El Vino

Back in the day, this was the archetypal ‘men only’ wine bar, serving barristers, Fleet Street journos & assorted soaks with ancient vintages from the heartlands of Burgundy & Bordeaux. The hacks have gone & the place now welcomes the fairer sex, but legions of legal eagles & business suits still come here to sip fine wines with fine price tags – although the range is now globally enlightened. As a self-styled ‘bar/lunch room’, El Vino also provides daytime fodder in the shape of hot open sandwiches, game casserole or courgette & Stilton tart, but save room for the Dundee fruitcake – best eaten with a glass of port. In the evening, habitués sink into the oak seats & share plates of tapas including aubergine tapenade or pea & mint falafel.