By Tom Capon
Just admit it: we’ve all gone prosecco mad. We drink more of the bubbly stuff than ever, and while a glass from the off-license is good every now and then, there’s so much more to Italian sparkling wine than that. You’re going to need the best bars in London to drink it properly, so we enlisted the help of our friends DesignMyNight to show you everything from private members’ clubs to quirky party havens that’ll have you sipping prosecco in style.
We meant it when we said ‘drinking in style’ and there are fewer places more suave to sip prosecco than 180m in the sky at the top of The Gherkin. Not only do you get panoramic views in one of the most iconic buildings in the capital, but they have a delicious list of both prosecco and Champagne, prosecco’s beautiful older sister. Perfect for a special occasion, these bottles range from Prosecco Extra Dry, Porte Leone all the way up to Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Champagne.
We’ve all heard of the health benefits associated with prosecco – helps your heart, your memory, your, ahem, sex life – but it might just boost your creativity too. That’s the thinking at imaginative hub Drink, Shop & Do, a colourful, art filled café by day and fun time drinking den by night. Visit on weekends to enjoy a chilled-out session of bottomless prosecco, bagels and board games; arrive during one of their creative weekly events to get stuck into jewellery making or speed date Lego building (it’s definitely a thing) with a glass of bubbly or two, of course.
You love brunch and you love prosecco (obviously), but together? Oh boy, you’re in for a treat; especially if you head to relaxed eatery Zona N16 in Stoke Newington for their scrumptious bottomless brunch. It’s a contemporary restaurant bar with exposed brickwork and a light colour scheme that creates the perfect environment for munching on fresh brunch dishes – all while swigging two hours of unlimited prosecco. Best bit? It’s only £25.
Cool, quirky and dripping in bubbly, The Dead Dolls House absolutely must be on your list of prosecco bars to visit in London. Boasting three floors of whimsical fun, they combine a Roald Dahl charm with their signature drawings and a charming colour scheme to create a part-restaurant, part-drinking den and all-round party spot. Arrive for food and you can wash down a menu of tasty British treats with a glorious selection of prosecco, including their very own Dead Dolls Frizzante at £35.
Who ever said drinking prosecco in London couldn’t be cultural? Osteria certainly thinks it is, setting up shop in intellectual hotspot, the Barbican. Our friends Searcys are behind this one again, so you’ll get their classic range of luxury prosecco and Champagnes, though this time delivering devilishly smooth mood lighting, bold Italian dishes and a terrace for some much-deserved alfresco drinking. Need more convincing? Their neon signs reads ‘Amore Bibo’, which is Latin for ‘I drink with love’. It’s safe to say they’re one of us.
It’s time to put the heels on, don your fancy going-out gown and get down to 1901, a luxurious wine bar in Liverpool Street. Located at the back of the venue’s restaurant, this elegant wine bar offers 350 wines from around the world, and even some hidden bottles in their reserve cellar if you feel like really splashing out. But you’re here for the bubbly, and bubbly they can provide, serving prosecco alongside non-vintage and vintage Champagnes.
We’ve all dreamed about the day when we win the lottery, where all we have to do is press a button for our glass of prosecco to be presented by attentive staff. Well, you don’t have to win anything now; all you need is to head to Bob Bob Ricard, because this sophisticated restaurant and bar have ‘Press for Champers’ buttons installed onto your dining tables. Back with prosecco’s older sister again, get yourself all made up (shopping may be advised), prepare your button-pressing finger and choose either of their award-winning red or blue dining rooms to visit.
There’s a reason Vinoteca has been popping up just about everywhere – with branches in Farringdon, Soho, Chiswick, and Marlyebone – and that’s because there’s just so much choice on offer. This Spanish venue boasts 300 different wines to pick from, with a strong selection of prosecco, cava, Champagne and English sparkling wine to boot. The theme here, both in the restaurant and the wine, is tasty but approachable glasses that everyone can get stuck into, with bottles ranging from £23.50 all the way up to £152.
Okay, it’s cava not prosecco, but if you love anything bubbly then Camino has to be a spot on your sparkling tour of London. The basement bar is a little slice of España in Central London, offering up 29 different varieties of cava, prosecco’s cooler cousin, with Spanish wines coming in at about £6.50 a glass, and the bottles ranging from £28 to £48. While you’re getting yourself in the summer mood, their delicious tapas is the perfect accompaniment to any bubbly drink.
Prosecco doesn’t have a set time of day and neither does No.11 Pimlico Road. This all-day eating and drinking establishment is an adorable venue made from gentle colours and homely furnishings, with a focus on freshly prepared food and tasty drinks. But bubbly is their secret passion, with prosecco glasses starting at £6.50 and bottles at £29.50. Or, visit their wine shop and at a discounted price you can takeaway any bottle to enjoy later.
For more info on prosecco bars in London and across the UK, visit DesignMyNight and follow them on Twitter and Instagram; @DesignMyNight.
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