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    Cork and Bottle wine bar, Bar in London
    Bar400Points
    Star Wine List 2026

    Cork and Bottle wine bar

    Leicester Square, London

    Bar in London, United Kingdom

    Why go

    Cork and Bottle wine bar is a sensible West End pick when wine matters more than a showy cocktail setup. Star Wine List recognition in 2026 gives it a useful trust signal, while the central London location makes it stronger for pre- or post-theatre drinks than for a full dinner plan.

    About Cork and Bottle wine bar

    For Cork and Bottle wine bar in London, the reason to consider it is direct: it is a wine bar with daily opening hours and Star Wine List recognition in 2026. That makes the venue easiest to understand as a wine-focused stop, especially when the plan depends on choosing a London wine bar rather than on a specific cuisine, tasting-menu format, cocktail concept, or published seating detail. Use it when the plan is built around wine and a London meet-up.

    Practical details are useful for planning. Cork and Bottle wine bar opens from 12 PM to 12 AM Monday through Saturday, from 12 PM to 11 PM on Sunday. Those hours give a clear everyday framework, which is helpful whether the idea is an earlier visit, an evening catch-up, or a later drink within the closing times. The dress code is smart casual. Beyond that, specific claims about food format, prices, seat count, reservations, or service style should be checked directly with the venue before making firm plans.

    Choose it for wine-led plans, not a full cocktail agenda

    The safest read is to treat Cork and Bottle wine bar as a wine bar in London. Star Wine List recognition in 2026 supports that wine-led framing, though it does not specify a particular bottle list, by-the-glass structure, menu format, or dining offer. In practical terms, that distinction matters: recognition helps establish the direction, while the finer details may still need direct confirmation if they will shape the evening. If your group wants a different kind of bar experience, compare it with Mr Foggs Tavern or Mr Fogg's Games Parlour as separate London options.

    Information on cuisine, pricing, seating count, menu format is not specified, so do not build the evening around a specific food offer or formal service expectation. Keep the plan flexible: drinks first, check directly with the venue if food, allergies, dietary needs, or booking details matter. That approach keeps the recommendation accurate and prevents the wine-bar brief from being stretched into a restaurant promise. For broader planning, use Our full London restaurants guide, Our full London hotels guide, Our full London bars guide, Our full London wineries guide, Our full London experiences guide rather than forcing one stop to do everything.

    For regulars, the value is London convenience and direct planning

    The venue is best framed as a practical London wine bar for people who want a place to meet over wine. The hours make it flexible across the week, with midnight closing Monday through Saturday and an 11 PM close on Sunday. That consistency is useful for repeat planning, because it gives regulars a simple baseline without needing to reinterprete the venue each time. The smart casual dress code also gives a useful baseline without implying a more formal format.

    When comparing plans, keep the decision simple. Choose Cork and Bottle wine bar when the priority is a London wine bar with daily hours and Star Wine List recognition. It is strongest as a clear, wine-led meeting point, not as a catch-all answer for dinner, cocktails, or a defined service format. For a different London setting, consider 8 at The Londoner, The Ivy Club, The Stage, Mr Foggs Tavern, or Mr Fogg's Games Parlour as separate options depending on the kind of evening you want.

    The takeThis is a venue geared toward evening and late-night wine drinkers who value depth and knowledgeable service. It functions well as a pre-theatre stop — you can drop in around 6pm — and also as a place to linger after performances, often into the night. The bar’s longevity in the theatre district and its Star Wine List accolade make it a reliable choice for date nights, after-work pours and anyone who wants a quieter alternative to the surface-level West End traffic. Patrons come here to explore wine rather than to be entertained by loud spectacle.
    Venue detailsSeated Bar
    Recognition and awards1 source
    Also considerAlternatives
    Bar contextLondon, United Kingdom

    Planning details

    Location
    44-46 Cranbourn St, London WC2H 7AN, United Kingdom
    Reservations
    Book on OpenTable
    Website
    thecorkandbottle.co.uk/leicester-square
    Phone
    +44 20 7734 7807
    Explore LondonNearby
    Around this placeMore Pearl picks
    The take

    The Take

    The Vibe

    Cork and Bottle feels like a deliberate retreat from Leicester Square’s bustle: the entrance drops you into a basement room that privileges a slower, more considered pace. The tone is low-key rather than flashy — you arrive from the busy street and settle into a compact wine-focused space where the crowd is more interested in lingering than rushing. The editorial emphasis on the descent from the surface-level chaos conveys a relaxed, intimate atmosphere that rewards discovery and conversation, and the Star Wine List recognition underscores that the room’s seriousness is about wine, not spectacle.

    Best For

    This is a venue geared toward evening and late-night wine drinkers who value depth and knowledgeable service. It functions well as a pre-theatre stop — you can drop in around 6pm — and also as a place to linger after performances, often into the night. The bar’s longevity in the theatre district and its Star Wine List accolade make it a reliable choice for date nights, after-work pours and anyone who wants a quieter alternative to the surface-level West End traffic. Patrons come here to explore wine rather than to be entertained by loud spectacle.

    Ordering Tips

    Let the staff guide you: the write-up highlights staff knowledge and a list deep enough to merit Star Wine List recognition, so asking for recommendations is the quickest way to navigate the selection. Expect a list that rewards exploration — focus on vintages or regions you’re curious about and request value-driven suggestions if budget matters. Because the room encourages lingering, pace yourself and consider ordering smaller pours to sample multiple bottles. The bar’s strengths are list depth and service know-how rather than gimmicks, so prioritize conversation with the team when choosing.

    Venue details

    Ambiance

    Cozy subterranean cellar with old-school charm, warm lighting in alcoves, convivial and characterful atmosphere.

    Tags

    Vibe

    CozyIntimateClassic

    Best For

    Date NightAfter WorkCasual Hangout

    Experience

    Historic Building

    Format

    Seated BarBooth Seating

    At the Bar

    Bar Category
    Wine Bar
    Late Night
    Closes by Midnight
    Music
    Background Music

    Signature Pours

    ham and cheese pie

    Planning details

    Location

    44-46 Cranbourn St, London WC2H 7AN, United Kingdom · Directions

    +44 20 7734 7807

    thecorkandbottle.co.uk/leicester-square

    Book on OpenTable

    Recognition and awards
    Also consider

    Also Consider

    • Mr Foggs Tavern, Notable alternative
    • Mr Fogg's Games Parlour, Bar snacks, cocktails, draught beers, signature punches, Bar snacks, cocktails, draught beers, signature punches
    • The Stage, Notable alternative
    • 8 at The Londoner, Notable alternative
    • The Ivy Club, Notable alternative
    Bar context

    How it compares in central London

    Choose Cork and Bottle wine bar when the brief is wine-led and practical. Against Mr Foggs Tavern and Mr Fogg's Games Parlour, it is the calmer call for drinkers who care more about bottles than themed room energy. Mr Fogg's Games Parlour is stronger if the group wants bar snacks, cocktails, draught beers, signature punches in one place.

    The Stage and 8 at The Londoner make more sense when the night calls for a hotel-bar feel or a more polished occasion setting. Cork and Bottle is the more direct choice for a central wine stop, especially when booking difficulty needs to stay low and the plan is built around conversation rather than spectacle.

    The Ivy Club sits in a different lane: better for members-club atmosphere and a more controlled social setting. If the group cannot get in there or does not need that level of formality, Cork and Bottle is the easier West End alternative for wine before or after another booking.

    Explore London
    Around this place
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    Discover more on Pearl

    Unlock the full Cork and Bottle wine bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.

    Compare Cork and Bottle wine bar
    Cork and Bottle Wine Bar London and similar venues
    VenueLocationCuisineAwards
    Cork and Bottle wine barLondon;
    Star Wine Lists 2026
    Mr Foggs TavernLondonNo published awards;
    Mr Fogg’s Games ParlourLondonBar snacks, cocktails, draught beers, signature punchesNo published awards
    The StageLondonNo published awards;
    8 at The LondonerLondonNo published awards;
    The Ivy ClubLondonNo published awards;

    How Cork and Bottle Wine Bar London compares with similar nearby venues.

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Cork and Bottle wine bar good for groups?

    It may suit a group looking for a wine bar in London, but specific group capacity, seating details, private booking options are not specified. Check directly with the venue before planning for a larger party. It has a smart casual dress code, daily hours, Star Wine List recognition in 2026.

    What's the best time to go to Cork and Bottle wine bar?

    The hours are 12 PM to 12 AM Monday through Saturday, 12 PM to 11 PM on Sunday. Choose a time within those hours that fits your plan, check directly with the venue for any changes before visiting.

    Do I need a reservation at Cork and Bottle wine bar?

    Reservation requirements are not specified. If your visit depends on guaranteed space, a specific time, or a group arrangement, contact Cork and Bottle wine bar directly before going. Compared with 8 at The Londoner, it should be considered a separate London option rather than assumed to follow the same booking style.

    Is Cork and Bottle wine bar good for a date?

    It can be a sensible choice if the plan is a wine bar in London with smart casual dress and long daily hours. Specific atmosphere, seating, food details are not specified, so check directly with the venue if those points are important. For another London option, you could also compare it with 8 at The Londoner.

    What's the crowd like at Cork and Bottle wine bar?

    The crowd profile is not specified. Cork and Bottle wine bar is in London, has a smart casual dress code, opens daily from midday, with closing at 12 AM Monday through Saturday and 11 PM on Sunday. If you want to compare it with another London option, Mr Fogg's Games Parlour is one possible reference point.