8a

Wedged into a labyrinth of Dickensian alleyways south of Spitalfields Market, this unpretentious little wine bar offers a genuine welcome & a no-frills, unfussy retreat. It provides safe harbour to City folk who want to forget the crunch & indulge their oenophile urges without breaking the bank. The well-spread list is mildly French in complexion & aimed at casual drinking rather than wine-snob one-upmanship. Most bottles stay below the £25 barrier, including a 2007 Côtes de Provence rosé from Domaine Fontanyl (£19). Solid ballast comes in the form of club sandwiches, burgers & Musk’s Newmarket sausages.