4 South East London venues for wine lovers to check out this weekend
Adventurous night owls in Peckham and Nunhead are spoiled for choice. From rooftop bars with London’s most enviable skyline view to craft breweries and restored Victorian gastropubs to creative cocktail bars, there’s something for everyone in our corner of London. But where do you go to impress the wine aficionado in your life? Local wine blogger Wine Tasting Louise has rounded up the best places to explore wine in South East London.
By SouthEast15 contributor: Louise Dunne
WEST Wine Kitchen
West Wine Kitchen, Peckham Levels. Image: http://westwinekitchen.com/
Boasting some of the prettiest small plates in London, WEST Wine Kitchen brings a slice of California to South East London. WEST Wine in Peckham Levels is run by two friends with a genuine passion for good wine and nutritional, delicious and sustainable cooking.
Alongside the all-day menu of vegetable centric, seasonal and healthy (ish) dishes designed for sharing, they serve a wide-ranging selection of natural, organic and biodynamic wines.
With all wines offered by the glass at an accessible price point, this is the ideal venue to ask questions and try new varieties or regions of wine, with sparkling, orange and sweet wines also on offer.
Sunday 10am-5pm, Monday 11am-5pm, Tuesday 11am-9pm, Wednesday 11am-10pm, Thurs – Fri 11am – 11pm, Saturday 10am – 11pm.
Peckham Levels, Level 5, 95a Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST
Artusi
Artusi, Bellenden Road. Image:https://artusi.co.uk/
Artusi is the chic, minimalist neighbourhood restaurant that residents of foodie hotspot Bellenden Road are lucky to call their local. Pasta is made daily with fresh, seasonal ingredients and takes pride of place on a short, ever evolving menu Italian-inspired plates.
While the menu is reasonably priced and perennially popular with locals (and those who wish they called SE15 home) the restaurant fills up on Sundays for the excellent value £20 set lunch, with two choices for each course and vegetarians well catered for. The extensive wine list spans Italy’s many best loved regions but also has lesser known varieties from independent producers ensuring you’ll find the perfect glass to accompany your food.
Lunch served Tues - Sat 12 pm– 2.30pm
Dinner served Mon - Sat 6pm – 10 pm/ 10.30pm
Open Sunday 12.30pm – 8pm
161 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4DH
El Vermut
El Vermut, Nunhead. Image: @elvermut_london
2018 newcomer El Vermut is bringing Spanish fortified wine, tapas and a selection of beers to residents of Nunhead. Run by siblings Ollie and Greta Inglis, El Vermut evokes cosy tapas bars where ‘Hora de Vermut’ reins supreme. As well as offering a selection of imported vermouth, the bar also stocks cava from Barcelona’s iconic bar La Xampanyeria.
Thurs – Fri 4pm – 10.30pm
Saturday 4pm – 11.30pm
Sunday 12pm – 9pm
28 Nunhead Green, SE15 3QF
Peckham Bazaar
Peckham Bazaar Ottomon inspired mezze and charcoal grill dishes. Image: www.peckhambazaar.com
Tucked away on Consort Road far from the hustle and bustle of Peckham’s buzziest streets, the airy dining room, charcoal grill and lush green terrace is like a mirage appearing in the dessert for the hungry wanderer.
The thoughtfully curated selection of Balkan wines pair wonderfully with Peckham Bazaar’s ever-changing selection of Ottoman inspired mezze and charcoal grill dishes, making this the place to take an adventurous wine lover who knows their Albanian Marvud from their Greek Assyrtiko.
Tues – Fri 6pm -10pm
Saturday: 12:30pm-3pm and 6pm - 10pm
Sunday: 12:30pm - 3pm and 6pm - 8pm
119 Consort Rd, London SE15 3RU
Louise recently started sharing her London wine bar suggestions, wine reviews and wine pairing recommendations on Twitter, Instagram and her blog.
When not in her day job in Product Marketing, she can usually be found scouting London neighbourhoods for independent wine shops and the best wines by the glass, preferably in dog friendly venues that stock hearty Swartland whites.