Located just a two-minute walk from Hoxton station, Sager + Wilde on Hackney Road is a rustic-chic wine bar providing guests with an extensive and imaginative wine list alongside a modest selection of small plates and nibbles. This is the ideal spot for everything from post-work drinks and nibbles to a date night evening out sampling rare wine and enjoying the modern British sharing plates.
Inside, guests can opt to take a seat at the stunning bar-top of Victoria cast iron or at the lower wooden tables that are overlooked by a huge bottle rack lining the wall. The shades are often drawn slightly for an intimate and moody ambience but if you prefer, there is plenty of outdoor seating available too.
The food menu is limited and focuses on simple yet elevated flavours, designed to complement the wine, hence the amount of cheese you’ll encounter. Examples include duck rillette with cornichons and toasted sourdough, and marinated courgettes with muscatel vinegar dressing and wild thyme flowers. Alternatively, keep it traditional with the cheese and charcuterie plate featuring treats like Tomme de Savoie, Lou Nouste, mortadella and fig jam. If you’d rather not faff about with the small plates, there are a few cheese toasties on the menu, so dig into the cheddar and ‘Nduja toastie served with a pickled gherkin and you’re sure to be satisfied. If you’ll be stopping in briefly for a tipple and snack, try the truffle pecorino nuts or nibble on nocarella olives.
The star of the show at this location, however, is the outstanding wine list. This is everchanging and showcases the best of the best (with prices to match) alongside rare natural wines you might not have heard of and familiar favourites. Most of these are conveniently available by the glass but be sure to peruse the bottle list which features plenty of award-winning wines from world-class vineyards. There are also enticing cocktails and craft beer and cider on offer, so there’s something for everyone.