Just a few steps from Aldgate station, this classy basement bar is one of a handful in the chain owned by the Corney & Barrow wine merchants. It's a mix of old brick and new glass. It's moody, dark, with different rooms; a good spot to have a quiet moment away from the crowds, looking across a glass of red.
I was here for a less romantic event, though: a London Blogger Meetup (http://blog.meetup.com/395/calendar/9054282/) . It suited for that, as well, since there was a large side room they could easily rope off for us.
It's not a place for those not keen on wine, though. As Pete said, there's only one lager on (but it is a good one, Pilsner Urquell). And, to be honest, while they had some excellent choice in their wines - both in variety and quality - the prices by the glass were bordering on gouging. C&B have good prices when you're buying a case, but I guess it's to be expected that in the City they're going to charge you £7.50 for a 250ml glass of 2007 Les Salices pinot noir. I like that wine a lot, but you can buy an entire bottle of it for just a few pence more on their web site (http://www.corneyandbarrow.com/) . That's tough to take, even for someone who likes splashing out now and then. read more