Gordon's Wine Bar

Gordon's Wine Bar occupies a vaulted Victorian cellar on Villiers Street near Embankment, and claims to be London's oldest wine bar, trading continuously since 1890. The crowd spans a wide age range, from after-work City and Westminster workers to tourists and wine enthusiasts seeking the historic setting, and the atmosphere is convivial and unpretentious rather than exclusive; there is no dress code. Candlelight and walls lined with yellowed newspaper cuttings and historic ephemera give the cellar a distinctly old-world feel that has changed little in over a century. The drinks programme is built entirely around wine, with a broad by-the-glass list spanning classic regions, paired with large sharing boards of cheese and charcuterie rather than cocktails or spirits. There is no music played in the cellar; conversation and the setting itself carry the atmosphere. Gordon's opens Monday to Saturday from 11am to 11pm and Sunday from noon to 10pm, with the cellar filling quickly from around 5:30pm on weekdays as the after-work crowd arrives; a sunny outdoor terrace on Watergate Walk offers an alternative when the cellar is at capacity. There is no cover charge and the bar does not take reservations for the cellar, operating on a first-come basis, so arriving early or later in the evening after the initial after-work rush improves the chance of a table. Bottle service and pre-booked packages are not part of the format; drinks are ordered by the glass or bottle from the counter. The bar's location by Embankment station puts it within a short walk of the Thames, Trafalgar Square, and Covent Garden.