Best wine bars in London Whether you want rustic bistros or the best in upscale drinking, David Ellis has found the capital's top spots for a glass of the good stuff Tuesday 22 September 2015 08:40 BST London's best wine bars There's an old joke that justifies the love of wine: nobody ever came up with a brilliant idea after their second bottle of water. And wine drinking, like any upstanding pastime, requires a little practice. Fortunately, London is pleasingly rammed with decent bars all honouring the grape's greatest achievement (a moth turning into a butterfly has nothing on this humble fruit transforming into a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape.) The city is even producing its own stuff, as Gavin Monery from London Cru explains in the video below. The idea of a wine bar has a little stigma attached, but fortunately, old-fashioned sommeliers with intimidating moustaches and dismissive glances have long been banished from the best of London's wine hotspots.

The idea of small, snobby rooms can be thrown out like the sediment in an old bottle – wine drinking in London is meant to be fun, not an extended lecture. Whether a quiet night savouring a modest fifteen glasses of white with a friend is on the cards or a celebratory evening of champagne is required, London caters for all. Our list includes old-fashioned bistros, one of the finest restaurants in town, a modern spin on things and true a London institution. Explore, be merry, learn a little, and raise a glass to good health. Follow David Ellis on Twitter @dvh_ellis Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout Things to do in LondonBuried deep beneath cobbled streets in Covent Garden, Gordon's Wine Bar is composed of multiple caves and tunnels filled with small candlelit tables and copious bottles of wine, which is somehow more romantic than it is gimmicky. Gordon's has been around since 1890, and is still going strong serving its wide selection of global wines (ranging from red to rosé to vegan) and a handful of snacks, such as cheese plates, a smoked salmon salad, and peppers stuffed with feta cheese.

The best bars for a date in London Whether you want to curl up in one of London's most romantic hideaways or are just looking for somewhere to drink away the awkwardness, London has you covered, says David Ellis Tuesday 14 February 2017 10:46 GMT Best bars for a date in London From Jane Eyre to Bridget Jones, the trials and tribulations of dating are well documented. The dating world is not, however, 'a minefield'. With minefields, there's always a slim chance you'll come out unscathed. Still, the pursuit of love drives us all onward, washing us from one mortifying encounter to another – hysterical post-date phone calls and all. After all, it's fun. While you can't choose the quality of date, you can do your best to ensure the venue is a winner. Scroll through the gallery above for all of our suggestions: there are dive bars alongside London's most glamourous spots, first-date winners beside places perfect for couples in desperate need of a catch-up. Below are five of our favourites.

WC Wine and Charcuterie It's like they custom built this place for dates: the whole premise is – surely the name was a tip off – wine and charcuterie.Once inside, you'll be sat in candelit surroundings. best wine maps of franceIt's romantic, but not showy, and the wine is fairly priced, too. how late can you buy wine in georgiaHead down on a Sunday and a Monday and you'll catch some live music. best wine flights nycThe sort of place that becomes "our place".where to buy a wine cooler Info: Clapham Common South Side, SW4 7AA, wcclapham.co.uktop 10 new zealand wine

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London Settle in by the fire and Scarfes bar will do the romancing for you. It's like an oversize library in a grand old house, but thankfully easily gets busy enough to keep a buzz up. wine gift box with accessoriesYou come here to impress: the place is all art deco details, beautiful old books and live music throughout the week. The gentlemen's club vibe fortunately isn't taken too far, and the cocktail list is surprisingly fresh, and doesn't rely on straight classics. Beautifully luxurious, tremendous atmosphere and the live music is always first rate. 68, the wine bar downstairs, runs off a marvellous concept: every bottle on the list is £20, so choose what you like, not what you can afford – no-one ends up looking stingy. There’s champagne on, too, so you can look like you’re splashing out, even when you’re not. If neither of you fancy a bottle, they're served by the carafe (£14) or glass (£5.50).

It’s relaxed, French and Italian in feel: it isn’t showy, but you’ll have a good time. Oh, and if you make friends with the wonderful staff – ask for Denise, who really knows her stuff – you might be able to try a few off-menu goodies too. All you really need to about this bar is that it's a damned good laugh. It's not a quiet, intimate romantic joint at all: it's loud, brash, drinks go down quickly and everyone ends up getting silly and dancing until doors close. One for those dates that spiral gloriously out of control. It stays open late, it's tons of fun and you can quite happily get away with requesting your musical guilty pleasure. We love it, and so does the rest of London: booking is essential. Info: 113-117 Farringdon Road, Farringdon, EC1R 3BX, pianoworks.bar The Vaults at Milroy's The Vaults at Milroy's win from the off, because to get to them, you enter through an bookcase, and that's the best way to get to anywhere. They play decent music, the drinks are reasonably priced and they make an excellent Old Fashioned.