Dan's

Dan’s is a neighbourhood wine bar and shop located in the heart of Dalston and has become a buzzy hang-out with a free flow of wine and chatter. Two large communal tables and a scattering of smaller tables give the vibe of someone’s living room – with good wine. The price structure is set to encourage people to drink well, with bottles offered at retail prices as well as for consuming on site.

Backed by Dan Long, the bar has access to Dan’s other business, Parched Wine, a low-intervention supplier and online shop that has several thousand lines. With this knowledge, imagine the variety that happens on the shelves, which accommodate around 600 different bottles. Choose from the fridges that look after sparkling, white, skin contact, rosé and chilled reds, then, if you still need more to look at there are several shelves with extra choices. For those who would like a more classic wine style, fear not – many of the wines will suit you and will just be organic or biodynamic. Ask the friendly team who will guide you to something you may recognise, or is simply aligned with your palate.

Icon wines sometimes land, which are posted up on their socials – these bottles get snapped up within a few days. If you miss them, ask when you are there if they have any top end bottles – you just never know your luck with a place like this!

Frequently changing by-the-glass options are offered via a chalkboard listing in layman’s terms of style, such as “Crisp White”, “Easy Skinsy” or “Turbo Piss”. But the staff are friendly and will engage with you on exactly what is open for each kind. The bottles do change once finished and, on some of the more pumping evenings, on the same night.

Food is snack-based with breads, cheese, olives and the like, and there’s a glimpse of the owner through the Australian Shapes crackers and Minties available. Outdoor seating and large front windows that open right up are a bonus on warmer days – a refreshing way to catch up with your wine friends.