer and wine bottles, and bread.

Sager + Wilde is an excellent place to dabble in the world of wine, whether you’re a seasoned wine connoisseur or just beginning to dip your toes in. There’s a varied list of wines available to try, but there’s a significant focus on organic and natural wines, with many coming from smaller producers. You can order snacks and small plates alongside your wine, like cheese toasties with gherkins and slow-cooked beef ragu.

Noble Rot serves a menu of British and European dishes in a setting that feels a bit like a private members club without actually needing membership. The food is accompanied by a menu of lesser-known wines from around the world, ranging from affordable glasses to three-figure bottles. Expect fine cuisine and rare wines here.

Diogenes the Dog is an independent wine bar close to Elephant and Castle, serving ‘some of the undiscovered wines of the world’. They prefer to focus on lesser-explored regions of the wine world, like Texas, Poland and China, and owner Sunny Hodge has a personal relationship with each winemaker, meaning that the wines are imported straight from the source.

Top Cuvée and Cave Cuvée are a pair of modern neighbourhood wine bars. Enjoy drinks and nibbles in stylish surroundings here. There are plates to share as well as an extensive choice of wines that change regularly. Natural wines are a focus in particular. Craft beer and cocktails are available if you fancy an alternative to wine.

107 Wine Bar & Shop (ex-P. Franco) is a no reservations spot in a former Cash2Carry shop in Clapton. Organic, natural, and biodynamic wines are available by the glass and bottle alongside a food menu that complements the drinks and changes every six months. It's the ideal spot to enjoy natural wines in an environment that feels more like a hip pub than a pretentious wine bar.

This vegan-friendly wine bar in North London specialises in providing an excellent selection of wine, cheese and charcuterie boards and vegan platters in a warm and welcoming setting. If you visit on a Sunday, you’ll also enjoy your tipple with the sound of a live band playing tunes in the background.

The Yield bars are laidback wine bars and bottle shops in North London with indoor and outdoor tables. They stock a regularly-changing menu of wines by the glass and bottle. The wines are all natural and biodynamic, complemented by a menu of small plates and cheese and charcuterie boards. These friendly local venues also organise tastings and events.

You might expect to find books at Highbury Library, but if so, you'll be disappointed (or pleasantly surprised). Instead this is a contemporary wine bar stocking orange, organic, natural, and biodynamic bottles and a selection of craft beers. The wine is unique and rare, coming from small-scale producers. The bar is decorated in a cosy fashion with walls lined with an impressive vinyl collection. If any take your fancy, you can pick it out and request it gets a spin on the player. There's a garden too.

Located in bustling Spitalfields Market, Alfi is a place where a wine bar meets a pub. It has the cosy vibes of a pub along with a crisp and contemporary style, but the drinks list is all about diverse European wines, including wine on tap. Drinks are also served by the bottle and upscale nibbles are available to pair with your drinks.

If low-intervention wines and seasonal sharing plates sounds like your jam, then you’ll like Bar Crispin on Kingly Street in Soho. The wine list features mostly European wines curated by the in-house sommelier, alongside a European menu using produce from local farms and independent growers.

For a glass of wine with excellent city views, head to Forza Wine.. All of the wine is Italian, and there's plenty on offer to choose from, all listed at different price points. They also have a selection of cocktails and nibbles that changes every week or two. For those with a sweet tooth, they have a soft-serve machine that serves salted olive oil caramel and crushed biscotti ice cream.

This casual spot in Fitzrovia is split into two sections: a cosy wine bar at the front and a dining area at the back that sees a rotating line-up of chefs bringing their flavours to the kitchen. The drinks menu comprises minimal, low-intervention wines and a handful of cocktails paired with seasonal snacks and small plates. The bright space features floor-to-ceiling windows allowing natural light to drench the terrazzo stone floor.

Exposed brick wall, dim candlelight and scribbled-on chalkboards are just a few of the things you can expect when you swing by The Remedy for a glass of wine. Their wine list, updated regularly, is chock full of bottles from small producers, all of which the two passionate owners are more than happy to chat through with you.

Passione Vino in buzzy Leonard Street would be hard to miss thanks to its bright blue facade and edgy font. The inside is just as cool as the outside, with three floors of rooms filled with quirky furniture and walls pasted with extravagant wallpaper. The wine list features plenty of biodynamic wine, and the food sticks to classics like silky carbonara and hearty lasagne.

You'll find Provisions in both Holloway Road and Hackney Road. By day it's a deli stocking artisanal products and natural foods, but by night it comes to life as a wine bar serving a selection of unique wines, snacks and cheeses. The staff are super knowledgeable and on hand to help with any wine-focused questions you might be dying to ask.

After a childhood filled with excellent food and drinks, four French friends decided to reconvene and create their very own wine and epicerie bar in North London. They stock a selection of regional artisan products, more than 30 wines by the glass and over 700 by the bottle. If you're not a wine drinker, they also have over 75 beers. Hungry? There's hot food and sharing boards of cheese and charcuterie.

The WC Wine & Charcuterie bars ensure a memorable setting by setting up shop in former public toilets, for example a 19th century Victorian water closet beneath a tube station. They preserve, restore and repurpose the original fittings as well, so you can count on a charmingly quirky setting for your wine sipping. The curated wine list is concise yet well-rounded, and there are small plates and sharing boards to nibble on.

Bambi has taken over the London Fields location formerly home to Bright. More than just a wine bar and eatery, Bambi strikes a chord with its emphasis on music. Swing by during the day for coffee and sandwiches or drop in at dusk for enticing small bites like arancini, complemented by natural wines and cocktails and soundtracked by a state-of-the-art sound setup with live DJs.

Cosy bar and wine shop 56 West Smithfield imports its own wine, helping to keep the prices reasonable. You can buy a bottle to savour at home or get settled at the bar to enjoy a drink on the premises. An award-winning selection of natural wines are served, and there's a tasting room where there are regular events.

A popular wine bar in the heart of London, Cork & Bottle has hundreds of wine varieties from around the world to choose from. A tempting and eclectic food menu is on offer to pair with the drinks, including a signature ham and cheese pie. This buzzing venue has a lively vibe.

Covent Garden wine bar Lady of the Grapes is compact, loud, and lively. This bustling and intimate bar champions female wine producers, with all the wine being natural, organic, or biodynamic. There are options by the glass as well as the bottle. A seasonal menu of small plates like fried mushrooms, cheeses, and charcuterie are served too.

What sets Bar Rioja apart is that it's the only bar in the country to specialise in Rioja wines. The venue in King's Cross is comfortable and cosy. More than 40 types of Rioja wine are served by the glass so it's easy to sample a few. Light pintxo-style snacks are also served as an ideal accompaniment.

A trendy spot in East London, Oranj is an approachable bar that's known for top quality natural wine in addition to exciting kitchen residencies by some pretty special culinary names. A straightforward choice of wines by the glass or bottle is available to go enjoy alongside some delicious food, all served in a pared-back environment.

The Wine Library is a treasure trove for wine enthusiasts, offering an impressive selection to suit all budgets. Nestled in a charming 19th-century wine cellar, this shop boasts a thoughtfully curated collection of bottles sourced from across the globe. For those who'd like to savour a glass on-site, the cosy wine bar awaits, and regular wine tastings provide the perfect opportunity to expand your palate.