Madame ! Wine Shop & Bar Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

Stop by, take a seat on a tweed banquette, give a few small plates your full attention, then drink some interesting wine from a fashionably stubby glass. There’s a big bar near the open kitchen for when you can’t snag a reservation. The lounge often holds pairing nights where wines are matched with seasonal local dishes, enhancing the dining experience. It's an ideal spot to explore new wine and food pairings, all while enjoying the lively, communal atmosphere. After a rocky start full of shifts and pivots during the pandemic, this rosé-hued hideaway on Northwest 21st seems to have hit its stride. The team behind lavishly decorated restaurant hits Beatnik, Porto, and Mama Delia doesn’t shy away from funkiness in style or wine.

Sitting right bySpitalfields Market, Funky Cellar mixes cosy wine bar vibes with a retro 70s twist. Think eclectic vintage décor, warm lighting and shelves packed with beautiful bottles. The brainchild of Clare Lattin, Tom Hill and Rory McCoy, its focus is European cooking rooted in simplicity and seasonality. The handwritten, frequently changing menu features small and large plates of hearty pasta, perfectly cooked prime cuts and seasonal seafood. There's always a buzzing vibe here, with great music and an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work. There's a rotating lineup of vendors serving food here, which you can enjoy alongside a bold and adventurous wine list.

Make sure to watch out for frequent events like “vino and vinyl” or reading evenings. There's a meticulously curated wine list by co-owner and sommelier Holly Willcocks, featuring around 80 natural wines to enjoy in-house or take home from the fridge wall. Founded by four friends with deep roots in hospitality, including experience with Noble Rot and 40FT Brewery, Half Cut Market has quickly earned its reputation as one of London's best wine bars.

Discover London

Looking to be straight out of a Dickens novel thanks to corners, ceilings and walls covered in vintage items and antiques, The Mug House is a charming London Bridge wine bar. Davy's Wine Vaulrs have over 100 wines for you to choose from, many of which can be served by the glass, and even have a wine shop next door, should you be interested in topping up your at-home wine collection. Unlike most Lagos bars, which have a rushed or commercial vibe, Funky Tiger invites you to linger.

Situated near Embankment (a really easy walk from Charing Cross if you cut through the back entrance), this atmospheric spot is steeped in history, with candlelit nooks and vaulted cellars. Nestled away in the heart of Spitalfields market, Alfi serves up natural and biodynamic wines in the heart of the city. The focus here is classic styles from small growers alongside more adventurous tipples. The botanic beauty's wine selection features whites by the glass like Saint-Joseph “Litote” Bryan Deleu and sweet and fortified sips like Tawny Port, Niepoort, 10yo to name a few.

An upscale casual dining experience featuring seasonally inspired Chef Driven Italian and California cuisine, fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza in a comfortable yet modern setting.
The bottle list is exhaustive, there are plenty of wines by the glass, and the food menu has a short list of snacks like lemon spaghetti and Basque cheesecake.
The lounge often holds pairing nights where wines are matched with seasonal local dishes, enhancing the dining experience.
The East Village wine bar from the Penny team offers a bottle list with over 1,000 options, exactly 88 of which are under $88.

It doesn't get much better than this beauty, which has over 20 by the glass and more than 300 bottles to choose between as well. Ideal for date nights in an intimate setting, The Wine Tasting Shop stocks artisanal producers and has live music each week too. For top-notch places to sip organic glasses, Daly's Wine Bar is a great shout. The venue promises a cosy ambience, as the coffee rush wine bar well as a variety of a artisan beers and premium spirits, on top of 20 daily international wines to choose from. If that doesn't pique your interest, there's British cuisine on offer, including delish charcuterie spreads - perfect for date night across a bottle.

Amelie's Wine House

Volo is a casually cool destination specializing in boutique wines, artisan cheeses, and many delicious options for sharing. That ranges from chilled oysters to charcuterie with knowledgeable staffers always available to help you with unconventional wine pairings. One of Volo’s biggest draws is its spacious year-round patio, a favorite for post-work gatherings.

- Charostick Bistro & Wine Bar - Lagos

Just a stone's throw away from Portobello Market, Franklin's Notting Hill is a great spot to drink good booze. Not only are they serving delicious wine but also a fabulous selection of cheese and charcuterie boards in their gorgeous space. It's a plush and high-end spot for drinking, with crushed velvet complementing the cool chrome, found supporting 100s of bottles of wine on the back bar. In Elephant & Castle, Diogenes the Dog takes a modern approach to wine. This quirky neighbourhood bar and bottle shop is found just shy of Elephant and Castle, championing small-scale producers and lesser-known regions, offering an exciting alternative to mainstream choices.

Carousel's Neighbourhood Wine Bar offers a delightful dining experience that combines seasonal small plates, vibrant snacks, and a carefully chosen selection of low-intervention wines and artisanal cocktails. With multiple locations across the city, Humble Grape is a haven for sustainably sourced wines. Their independent ethos champions small-batch producers, offering everything from 30 wines by the glass to over 400 bottles of biodynamic, natural and sustainable wine.