Wine lovers in South East London have no shortage of great options when it comes to choosing a venue to sip a glass (or bottle) of wine. Long regarded as a restaurant mecca thanks to restaurants such as Peckham Bazaar, Peckham also lays claim to some of London’s best views, boozy brunch deals and independent locals offering everything from quirky cocktail bars to  new riffs on international cuisine.

You know the hot spots, but where else should be on your radar for 2019? Local wine blogger Wine Tasting Louise picks the venues in Peckham and Nunhead that should be top of your to do list for the new year.

Kanpai

The UK’s first sake brewery opened in Peckham’s Copeland Park in November 2017 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. A year later, husband and wife Tom and Lucy launched their izakaya inspired tap room bar overlooking the brewery to showcase their award-winning sake range alongside guest sakes, Japanese spirits and local cocktail specials. For those inspired by Tom and Lucy’s ambitious side hustle, there are brewery tours and hands-on sake making experiences on offer. Or, if you’re just hungry try the Japanese snacks on offer at the bar.

The Sake Tap Room is open above the brewery Friday 5pm – 10pm, Saturday 12pm – 10pm

Unit 2A-2 Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN

Babette

Babette lures you in with chic décor that looks halfway between a cosy bookshop café and a French bistro that’s been around for decades with big windows and soft lighting. You might come for the ambiance, but you’ll stay for the sharing boards, loaded with tempting combinations that are exactly the type of grazing food you want with a large glass of wine and good conversation.

Bring your friends and your appetite and explore the seasonally adapted menu and make a reservation to avoid disappointment. Perhaps a little early to pair with wine, but they’ve recently started serving breakfast.

Lunch served Tues - Sat 12 pm– 2.30pm, Dinner served Mon - Sat 6pm – 10 pm/ 10.30pm

Open Wed -Thurs 4pm – 11pm, Fri – Sat 1am – 12am, Sun 11am – 7pm

57 Nunhead Lane, SE15 3TR

Forza Win

If one of your new year’s resolutions is to save money, Forza Win is a must for a midweek treat where the Awesome Sauce special gets you a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine for £10. Or to look at it another way, wine for £2.

The menu is tweaked weekly to reflect bang up to the minute seasonality, with specials shared on their social channels and features lesser known Italian ingredients and cooking techniques.

The rest of the week the pasta specials are available as a primi course alongside a selection of antipasti, substantial secondi plates and “just a little something to end the meal” dolci.

The wine list spans Italy with house wines starting at a reasonable £20 and climbing in line with vintage and variety as well as the twists on classic cocktails that you’d expect from such an inventive team of chefs.

Tues 6pm – 11.30pm, walk ins only, Wed – Thurs 6pm – 11.30pm, Fri 12pm – 3pm, 6 – 11.30pm, Sat 12pm – 4pm, 6 – 11.30pm, Sun 12pm – 4pm.

Unit 4.1 Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, SE15 3SN

Levan

In one of the most anticipated London openings of the year, the team behind Salon in Brixton opened their second modern bistro in Peckham’s Blenheim Grove. Already racking up stellar reviews in national press, the inviting all-day dining space offers something for all tastes and appetites with vegetarians, vegans and pescatarians all well catered for.

There is a lengthy wine list covering the best of Europe’s low intervention, organic and biodynamic producers that pair beautifully with small plates, snacks and seasonal specials. In addition to the selection by the bottle, there is a wide selection available by the glass and carafe, and a whole section dedicated to the Eastern France region of Jura. The care and attention to the wine list even shines through in the beer and cocktail list, such as beers aged in wine barrels.

Overwhelmed by choice? Levan offer a chef’s menu with 5 dishes for the table to share.  It will certainly take more than one visit to try all that Levan has to offer.

Tues – Fri 8am – 11.30pm, Saturday: 10am – 11.30pm, Sunday: 10am – 3pm

12 – 16 Blenheim Grove, SE15 4QL

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.