The Best Summer Drinking Spots in London
In London, it feels like we have 12 different seasons, sometimes all in one day. But no matter the season, wine and food are always the perfect answer. It’s time to dip your toes in the sand (or grass, or ice, wherever you are) and get inspired for some summer drinking!
Best London Wine Bar & Restaurant
Whether you're looking for a cosy wine bar near me or the perfect outdoor terrace for al fresco dining, we’ve got you covered.
Just like our wine, our food doesn’t contain any junk. Over the years, our Executive Chef Dane has tirelessly built an incredible team of chefs who serve seasonal, organic, and sustainable dishes across all our London wine bar locations, dramatically increasing the quality of our food. And as the seasons change, so do our menus. Our summer menu is perfect for relaxed al fresco dining and is ideal for sharing. If you'd like to try some of our bestsellers that are available at all six of our London restaurants, opt for the Baked Camembert – it’s so creamy, it could smooth out a rough Monday. The star of the show is our Côte de Boeuf, arguably the best beef in London. Crisp on the outside and meltingly tender on the inside, it boasts so much flavour you might think the cow willingly laid down its life for this level of excellence.
Chilled Reds?? Really??
YES! You can chill red wine and here's why you should! With warmer weather, we often lean towards light whites and pale rosés. However, chilled reds are a fantastic, lesser-known option for summer drinking.
Why? A cooler serving elevates the fruit flavours, tightens the structure, and heightens the acidity, resulting in a refreshing and elegant finish while maintaining the complexity of red wine. Typically, people serve whites too cold and reds too warm. Chilling reds for 20-40 minutes before serving and letting whites warm up slightly can improve the tasting experience. Light to medium-bodied reds with minimal oak, high acidity, and lower tannin structure, such as Beaujolais (aka Gamay), Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Nebbiolo, and Cabernet Franc, are best suited for chilling. You’ll want to avoid chilling full-bodied, tannic reds as they can become unpleasant when too cold. However, even the boldest reds don’t need a serving temp above 18°C.
In a nutshell, serve light, fruity reds at 12-13°C, medium-bodied reds at 15-16°C, and full-bodied reds at 16-18°C. A brief chill in the fridge is sufficient to enhance flavours without suppressing aromas. Want a taste? Why not come in for our London wine tastings and have a go at our wines!
The chilled reds trend is not hard to master - but if you would like some great picks to get you started, we’ve rounded up some of our favourites for you:
Fashionably floral, fresh & fruity, full of feminine flair and feistiness. Fabulous.
Are you in touch with your feminine side? If not, somewhat surprisingly, this might help. Made by the rugged, rough and manly hands of an ex rugby player from grapes plucked from gnarled old vines grown on steep, craggy and uncompromising slopes, you might expect it to smell of musk, sweat and DIY and it to grunt if asked about its emotions, but you'd be wrong. The wonderfully feminine La Cadole Fleurie smells delicately of irises, violets and roses.
Immersed in the winemaking traditions of the Valpantena and Valpolicella areas, the Tezza family has been producing wines for three generations. Established in 1960, the Tezza winery today is an example of a short production chain that applies a fundamental principle: in order to ensure authenticity, transparency and excellence, each and every step of the winemaking process must be traceable.
n celebrating the history of their grand location in Bierzo, Spain, this family winery has been making wine that will go down in history, that’s for sure! Their Mencía is a product of perfection in simplicity. Each mouthful is rich with bold, fruity notes and is light on the tongue. The variety, with its thick-skinned, violet-blue grapes, was once thought to be related to Cabernet Franc. Modern DNA testing has disproved this theory, however, but has uncovered that it is in fact genetically identical to Portugal's Jaen. Bursting at the seams with rich, velvety flavour, you can’t dispute it’s rightful place in Spanish winemaking folklore.
Our VIP (Very Important Pour) of the Month, you ask?
Drum Roll Please
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Drum Roll Please 〰️
Rosé!
Mostly associated with al fresco lunches, lazy days on the beach, and sun-kissed outdoor space, the light and refreshing Rosé is returning as a much-loved summertime staple. In celebration of International Rosé Day on 25th June, we have picked our favourite Rosé icons that we'll be sipping on this summer.
So, whether you’re exploring a London wine bar, hunting for the best wine shop near me, or enjoying the vibe at our Battersea wine bar, Islington wine bar, Crouch End wine bar, Fleet street wine bar, Liverpool Street wine bar, or Canary Wharf wine bar, we’ve got the perfect summer drinking options for you. Grab your summer drinking glasses and head on over to any of our six London wine bars.
Here's to unpredictable seasons and even better wine!
Summer drinking glasses Summer drinking wine bar near me wine wine shop near me wine shop London wine bar Summer outdoor terrace Al fresco outdoor space Battersea wine bar Islington wine bar Crouch End wine bar Blackfriars wine bar Liverpool Street wine bar Canary Wharf wine bar
