London
The best wine bars in London
The oldest wine bar in London still sits in a candlelit cellar by the river. The newest pour from lists that win international awards. Between them lie some of the best places in Europe to drink a glass of wine, and these are the ones worth crossing town for.
13 November 20265 min read
Picolo Editorial
In short: London wine bars
For atmosphere, go to Gordon's on Villiers Street, open since 1890. For serious lists with food, Noble Rot has three addresses, in Bloomsbury, Soho and Mayfair. Doppo in Soho won Star Wine List's best long list in 2026, and Row on 5 in Mayfair won best by-the-glass list. Rosewood London, a walk from Noble Rot's first bar, is our first choice for a wine weekend.
Last checked: November 2026.
The classic
Gordon's Wine Bar, Embankment
Angus Stafford Gordon opened his wine bar at 47 Villiers Street in November 1890, and it claims to be the oldest in London. The vaulted cellar is lit by candles, and the bar sells only wine, port and sherry, with old casks of port and sherry still in place. In summer the terrace on Watergate Walk fills early. It is first come, first served, so arrive before six.
Lists that win awards
Noble Rot, Bloomsbury, Soho and Mayfair
Noble Rot began in 2013 as a magazine about wine and food, founded by Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew. Two years later they opened their first wine bar and restaurant at 51 Lamb's Conduit Street in Bloomsbury, and Greek Street in Soho and Shepherd Market in Mayfair followed. All three won silver for best long list and best by-the-glass list at Star Wine List of the Year UK 2026.
Doppo, Soho
Doppo won gold for both best long list and best Italian list at Star Wine List of the Year UK 2026, and silver for its list by the glass. Come for a deep tour of Italy.
Row on 5, Mayfair
Row on 5 on Savile Row took gold for best by-the-glass list and best sparkling list in 2026. The list runs to about 2,400 wines, nearly 60 of them by the glass, poured with a Coravin. A restaurant first, but the place to taste rare champagne by the glass.
Mountain, Soho
Mountain on Beak Street, from the chef Tomos Parry, won gold for best Spanish list. Expect cooking over fire and a list deep in sherry and the regions of northern Spain.
Before you go
Book where you can. Noble Rot, Doppo and Row on 5 take reservations, and weekends go early.
Ask for the Coravin list. A Coravin is a needle that draws wine without removing the cork, so bars can pour rare bottles by the glass.
Go early at Gordon's. No bookings for tables, and the cellar fills fast after work.
To learn rather than drink, see our guide to wine tasting in London.
Picolo picks the hotel for you
Picolo is the hotel guest's best friend. We take on the role of guide and do the work before you book: we look at the hotels in the area, where they stand, what guests say and what is actually there. Then we choose the one hotel that suits this particular trip best. For a wine weekend in London the choice fell on Rosewood London, about 15 minutes on foot from Noble Rot's first bar and close to Soho. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Our first choice in London
Rosewood London
Rosewood London occupies the former headquarters of the Pearl Assurance Company on High Holborn, whose first phase was completed in 1914. You arrive through the old carriage courtyard, preserved when the building became a hotel in 2013. Noble Rot's first bar on Lamb's Conduit Street is about 15 minutes away on foot, and Soho and Covent Garden are close. Scarfes Bar, named after the cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, makes a quiet end to the evening.
Frequently asked questions about wine bars in London
What is the oldest wine bar in London?
Gordon's Wine Bar at 47 Villiers Street, near Embankment station, opened in November 1890 and claims to be London's oldest. Its candlelit, vaulted cellar sells only wine, port and sherry. Tables are first come, first served, so arrive early in the evening, especially on Fridays.
Where are the best wine bars in London?
Soho, Mayfair and Bloomsbury have the highest concentration. Noble Rot's three bars, Doppo in Soho and Row on 5 in Mayfair all won awards at Star Wine List of the Year UK 2026. Gordon's Wine Bar on Villiers Street is the classic choice for atmosphere.
Which London wine bars serve the most wine by the glass?
Row on 5 on Savile Row won gold for best by-the-glass list at Star Wine List of the Year UK 2026, with nearly 60 wines by the glass. Doppo and all three Noble Rot bars won silver in the same category. Ask for the Coravin list where there is one.
Where should you stay in London for wine bars?
Stay between Holborn and Mayfair to walk to most of the best bars. Rosewood London on High Holborn is about 15 minutes on foot from Noble Rot's first bar and close to Soho. Our guide to where to stay in London covers the other neighbourhoods.
Sources
Awards come from Star Wine List of the Year UK 2026, and details on Row on 5 from Star Wine List. The history of Gordon's comes from the bar's own history page, and Noble Rot's from its own website. The history of the Rosewood building comes from Historic Hotels of the World. Weldon Kennedy took the photograph of Gordon's, via Wikimedia Commons. Hotel photographs are from Hotels.com (Expedia Group). Last checked November 2026.
Cheers from London
Picolo Editorial