Vinoteca has branched out of Farringdon, with this second outlet in Seymour Place providing a must-visit eaterie for wine buffs with big appetites.

The Venue
Seymour Place is the perfect hybrid of convenience and backstreet privacy, sandwiched between the busy thoroughfares of the Edgware Road and Oxford Street while being situated on a quiet parade of Marylebone shops. The venue itself is immediately identifiable from the silver signage outside and, once inside, you’ll find the wine shop and bar area to the left and plenty of tables and seating. It’s smart and intimate, without being overly formal or restaurant-like. Huge blackboards hang perilously overhead informing you of your wine choices, and your entertainment is taken care of in the form of an open kitchen at the end of the bar so you can keep an eye on the chef’s antics.

The Atmosphere
Vinoteca is the ideal venue if you’re looking for something that sits comfortably in between the local pub or a flashy restaurant. It’s smart and the staff really know their stuff (about both the wine and food), but they’ve managed to retain a sense of informality and fun. There’s no stuffy tablecloths or place settings, and no insistence that everyone has to eat with the split between diners and drinkers pretty even. Despite only opening recently, the chilled out feel has won over locals and the bar gets packed by around 8pm even early in the week. The punters here are a different crowd to Vinoteca in Farringdon – the Marylebone crowd are a mixed bunch, with everyone from young media types to older professionals with disposable income enjoying a night out. Vnoteca currently operate no-reservations policy in the evenings, but with the new introduction of a ‘feasting table’, they’re more than happy to book space for larger parties.

The Food
Don’t be fooled by Vinoteca’s name – the food here is every bit as noteworthy as the wine. With a focussed and concise menu of modern British fare, you can choose from dishes including grilled Cornish sardines, smoked haddock, roast leg of rabbit and a selection of hand-picked British cheeses. The menu changes regularly, but of particular note on the starter menu is the light and tangy beetroot, pear and goat’s cheese salad, or the crubeens. Those not familiar with Irish cuisine may not be familiar with crubeens, which are made with ham hock and braised pig’s trotters, but these are great if you want to start your meal off with a meaty kick.

Perfect as a winter warmer (from the main course menu) is a venison, prune and red wine pie, which is encased in a hot water crust pastry that’s crispy on the outside and as soft as a dumpling on the inside. Another one for the carnivores is the bavette, which is a huge cut of steak served medium rare with thick and crispy hand-cut chips. You’ll be pretty stuffed by the end of a meal here, but save room for the sticky toffee pudding (which is as sticky as the name promises, but not at all heavy).

Starters hover around the £6 mark, with main courses costing £11-£15, so the price point significantly undercuts many of central London’s glitziest restaurants while being highly competetive in comparison to local boozers or gastropubs.

The Drink
Vinoteca takes wine seriously without taking the fun out of it. This isn’t one of those stuffy venues where waiters hover over you while you sniff uncertainly at the liquid in your glass; instead the assured and confident staff make recommendations and explain to you why their choices match the food you’ve ordered. Of particular note is the Hungarian ‘Bull’s Blood’, which makes a good accompaniment to the bavette with its heavy fruit flavours and a mouth-drying level of tannin that’s the ideal antidote to the juices in the steak. The Eighties-style gold and black bottle adds a touch of decadent glamour, with glasses of this starting from £7.95. Also worth paying attention to is the lemony and easy-drinking prosecco from Vinoteca’s specially installed draught pump.

There are also a selection of wines bottled on site, with examples including a classic Loire sauvignon at just £3.25 a glass. All the wines you enjoy with your meal are available from the in-house wine shop, so you can enjoy the same drink at home with discounted prices from £7.50 a bottle. Drinkers with a desire to be eco-friendly should be even happier to note that returning and recycling the empty bottles from the self-bottled range results in a discount on new purchases.

The Last Word
Vinoteca is a newcomer to W1, but they’ve honed their craft and hit the ground running with this second opening. It’s busy because of its informal vibe coupled with serious attention to detail when it comes to wine, food and service. The reasonable prices and in-house wine shop are just icing on the cake.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (2)