Wine bars are lovely places; calmer than the pub, more relaxed than a cocktail bar and full of interesting bottles of the good stuff. Gone are the days when they were looked on as being pretentious or snobby – now everyone can agree that, when you’re after tasting some delicious vintages in lovely surrounds, a wine bar is hard to beat (it certainly beats cheap, synthetic and overly warm pub wine any day).

Wine bars are a delightful place to end a long day, as they are often lit by twinkling candles and soft lighting, making them instantly cocooning and welcoming. But more than that, there’s simply no better way to get to grips with new grapes, producers and wine styles. The staff have endless knowledge and have done the work to curate menus filled with interesting, reliable or exciting bottles, depending on what you’re after. Rather than committing to a bottle of something you’ve been wondering about, a wine bar offers you the chance to try them by the glass (sometimes even smaller measures) so you can find new favourites and expand your knowledge. As for food, most wine bars serve excellent charcuterie and cheese boards and what’s not to love about that?

The best wine bars in London