The Best Wine Bars in Shoreditch for Natural Wine Lovers
Natural wine has officially conquered Shoreditch, and frankly, it's about time. Gone are the days when ordering a glass of orange wine would earn you confused stares from bartenders who thought you were asking for a mimosa. These days, the concrete jungle of East London is brimming with spots pouring the cloudy, funky, and utterly delicious stuff that's making wine purists lose their minds (in the best possible way).
Whether you're a seasoned natural wine devotee or someone who's just discovered that wine doesn't have to taste like it was made in a chemistry lab, Shoreditch has you covered. Here are the spots where you can sip on bottles that are as wild and unpredictable as the neighborhood itself.
Noble Green Wines
Tucked away on Lamb Street, Noble Green Wines is basically the holy grail for anyone serious about natural wine. This isn't just a wine bar; it's a proper wine shop with a small seating area where you can sample bottles before committing. The selection is absolutely bonkers in the best way, with bottles from small-scale producers you've probably never heard of but will definitely want to stalk on social media afterward.
The staff here actually know their stuff without being insufferably pretentious about it. They'll happily guide you through a tasting of Georgian qvevri wines or explain why that cloudy Beaujolais tastes like liquid sunshine. Plus, you can take bottles home, which is dangerous for your wallet but excellent for your evening plans.
Sager + Wilde
With locations on Bethnal Green Road and Paradise Row, Sager + Wilde has become something of an institution in the natural wine scene. The original Bethnal Green spot feels like drinking wine in someone's very cool living room, complete with mismatched furniture and that perfect level of dim lighting that makes everyone look mysterious.
Their wine list reads like a love letter to natural winemakers across Europe, with a particular soft spot for French producers doing interesting things with traditional grapes. The small plates are designed to complement the wines rather than compete with them, which is exactly how it should be. Pro tip: the cheese selection is absolutely mental, and pairing it with their natural wines is basically a religious experience.
P. Franco
Clapton might technically be pushing the boundaries of what we call Shoreditch, but P. Franco on Lower Clapton Road is worth the journey. This tiny spot operates as both a wine bar and restaurant, serving up natural wines alongside some of the most inventive small plates in East London.
The wine list changes constantly because they're always hunting down new producers and rare bottles. You might find yourself drinking a pet-nat from Slovenia one week and a skin-contact Riesling from Austria the next. The industrial-meets-cozy vibe perfectly captures the essence of what makes East London's wine scene so compelling.
Newcomer Wines
Located on Kingsland Road, Newcomer Wines proves that you don't need a massive space to create something special. This compact wine bar focuses exclusively on natural wines, with a carefully curated selection that changes regularly based on what the owners are excited about.
The atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious considering the quality of what they're pouring. You can pop in for a quick glass after work or settle in for a proper session exploring their more adventurous bottles. They also do takeaway, which means you can grab something interesting for dinner without the markup of a restaurant wine list.
40 Maltby Street
While technically in Bermondsey, this spot deserves a mention because it's become a pilgrimage site for natural wine lovers across East London. 40 Maltby Street operates out of a railway arch and only opens on weekends, which somehow makes it even more appealing.
The selection focuses on small producers making wine with minimal intervention, and the industrial setting creates an atmosphere that's part warehouse party, part sophisticated tasting room. It's the kind of place where you'll end up in deep conversations with strangers about the merits of different fermentation techniques.
Brawn
On Columbia Road, Brawn combines natural wines with nose-to-tail cooking in a way that feels both rustic and refined. Their wine list leans heavily toward natural producers, with a particular emphasis on bottles that pair beautifully with their meat-heavy menu.
The space itself feels like a Parisian bistro that somehow wandered into East London and decided to stay. The wine selection changes regularly, but you can always count on finding something interesting and unusual. It's the kind of place where you go for one glass and end up closing the place down.
Tips for Natural Wine Newbies
If you're new to the natural wine scene, don't be intimidated. Yes, some bottles taste like they were made in a barn (because they probably were), but that's part of the charm. Start with something from a producer like Domaine de la Côte or Les Capriades if you see them on a list.
Remember that natural wines can be unpredictable. That's not a bug, it's a feature. Each bottle tells the story of a specific vintage, a particular plot of land, and a winemaker's philosophy about letting grapes be grapes.
Most importantly, approach natural wine with an open mind and a sense of adventure. These Shoreditch spots are perfect for exploration, and the worst thing that can happen is you discover something completely new and delicious.
