Madame ! Wine Shop & Bar Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

Looking to be straight out of a Dickens novel thanks to corners, ceilings and walls covered in vintage items and antiques, The Mug House is a charming London Bridge wine bar. Davy’s Wine Vaulrs have over 100 wines for you to choose from, many of which can be served by the glass, and even have a wine shop next door, should you be interested in topping up your at-home wine collection. Unlike most Lagos bars, which have a rushed or commercial vibe, Funky Tiger invites you to linger.

• We’ve tried them, we’ve visited them, and we knowyou’re really going to enjoy them.
• The waiters weren’t just polite, they were warm, knowledgeable about the menu, and eager to make recommendations that would appeal to our taste.
• Inspired by the Parisian cave à manger tradition, the compact space exudes warm minimalism, such as think high bar stools, a chalkboard menu, and an inviting, casual atmosphere where reservations aren’t needed.
• Small, intimate and always buzzing, it’s all scrubbed wooden tables, open kitchen and tunes from the vintage vinyl record player.
• It’s modern and industrial inside, which is a bit of a steer from your usual take on a cosy wine bar, but we appreciate its unique approach, and love the service here.

Along with its unstuffy, imaginative approach to wine the coffee rush menu education, a wide variety of bottle price points tie into Pairings’ mission to make wine accessible and fun for all. With indoor and outdoor seating, the shop welcomes visitors to try a flight, bottle, or some wines by the glass. What was once Les Caves — NE Alberta’s intimate, subterranean wine bar — is now Bar Nina.

Just a stone’s throw away from Portobello Market, Franklin’s Notting Hill is a great spot to drink good booze. Not only are they serving delicious wine but also a fabulous selection of cheese and charcuterie boards in their gorgeous space. It’s a plush and high-end spot for drinking, with crushed velvet complementing the cool chrome, found supporting 100s of bottles of wine on the back bar. In Elephant & Castle, Diogenes the Dog takes a modern approach to wine. This quirky neighbourhood bar and bottle shop is found just shy ofElephant and Castle, championing small-scale producers and lesser-known regions, offering an exciting alternative to mainstream choices.

If you want to try natural wine from places like Germany, Austria, or a cave in Southeastern France, this place has one of the best lists in Brooklyn. The brick-walled dining room has tons of huge street-facing windows, and there’s also a very pleasant outdoor seating area. After, the bar and lounge from two-Michelin-starred Ever’s chef Curtis Duffy and sommelier Michael Muser offers Chicagoans an elegant on-ramp to the pair’s brand of luxurious dining and drinking. Previously wine director at the late, three-Michelin-starred Grace, Muser is known for an exacting approach and high expectations for his staff’s wine knowledge.

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The minimalist decor and prime location make it a fantastic choice for an after-work drink or a leisurely evening in the City of London and the East End. Where to find stubby glassware, disco balls, quirky small plates, and an abundance of blaufränkisch. Lei releases reservations two weeks in advance at 9am, but a lot of the seats are saved for walk-ins. If you want to book a table, doing so is easiest for parties of four. From bites that are as low as 12k to meals that go for about 30k and above, Funky Tiger finds the balance between affordable and expensive.

Botanikka Wine Bar & Kitchen

Stop by, take a seat on a tweed banquette, give a few small plates your full attention, then drink some interesting wine from a fashionably stubby glass. There’s a big bar near the open kitchen for when you can’t snag a reservation. The lounge often holds pairing nights where wines are matched with seasonal local dishes, enhancing the dining experience. It’s an ideal spot to explore new wine and food pairings, all while enjoying the lively, communal atmosphere. After a rocky start full of shifts and pivots during the pandemic, this rosé-hued hideaway on Northwest 21st seems to have hit its stride. The team behind lavishly decorated restaurant hits Beatnik, Porto, and Mama Delia doesn’t shy away from funkiness in style or wine.

Their sommelier is always on hand to navigate through the extensive wine list, ensuring you make the best choice for your taste. Notable mentions include their dedication to offering unique vintages and rare finds, making this lounge particularly appealing to seasoned wine aficionados. As beloved for its stunning balcony view overlooking East Burnside as it is for its wine collection, Noble Rot makes for an excellent date night, especially in warmer months. Aside from its bountiful wine selection, which has earned it a James Beard nomination for outstanding wine program, the upscale restaurant grows produce on the rooftop, which goes into much of the menu.

Celebrated sommelier and wine director Andy Fortgang curates an impressive selection of both domestic and European wines, with a tight but mighty glass pour selection and a lengthy bottle list. Fortgang has a penchant for French wines, and Canard offers many by the bottle; however, Oregon pinot-heads will appreciate the bar’s selection of “hometown pride” pinots. Guests who are particularly enamored with Fortgang’s taste can purchase bottles at Flor Wines, an excellent bottle shop from Fortgang and Sergio Licea, formerly of Little Bird Bistro. Sitting at the intersection of the Willamette Valley and the Columbia River Gorge, Portland is a prime spot for wine lovers. Even though the pandemic led to wine bar pivots and closures, many spots endured through the lockdown years and have been joined by a fresh crop of bars that breathed new life into Portland’s wine scene. Today, there are plenty of places to imbibe everything from trendy natural wines to legendary Old World vintages alongside tinned fish, next-level small plates, or full, wine-centric meals.

That means that patrons can sip chardonnay or zinfandel made on-site while trying smoked fish dip with giardiniera or New York strip with smashed fingerling potatoes. The wild beers from the Middle Brow crew were easy to sip, something the beer industry needed in a world of heavy stouts and hoppy IPAs. The owners decided to branch out and create Chicago’s only natural winery, adapting their love of simple ingredients to bring out a lineup of tart and light-bodied wines made with Michigan grapes. In a former poke spot just off Carnaby Street, Marjorie’s brings a suave slice of Parisian wine-bar culture to Soho. Spread across two compact floors, it packs in a long bar and handful of terrace tables, along with arched booths and a central table perfect for sharing.

Here, you can take your pick from over 6,000 bottles of wine, including dozens by the glass. It’s little wonder this place earned a 1 PIN recognition from The Pinnacle Guide. Just underneath HIDE on Piccadilly, The Bar Below serves up style and sophistication with every sip.

The vibes is suitably laid back, more chilled out bistro than city bar. All kinds of cocktails are up for grabs too, from the stone cold classics to signatures like the Vetiver Margarita and Baked Banana Old Fashioned. One look at the menu and you’ll want to tuck in while you’re here – think beautifully charred veg, expertly grilled seafood and perfectly cooked cuts of meat. Le Beaujolais is renowned for its classic French dishes, including cheese boards, croque monsieurs, and pommes frites, all prepared using traditional recipes and ingredients sourced from small suppliers in France. This place works exclusively with independent winemakers who prioritise sustainable vineyard practices and minimal intervention.

Such is the ethos at GoodFunk, Bonhomme Group’s natural wine bar in the former home of Cafe Bonhomme near Wacker and Lake. Drinkers can expect around five red, five white, and five skin-contact (orange and rose) wines by the glass, along with plenty of bottles that rotate regularly. Brothers and restaurateurs Oliver and Nicolas Poilevey keep Chicago’s ever-growing French dining scene on its toes. The second-generation owners of classic stalwart Le Bouchon, the duo brings a unique depth, scope, and modernity to the table at younger sister spot Obelix, a James Beard Award finalist for Best New Restaurant in 2023. A tome-length wine list dwells primarily on a wide variety of French glasses and bottles, but patrons can find a few American options as well.

Sitting right by Spitalfields Market, Funky Cellar mixes cosy wine bar vibes with a retro 70s twist. Think eclectic vintage décor, warm lighting and shelves packed with beautiful bottles. The brainchild of Clare Lattin, Tom Hill and Rory McCoy, its focus is European cooking rooted in simplicity and seasonality. The handwritten, frequently changing menu features small and large plates of hearty pasta, perfectly cooked prime cuts and seasonal seafood. There’s always a buzzing vibe here, with great music and an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work. There’s a rotating lineup of vendors serving food here, which you can enjoy alongside a bold and adventurous wine list.