Peckham bars: best places to drink wine this Autumn

Okay, it’s finally time to say goodbye to those warm summer eves and embrace the cosy (aka rainy) Autumn nights. Time to grab a pal, a knitted jumper and a delicious bottle of wine. For wine blogger Wine Tasting Louise, Peckham is one of the best neighbourhoods in London to explore by the glass. Read on to find out her top Peckham bars you need to check out this Autumn.

Written by SouthEast15 contributor: Louise Dunne

Two Hundred Rye Lane

Sister bar to Brixton hotspots Seven and Three Eight Four, Two Hundred Rye Lane is an all-day venue at the heart of Rye Lane dishing up a selection of Spanish leaning small plates with plenty of options to cater for vegans, vegetarians and meat lovers alike.

While the cocktails (always with a twist) are the star attraction, Two Hundred Rye Lane has a strong selection of wines by the bottle and glass.

Even better, they have a generous happy hour deal running Monday to Thursday from 5pm – 9pm when bottles of house wine are a bargain at just £15.

Mon – Thurs 10am – 12am, Fri – Sat 10am – 12.30am, Sun 10am – 11pm

200 Rye Ln, Peckham, SE15 4NF

Forza Wine

Already a Peckham favourite thanks to great value midweek pasta specials and a vast Italian wine list, Forza Win have another hit on their hands with Forza Wine, a 5th-floor rooftop terrace at 133 Rye Lane.

At this just-opened venue, the focus has shifted from the modern sharing dishes to the drinks menu but rest assured, the food is still stellar with dishes you won’t see on many other Italian restaurants around London.

Alongside a substantial selection of wine, cocktails and beer they offer what they’re calling Italian drinking food covering major food groups of bar snacks; grilled things on sticks, cheesy snacks, specialist charcuterie and fried bites all using the best seasonal ingredients.

The wine list has plenty to explore by the glass and bottle but even the most committed oenophile will be tempted to end the evening with the already Instagram famous frozen Negroni. Just don’t call it a frogroni.

A covered section is planned for the terrace and a lift to the 5th floor is in the works. They take reservations or chance your arm on the terrace and make the most of the late licence to end your night with a great drink in hand and London’s skyscrapers twinkling in the distance.

Tues – Thurs 12 – 11.30pm, Fri – Sat 12pm – 1.30am, Sun 12 – 11pm

The rooftop, 133 Rye Ln, Peckham, SE15 4ST

Kudu

South African cooking is quite underrepresented in London considering the rising popularity of South African wine, but Peckham is luckily home to stylish South African restaurant Kudu, who focus on ‘locavore’ sourcing and seasonal sharing plates.

While the dishes lean towards a modern European influence, you will find South African cooking techniques incorporated into the seasonal menu such as braii and potje sharing dishes.

The wine list isn’t exclusively South African but modern producers from across the country are well represented. It’s the perfect place to leave behind your preconceptions of supermarket Chenin Blanc and explore the rising star of New World wine regions.

The smart garden tables are a bonus at Kudu to extend the minimalist but luxurious dining room but there will soon be a lot more of Kudu to enjoy in Peckham. The team are planning a small plate restaurant called Little Kudu next door as well as Smokey Kudu, a cocktail bar, planned for just under the bridge at 133 Queen’s Road.

Dinner Wed – Sun 6pm – 10pm, Brunch Sat – Sun 11am – 2.30pm, Lunch Friday 12pm - 3.30pm

119 Queen’s Rd, Peckham, SE15 2EZ

Coal Rooms is possibly the best venue in Peckham to bring the carnivore in your life. While vegetarians and vegans will still benefit from the imaginative dishes and extensive menu choice, there is a dazzling array of options for meat lovers on their wide range of menus throughout the day.

Set in the Grade II listed former ticket office of Peckham Rye station, the kitchen has a coal fire and robata grill where they get to showcase a range of cooking techniques.

The drinks options span as wide as the food menu here with a great variety of bottled beers, cocktails with wine options spanning from sparkling aperitifs through to after-dinner sweet wines and ports.

Kudos to Coal Rooms for championing vegan, biodynamic and organic wines as well as slightly lesser-known producers and varieties giving ample opportunity to discover something new for your wine palate as well as your taste buds.

Mon – Fri 6.30am – 11pm, Sat 7.30pm – 11pm, Sun 8am – 6pm

11a Station Way, SE15 4RX

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.

Featured