Putney balances its village-like charm with a south-west London energy. It’s a neighbourhood where weekend walks turn into evenings spent with good food and even better drinks. In recent years, wine bars have offered something different from the area’s busy pubs. They tend to be smaller and more personal, with shelves of bottles doubling as décor, passionate staff, and food offerings leaning towards cheeses, charcuterie, tapas and small plates. For many locals, that combination is irresistible.
The following wine bars each bring their own character, flavours and quirks. Some celebrate global bottles with a sense of discovery, some lean into Mediterranean energy, and others recreate the feel of a neighbourhood living room, just with better lighting and better glasses. Putney offers an unexpectedly strong wine bar lineup, together forming one of south-west London’s enjoyable little circuits for wine lovers and the wine-curious alike.
Glug Wines
For those on the hunt for a wine bar that feels like a friend’s living room, warm, welcoming, and just a little bit special, Glug Wines is the place to be. This independent wine bar and shop opened in 2015, and sits on Upper Richmond Road. The space itself is warm and lit with fairy lights, with shelves of intriguing bottles lining the walls. Glug champions wines that drift off the beaten track, rotating picks frequently from across the globe to keep discoveries fresh.
Alongside the wines comes a spread of artisanal nibbles. Cheese plates include the likes of Baron Bigod, Brie de Meaux, Comté and the rich Lancashire Bomb. Charcuterie from London Smoke & Cure also adds to the experience with smoky, savoury swagger. Glug Wines embraces its role as a social hub. Regular tasting events bring themed evenings to life, from intimate guided tastings to creative food-and-wine pairings adding an edge to the typical bar experience. For celebrations and gatherings, the venue offers private hire, comfortably serving small groups with good bottles and small plates. In essence, Glug Wines combines the ease of a local favourite with a genuine enthusiasm for global wines.
Putney Wine Bar & Kitchen
Another wine stop on Upper Richmond Road is character-rich hideaway, Putney Wine Bar & Kitchen. From the outside it might look modest, but once inside the atmosphere changes. The wine bar has a warm, candle-lit interior, with walls decorated with jumbled artwork, and mismatched chairs giving off a lived-in but cared for feel. Putney Wine Bar & Kitchen specialises in bottles drawn mainly from Mediterranean Europe with selections of red, white, sparkling and dessert wide enough to suit many moods.
To complement the drinks, the bar offers a small-plates menu that matches the wine’s bold European flavours. There are olives, saucisson with cornichons and sourdough, buffalo mozzarella with rocket and sun-blush tomatoes. For something heartier, main dishes such as grilled lamb cutlets with hand-cut chips and truffle mayonnaise regularly feature. With opening hours typically from around 5pm to 11pm, yet later on weekends, this wine bar and kitchen is the perfect Putney den in which to uncork something interesting.
Casa Manalo
Adding a hint of Spain to Putney High Street, Casa Manolo Tapas & Wine is just a short stroll from Putney rail station, making it an easy stop on any south-west London wine and tapas trail. Casa Manolo is part of a family-run Spanish tradition with decades of expertise curating Spanish cured meats, cheeses and fine wines. Inside, the atmosphere boasts Mediterranean character, ideal for shared plates and the soft clink of glasses as the evening goes on.
At the heart of Casa Manolo’s appeal is its menu, which offers a wide range of traditional Spanish dishes and tapas. There’s hand-carved Ibérico ham, award-winning Manchego cheese, garlic prawns, classic croquetas, octopus prepared Galician-style, and plenty of vegetarian and seafood options. Their beverages menu features Spanish reds, whites and sparkling wines, sherries, and more, offering guests a taste of the bottles that define Spain’s winemaking reputation. With weekend closing times stretching to 2am, Casa Manolo is the place to head for a late glass of wine and last-minute tapas cravings.
Harty’s
Just 2 miles up the road from Putney, Harty’s Barnes deserves a nod amongst the area’s best wine spots. Located on White Hart Lane, Harty’s brings together a bottle shop, wine bar and charcuterie-lover’s haven under one roof. Inside, the establishment exudes rustic charm and carefully arranged bottles set the tone for slow-drinking evenings. The attentive staff offer guidance on ordering, with good conversation as glasses are poured. The by-the-glass menu shifts frequently, rotating through seasonal and globally sourced bottles so there’s always something new to discover.
To accompany the drinks, the kitchen serves small plates of cheeses and charcuterie made with local produce. For those who revisit, Harty’s offers a membership scheme which rewards in bar credit, complimentary wine and charcuterie, and priority access to tastings and seasonal releases. Harty’s also hosts occasional events from themed tastings to cheese club nights, making it a worthy detour for anyone interested in wine, good food and community.
