This throwback cafe is so worth the visit even if there’s no intention of drinking wine alongside your full English. So quaint is the space, the service as brusque and hurried as anyone could hope to find in a proper caff’, the food perfectly pitched, quietly elevated version of the nostalgic favourites. There’s confidence in a space like this, built into its concept and execution, and now that’s carried over to a quick and straightforward little wine list for those looking to expand their brunch routine. The list is simple, approachable, and everything on it functions in the world of “breakfast wine.” As it should. 

This undeniably vibey little Soho spot offers plenty of extremely tempting drops, from a neatly curated cocktail list to the wildly fabulous wet gin martini-gildas combo. Tucked between the zine-like pages of the space’s drinks list you’ll find a sweet and simple wine selection with buzzy, energetic wines that suit the room and snacks to a tee. Christophe Lindenlaub’s Je Suis au Jardin muscat gives a bit of prickly acidity and just a whisper of that varietal-led stone fruit note: a perfect pair for the sweet-spicy, somewhat international array of flavours hosted here.

Frankly, wine wouldn’t be the first thing that most people would reach for in a space serving up spice-led, sour and fragrant northern Thai cuisine. And yet, at Kiln, the list slots in nicely alongside a few fresh, simple cocktails and cold draught beer served in frosted mugs. Here, the skin contact section makes brilliant sense alongside the food. A bit of tannic structure from maceration and a touch of savoury fruit stands up to the powerful flavours coming out of the kitchen. And quite smartly, many of the wines listed across the categories have a bit of that savoury grippy edge, so needed against a challenging menu pairing like Kiln’s. 

On first glance, The Plimsoll appears very much like any other neighbourhood pub: a bit of bunting, wood panelling, a few dusty lampshades and well-worn chairs here and there. But in the kitchen something quite exciting is happening — the Four Legs popup, born in lockdown and now a full-blown operation in its own right, is turning out exciting small plates of food that are at once both casual and well-designed, entirely simple but decidedly new. Against the backdrop of the buzzy kitchen, post-punk, and a sea of 20-somethings seemingly just out of fashion school, there’s an interesting little wine list being put together by the team that features some exciting bottles you won’t see everyday in a pub. Orange wines by Cantina Giardino certainly fit the brief, and for those wanting something a bit lighter on the ABV, the list boasts some impeccable Skyborry ciders from Wales. 

There’s always a hesitation in writing about the Towpath Cafe, should too many people catch on to the sheer pleasure coming from this tiny, Regent’s Canal-front space, and that one day there will be queues rounding the bends and turns of the river until ever-increasing numbers of those unlucky last diners will be turned away to go in search of some deeply disappointing alimentation further afield. But such is the nature of food and wine writing, and good things cannot be gatekept for the sake of this writer’s midweek rituals. Much has been said about the joy and humility of the food at Towpath and how the simplicity of each thing combined makes for a symphonic experience. The wine list is exactly as you’d want it to be, short and well-curated; just lovely, versatile wines that find a happy home on the table. Malauva Bianco, for instance, is pitch-perfect for a leisurely afternoon sat at Towpath, gaze fixed outwards onto the canal, as dishes find their way to the table in a delicious crescendo.