In a tiny shoplot at The Zhongshan Building, Gentle Giants nails the intimate, lived-in aesthetic that so many wine bars attempt: it feels like the dining room of a chic friend, featuring only one table lit with tall candles, and it fits no more than two dozen people sitting elbow-to-elbow, a few at the bar. If you’re lucky, there are two tables to be snagged out on the balcony. Behind the bar, a shelf is stocked to the ceiling with cult and natty wines, including Brand Bros, François and Lammidia; ask Michele or Stanley for recs and you won’t go wrong.
On account of it being so small, Gentle Giants doesn’t have a kitchen and doesn’t serve food (except when they host takeovers or on special events), so yes, you can bring in outside food. We’ve tapao-ed in dumplings, pizzas, and even nasi goreng. Michele’s Dachshund, Lipton might ask for a taste though.