44-46 Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, London, WC2

This is truly a local’s secret. A little wine bar, underground at Leicester Square that is not over run by tourists and sells one of the best selections of wine in London. The situation is interesting with 2 entrances. One right next to the sex shop on Cranbourn street, with a red awning, and the other around the back, pretty much behind a garbage bin. Look for the flags at the back and then follow the tiny spiral staircase down. With the ambiance of drinking in a wine cellar, it’s very cosy, tiny tables in nooks and crannies as well as squeezed in under the staircase. The proprietor, Don Hewitson, has created a wine menu with humourous, but accurate, descriptions of each wine for sale and there really is an excellent and very unique selection from all over the world. Some bottle are pretty pricey (e.g. over the £100 mark) but there are lots of wines sold by the glass. They also serve food, which is pretty tasty, but it is really the wine you would go for. If you can find it, you’ll love it!