Did We Just Find The Most Affordable Wine Bar In London? Inside Farringdon's New Beaut

I’ll be honest, as much as I love extravagant restaurants and bars around London, I’m equally a sucker for a good bargain. I mean who isn’t? So when I was invited to the new bar, 56 West Smithfield, I was stunned to see glasses of wine for as little as £5 on their menus. And with a prime location in Farringdon, not to mention the fact that it also serves as a wine shop, the quaint venue had quite the draw for me. But did it live up to the hype?

Swish interiors and affordable prices make for supreme dates.

Spread across three levels, the wine bar and lounge was quaint yet stylish, boasting beautiful decanters, ambient lighting and abstract paintings. Walking past the seating area, we admired the bottles of wine and prosecco propped onto shelves as the ground floor served as a bar and shop. We sauntered upstairs and reveled at the beautiful space which is much more suited for those in larger groups. Along with cosy armchairs and sofas, there was a sleek marble table and a Christmas tree adorned with string lights. It literally felt like being in a living room. There’s also a third floor for private wine tastings if you fancy doing something unique.

I’m not a huge fan of white wine during the winter, so we decided it was a ‘red kinda day’. The menu featured their very own wine from their family vineyard in Provence, Château De La Cômbe, alongside a few independent ones to choose from. To start off, I just had to try the 56WS (£5), which went for just a fiver per glass. It was full-bodied and had hints of black cherry and plum - fab for those who love bold and robust flavours.

Sip back and relax in this cosy setting while munching on nibbles.

My other half’s, the Cuvee Lady Severine 2017(£6) was slightly more delicate flaunting blackberry, cherry and a hint of black pepper to give it a bit more bite. I did enjoy mine but I must admit, his choice was definitely more balanced if you can spare that extra £1. After we polished off our glasses, we both decided to try the Cuvee St George 2017(£6), a syrah that was far more complex than our prior drinks. We’re talking chocolate and red fruit aromas, accompanied by notes of walnut, toasted oak and prune. Our conclusion? The winemakers in Provence really know their stuff.

As for the food? We started off with mixed pitted olives (£4) which were tossed in bay, rosemary and thyme. Seasoned to perfection, that snack was paired off with truffle and pecorino mixed nuts (£4). The coating on each nut was absolutely delish as each morsel was dusted generously.

While we were tempted to get the charcuterie meat platter, we opted for the selection of five cheeses (£18). Our platter showcased two of each cheese types, along with some slices of baguette and breadsticks. We kicked off with the Bleu D’Auvergne – a nice creamy blue cheese with sharp and pungent undertones. We then moved on to the camembert, which was an ooey gooey mouthful exuding an earthy and indulgent taste as we soaked it all up with slices of bread. However, by far the most interesting dairy delight we inhaled that evening was the Brun De Noix. Brushed with a walnut liqueur, the cheese exuded a nuttiness that was rich and smoky. Our waiter recommended taking a bite of that specific cheese and then taking a sip of wine, and boy, it really was a match made in heaven.

Wine down and snuggle up on these dreamy sofas.

The DesignMyNight Digest 

If you’re looking for affordable wine bars, 56 West Smithfield is an absolute must-visit. From the quaint environment to the very knowledgeable staff and beaut wine, the venue is great for date nights and cosy catch-ups with friends. Plus, it also doesn’t hurt that both the food and stylish space are very Instagrammable, especially if you snag the sofas on the second floor.

Want more wine? Click here for our guide to the best wine bars in London. For more inspo, sign up to our weekly newsletter.