Abchurch Yard,
Sherbourne Lane, 119-121 Cannon Street,
The City,
London,
EC4N 5AX
(020) 7280 9610
The ViewLondon Review
Understandably popular among City folk, The Vintry offers a convivial atmosphere, and some of the best food and drink within the Square Mile.
The Venue
Located on Sherborne Lane, a secluded alley near the bustling Bank junction, The Vintry comprises of a lavish, wood and stainless steel-furnished lobby, complete with vaguely nautical portholes and impressive cages of vintage wines, which leads down through a plate-glass entrance into the vast main dining room. More than capable of dealing with full-to-capacity, peak-time crowds, the space is bookended by a well-stocked bar made of old wine crates, and a large open-front kitchen which is a hive of activity at busy periods.
The floor and tables are made of old wood, and the comfortable chairs are plush leather, a traditional look offset by the rather industrial-looking ceiling, with its exposed lightbulbs, cinderblocks and ducts framing windows which show street-level activity – it’s an unusual juxtaposition which is pulled off here with aplomb. Spacious, but not overly so – there are screened booths available for intimate conversation – the main room is aesthetically pleasing, with enough quirks to hold the attention, such as the array of mirrors and champagne jeroboams behind the bar. There is another, more scaled-down dining area towards the back of the room, with soft lighting and coloured veils ensuring privacy, and a function room with its own bar downstairs, which can be deployed as an overflow area at peak times.
The Atmosphere
A quintessential City bar, The Vintry is a lunchtime favourite for local businessmen and their clients, and it's worth reserving in advance to secure a table. In the evening, the seating plan of the main room is recalibrated to create a more sociable atmosphere, with the bar proving to be a popular recreational area for off-duty workers. The staff are friendly, attentive and well-versed in the particulars of the venue, and the service is faultless. The downstairs room, with its Fort Knox-esque vault of wine providing a major talking point, is frequently booked for office parties, and occasionally hosts a quiz night.
The Food
For a bar which is nominally more focused on wine, The Vintry nonetheless offers consistently fantastic, nuanced cuisine, from freshly-sourced seafood such as moules marinières or the swordfish pavé with slow-cooked peppers, to imposing rib-eye steaks, and other more vegetarian-friendly fare. Starters (£7 approx) are deceptively filling and perhaps ideal for those in a hurry, whilst the mains weigh in at a more-than-reasonable £14 on average. And for those that way inclined, the desserts (around £6) are small but perfectly formed, with the delicious strawberry and vanilla pannacotta in particular worth investigating.
The Drink
With close to a hundred varieties of wine from around the world to hand, The Vintry is an oenophile's dream come true, and even a perfunctory perusal of the wine list reveals all sorts of pleasant surprises. Most vintages, such as the excellent Muscadet sur Lie from the Loire valley, or the 2008 Spanish Rioja Crianza, are available for around £20 a bottle or £5 a glass, escalating up to £70 for the rarer specimens. There is also a comprehensive list of champagnes and liqueurs, and naturally the bar is stocked with the very latest in real ales, continental beers and ciders (£4 for a pint or bottle) in order to cater to the broader palate.
The Last Word
With a welcoming attitude, faultless cuisine and a seemingly endless wine list, it's little wonder that The Vintry is sought out by so many of the City's high-rollers.
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