With a mere 90 different bottles of wine on its menu, Giverny Masso stops by Haymarket Winehouse for a night of tipple-rific dining
Nestled in the heart of London’s West End, Haymarket Wine House is the ideal venue for a pre-show tipple. And with around 90 different bottles of wine on the menu, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to a glug.
Stepping inside, the French bistro-style venue has sophisticated interiors, with velvety red walls and a stunning feature wine display at the bar.
We receive a warm welcome and are seated near the window with a glass of champagne and some popcorn to nibble on while we decide what to order.
The Food & Drink
After taking our pick from the food menu, we are seated at a table near the back of the venue. While I’m all for atmospheric lighting, it was a little too dark for our liking and we felt slightly sleepy, as if the evening was drawing to a close before it had begun.
This was made up for by the energy of the friendly head waiter, who recommended three glasses of wine for us to try alongside our food.
While snacking on some olives (£4.25) to start, we sampled one of the bar’s rosé wines. The Mirabeau Cotes de Provence 2018 (£9 a glass) had a peachy fragrance and strawberry undertones.
We shared a selection of dishes for our main course, including the HWH Vegan Burger (£9.50), the Melanzane Aubergine (£8) and the cheese platter (£16 for two people).
The cheese platter was nothing special, but the vegan burger and aubergine side were bursting with flavour. For a venue that specialises in steak, the high quality vegan options were a pleasant surprise.
The next wine we sampled was a white; a crisp and citrusy Sancerre Domaine des Brosses (£11 a glass).
We finished with a juicy glass of the 2018 Malbec Bousquet from Mendoza, Argentina (£8), which was the cheapest of the three wines we tried and also my favourite.
The Wordrobe Verdict
This is a brilliant venue for seasoned wine lovers and novices alike. With affordable food prices – a rare surprise in this part of London – the Haymarket Wine House makes for a stylish pre or post theatre treat.
For those who are unsure of what to choose, the approachable staff are very willing to help with recommendations. There’s also the option of the wine paddle (£15), which is available during happy hour (3.30pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday), and offers three taster glasses from around the world with a mini trio of cheeses.
Make it happen
Where: 66 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4RF
How: Phone 020 3747 6644 or visit haymarketwinehouse.com to make a booking.
Words by Giverny Masso
