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When someone says ‘wine bar’, this Covent Garden spot is exactly what you’ll picture – rustic and cosy, a few small, scattered tables topped with tapered candles and surrounded by shelves of wine bottles tagged with brown labels. It all feels very European, but certain things remind you that you’re in central London: our waiter warned us about bag snatchers, and the door was constantly opening and closing with tourists looking for refuge from the cold.
The focus is on organic wine by female producers, which I didn’t realise until I left (but I guess that’s the idea). I tried a warming, deep-red glass of tempranillo from Spain and an orange wine that was actually dark pink and tasted like a wintry rosé. Glasses of red and white started at £8, so not particularly cheap, but by-the-glass options are also served in carafes for central London bargain hunters. Food-wise, the emphasis is definitely on cheese. We shared a delicious selection, but were jealous of those diving into steaming serves of fondue and raclette (book ahead to try the fondue for two).
This was one popular lady, with every table rammed and staff seeming stressed in accommodating the buzz. But it was a cold Saturday night, when wine bars are at their most appealing. Save a trip for midweek and you may be enchanted.