The Absolute Best Wine Bar In London, According To Rick Steves

There's nothing like a glass of wine in a classy European café after a day of sightseeing. And there's nobody who knows their way around Europe and its cafés better than travel expert Rick Steves. The famous travel guide, author, tour leader, and blogger knows almost every corner of the famous continent, but he's not just well-versed in what to see and where to go. He also knows his wine and can give you tips on everything from which countries have the best wine regions to how to bring your new favorite European bottles home.

Rick's got you covered when it comes to European wine, even outside the typical wine spots like Italy or Spain. This extends to other iconic cities like London, which just so happens to be one of the best wine cities in the world. Although it seems that new wine bars pop up in all corners of the city often, there's one constant on the wine scene in this ever-changing city: Gordon's Wine Bar, which happens to be Rick's favorite, per his blog. It is also reputed to be the oldest wine bar in London. 

Gordon's Wine Bar is near Trafalgar Square, located inside a historic building dating back to the 11th century. It was established as a wine bar by one of London's "Free Vintners" (a vintner allowed to sell wine anywhere without a license) — a chap called Angus Gordon — in 1890. The bar stayed in the Gordon family until it transferred hands to Luis Gordon (unrelated) in the 1970s.

It remains a family affair and is still in its original location, although it has expanded over the years. It started primarily as a romantic, cave-like cellar and now has an outdoor section on Watergate Walk for wining and dining al fresco. So, when you are done with visiting London's unique museums and feel like it's time for a wine (plus cheese) break, pop into Gordon's if you're looking for "a beautiful, candlelit atmosphere, a high-energy local crowd, wonderful cheese, wonderful wine, and wonderful memories" (per Rick Steves).

There's no doubt about it: Eating out can be expensive when you're on the road. If you follow Rick's tips for how to save money on food while traveling in Europe, you'll be able to eat well without breaking the bank. One way to save a little money on food is by pairing smaller dishes with drinks while imbibing, like splitting a sharing board of meat, cheese, and olives with your wine at Gordon's. 

Gordon's Wine Bar doesn't have an extensive menu, except for the cheese, which, along with the wine, is the star of the show. Sample whites, reds, champagne, natural wines, and port, with select cheeses from all over the United Kingdom, as well as France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Gordon's even has several vegan cheeses, all locally sourced from the UK. If you need something more substantial than cheese to go along with your French Bordeaux, Italian Chianti, Spanish rosé, Hungarian Tokaj, or organic blend from the English countryside, try one of Gordon's charcuterie boards, cold plates like Scotch eggs, and smoked trout paté.