El Vino The Olde Wine Shades

Historic Elegance with Exceptional Wine Selection

On a recent jaunt to this characterful relic of an establishment, my expectations were as stretched as the infinite scroll of a pub's blackboard menu. Nestled between the utilitarian vastness of Bank Station and the serene meander of the Thames, it exudes the kind of irresistible historical charm that persuades you to overlook its somewhat ambitious pricing strategy. Seriously, £5.06 for a 330ml bottle of Diet Coke feels like a test of one’s commitment to midweek hydration. Yet, there's allure in the oak-barrel-lined interior and the joie de vivre spirit of what may very well be one of London's last traditional wine houses.

Despite its crowded cozy confines resembling social proximity welfare at peak hours, the establishment seduces with authentic Iberian vino temptations. The wine list is something of a multilingual dream manifest, where Portuguese grapes flirt gleefully beside their Spanish and global counterparts. Complementing these liquid epics, the tapas-inspired evening fare offered a dance of luscious morsels that spoke of the Mediterranean sun – albeit in portion sizes that seemed a gastronomical haiku rather than an epic. The staff navigated our dining misadventures with Herculean grace; friendly smiles remained stalwart despite clambering crowds and occasional delays. For those who enjoy paying more for less quantity but ample quality alongside their history-soaked libations, this spot warrants a resounding recommendation—with the mere wish that the kitchen’s quintessence meets the size of their prices someday soon. — Penelope Savory