The Best of »Falstaff Online International 2023«

Opened in 1991, this establishment started the Wine Bar movement in Rome. History, knowledge, experience and an inspiring wine list. This is an address you won't want to miss if you want to drink well in Rome.

London's oldest wine bar, founded in 1890, Gordon's in Charing Cross combines an unrivalled wine list with a Dickensian-style decor. Despite its popularity, it still feels like a hidden gem, with dark underground vaulted cellars and quaint corner tables. There are new vegan and low-sulphur wines, and plenty of cheeses to snack on.

Nestled in Lamb's Conduit Street in Bloomsbury, Noble Rot, which began as a wine publication before opening its three branches, is a much-loved London favourite. The dazzling selection of wines, which has previously won 'Wine List of the Year', ranges from classics to rare vintages, all paired with quality Franco-British cuisine and staff who are experts in their field.

A self-proclaimed 'wine cave', The Black Book in Soho is about as authentic as it gets. With an endless list of wines by the glass, they specialise in some of the rarest and most unusual wines, which you can savour on their own or with one of their Mediterranean-inspired small plates.

With an extended cellar since its opening in December 2008, Athens' first wine bar now houses more than a thousand wines from around the world, with a focus on international vineyards, but also representing Greek grape varieties and important local producers. Co-owner and talented sommelier Aris Sklavenitis, along with an experienced team, will guide you on your wine journey, as well as recommending fine food and wine pairings.

Nestled in King's Cross, Porte Noir was founded by none other than A-list actor Idris Elba. The chic, stylish interior has shelves stacked high with wine, 800 bottles and a private tasting room with vintages from around the world.

The Winemakers Club is located under an old railway arch in the Holbron Viaduct. It's a wine shop and bar with a truly traditional feel - stone walls, low arches and candlelight, along with hundreds of bottles to choose from. Classics are represented alongside wines from Poland and Slovenia, as well as natural and biodynamic wines.

The wine bar of Iza and Panos Kyriazis is one of the most renowned for wine lovers in the historic centre of the Greek capital, offering a vast collection of at least 1200 wines, more than half of which are served by the glass. Interesting and delicious options of delicacies to pair with the wine.

At Stoa Rallis, »By The Glass« offers an eclectic list of over 500 wines, curated by owner Fotini Pantzia. A synthesis of old Greek vintages, premium fine wines, international classics, rare collectors' bottles, unique magnums, a wide range of champagnes and sparkling wines, as well as distillates (eau-de-vie) and dessert wines are part of a wine lover's playground. More than 200 wines by the glass are served with delicious dishes.

The most unusual grape varieties and bottles dwell at Diogenes the Dog in Elephant & Castle, where you're more likely to find a glass from Texas, Poland or China than from the world's more celebrated regions. The best way to sample them is on a wine tasting flight, accompanied by charcuterie platters.

Industrial-style wine bar-restaurant with a very contemporary list of natural wine labels and comforting Greek cuisine cooked over an open fire by chef and co-owner Manolis Papoutsakis. The highlight is the audiophile bar with eclectic music played exclusively from vinyl.

Named after the fact that they only offer a list of 10 reds and 10 whites at any one time, The 10 Cases prides itself on offering an ever-changing selection of wines for the novice or connoisseur. No wine is ever stocked twice, although the adjoining 'wine cave' has 300 classics available by the glass or carafe to pair with the tapas-style menu.

Bar Douro is a bright, spacious space decorated with cute patterned tiles in Flat Iron Square, highlighting the delightful wines from the Douro Valley and beyond in Portugal. The wine list includes bottles from all over Portugal, the food is delicious and they host winemaker evenings for aficionados.

Coffee specialities and breakfast are served here in the afternoon. The Rescal can also call itself the largest natural wine bar in Poland and offers wines from over 40 natural winegrowers from Europe. There are also simple dishes on small plates in a splendidly furnished ambience and a marble bar to be proud of.

With over 1100 bottles, the "Dyletanci" has one of the largest wine lists in Poland. The selection ranges from Italian and French classics to biodynamic wines, orange wines, natural wines and local varieties. Added to this is an authentic cuisine that makes do with only the highest quality ingredients.

A wine list with more than 1000 labels from diverse regions and countries makes this selection look good even in the capital. Well-kept and cosy, the restaurant's cuisine is a worthy culinary experience in Rome and beyond.

With warm lighting, communal tables and wooden shelves stacked high with vino, Bottles Wine Bar in Spitalfields is making wine a social activity again. The brand, which now has two locations, focuses on independent producers and small farms from Italy, with nearly 200 varieties available. The food is seasonal and chosen to complement the wine, not vice versa.

Sommelier Yannis Kaymenakis' devotion to wine is housed in a former Piraeus tobacco warehouse in Retsina, a neighbourhood in the Piraeus district. A high ceiling, an industrial-style hall, a sloping wooden roof and an impressive tall metal structure with impressive glass windows.

Vagabond now has several locations in London thanks to its initial runaway success. The brand offers the art of wine to the masses, with a top-up card system allowing visitors to self-serve wine, with over 100 varieties available by the glass. There are also nibbles such as foccacia and sharing platters, perfect for a night out with friends.

Alewino started as a small wine shop where you could find an enormous variety of unique bottles, which eventually became the foundation of Warsaw's modern wine culture. Wine takes the lead here, but the food, which has become increasingly sophisticated over the years, perfectly complements the local wine collection.