Gordon's Wine Bar

Go up Villier Street from embankment station and on the right is a small unassuming door. Go down the rickety stairs and you find yourself in another world. The vaulted alcoves and small tables of this place look like they come directly from a novel by Charles Dickens. The building itself used to be on the bank of the river, before the Victoria Embankment was built and the door that used to open above the water now opens on an outdoor terrace. Although you can have beer if you ask for it, you come to Gordon’s for the wine. They have a great selection and will happily advise you. It can be very busy and crowded though so you will be lucky if you manage to find a table.

The first time I went here, I was on a business trip to London. I went in and was surprised to see how many people, and different kinds of people were in there. A very friendly person directed us around, helping us get to the bar and suggested we find/ask/take any open seats that were available, as it’s a very friendly place, and everyone is friends there. I said he must either work there, or spend a lot of time in there, and he replied that he owns the place, with a bit smile on his face. :) A couple of bottles of wine later we were talking about how the place was handed down through the family. This is a great place with a lot of history.

I went back a couple of times, their wine suggestions were always great, the mood and the company the same. If you stay long enough get a seat and drink a bottle, you’ll likely end up sitting with some complete strangers that will feel like friends by the end of the night. It’s definately crowded, but so much so to the point that it helps bring people together. HIGHLY recommended!