Ashbee’s Wine Bars

What a fantastic little wine bar! So the food wasn’t stellar and the surroundings were more like someone’s breakfast nook in their home. But that’s what completes the charm of this place. I felt like I was going to break my face on the way down the stairs because it was so steep and vertigo inducing. The owner was sat on a little bench outside and pointed us to a table inside following us in with menus. Their wine selection is pretty big, just don’t expect too much from the food selection. But really who needs anything more than jacket potatoes and fondue? I don’t .
Like most European establishments patrons came later in the evening and we were allowed it sit and enjoy our food wine and conversation. The owner was really nice and attentive.
A comfy, small restaurant with a large and mostly inexpensive wine selection. For two of us, one bottle of wine and some food was about £23 per person. A pretty good deal in my book. I will be back.

This is one of those spots where you know about it, or you don’t. And either you’re going to love it, or you aren’t. There is no middle ground at Ashbee’s.
It’s a wine bar tucked down a side street, so you’re never going to find it on the main drag just by walking around. This is a place with purpose. However, when you do get there, you can’t miss it. Specifically from the giant «Wine Bar» sign hanging above the door and the lecherous painted stand-​up of sailor standing next to it, winking at you.
It’s a tiny one room wine bar that feels like stepping into a villa in Italy. There’s an older woman working behind the bar (the owner maybe) and she was in a heated conversation in a language I couldn’t place with a guy on a stool as we entered. Without missing a beat, she lets us know we can take a seat in English and goes right back to the discussion.
She eventually finishes and brings us menus. Let’s talk the first shock, which is prices. Glasses of wine under £4. What! Now, granted, they’re not the biggest glasses, but way more than the tasters you usually get for that price. And it’s a nice selection from all over the world. Classic.
We also tried the stuffed aubergines (aka eggplant), which were ok. A little soggy for my taste but came with a nice basket of bread for about £7.
It was nearly empty as we came in and nearly empty as we left. Again, a hidden gem. But one worth trying if in the area. Enjoy!

Totally empty on a Saturday night at 8pm… hmmm. BUT, glasses of wine for under £4, and the limited selection of food I tried was delicious (cheesy stuffed aubergine with a cheesy baked tomahhto). Prices reasonable across the menu as well. It’s on a tiny cute street with lots of restaurants, so might as well bop in for a drink or two.

The other reviews here seem a little out-​of-​date. I have been here recently and, rest assured, people — nothing has changed!
Elizabeth still presides over people with her regal calm. There is still a slightly unhealthy smell about the place, although you soon get used to it. The wine is still great and the food is still surprisingly excellent, and good value for money — even if many of the punters seem a little too far gone to fully appreciate it…
I have been going to Ashbee’s for ten years, and have rarely had a dull night there.
Long may it thrive…

My favorite place in all of London, for the more than 2 years that I spent there. I lived around the corner from this place (over on Knaresborough) and I really can’t tell people how to get to without confusing the hell out of them.
It’s tucked into a tiny alley, across from a good pub, and a Chinese grocery store; next to a tiny French restaurant and below I don’t even know what. The curved stairs can be tricky to navigate, but once you’re in the tiny space, expect to feel right at home. Low lights, soft music, and a friendly, always slightly-​more-​than-​buzzed Polish woman (owner) greet you every time.
Well, you must eat the fondue. It’s divine, and the bread is fresh, soft, and melts in your mouth. The cheese plate is good, as is the chile con carne.
A bottle of house wine will cost you 10 quid (or it did in 2007, the date of my last visit), but there is a truly nice selection. The German whites were lovely, and the Rioja she offered was one of the smoothest I’ve ever had without emptying my wallet.
I had my birthday there one year, and she knew me by then, and decorated the small space with balloons and ribbons. I took many, many people here during my stay in London, and they all loved it.
Could someone check and let me know if she’s still there? It would break my heart if the place has closed.

It’s basically a fondue place with a large wine selection. It ain’t the best fondue, but for £5.95 and cheap wine, who cares?

I’m afraid my review of this place is a few years out of date, as the last time I managed to find this gem of a wine bar was 2005; it’s down some steps under what looks like a completely normal building somewhere and is 100% impossible to find when sober, (in fact I don’t think it even opens until 11pm).
It could therefore be a very real possibly that the absolutely wonderfully luvvie Polish landlady Elizabeth, (she was friends with Roman Polanski dontcha know), has retired (undoubtedly for liver related reasons).
It may be that since these new fangled licensing laws came in Ashbee’s no longer stays open until daybreak (or until the last punter stumbles out, vainly searching for that last taxi driver who isn’t on his way home).
It may be that Elizabeth no longer appears like a guardian angel with a plate of Polish delicacies to offer some sort of belated lining to wine drenched stomachs.
It may be that there is no longer a fantastic wine list, with wines of such excellent quality that just another bottle always seems like one of the best ideas in the world (even at 4.30 am).
It may be that the eclectic crowd of students, arty types and layabouts you would think should be gracing the South Bank cafes of Paris have upped and left.
But I fucking hope not!
By the way the only reasons that I have marked this bar as pricey are that first you never seem to be able to stop at 1 bottle so it adds up over the evening/​morning, and secondly that; not only could this bar be heavy on your wallet, but if you go here to often, the ease of which daybreak comes and goes in an alcohol induced haze could very well cost you your job/​family/​partner!