Grapeshots Wine Bars

This place is cute.
It’s small and dark but I really like it here.
I tend to come here when I’m after a few beers and moving around the area. It’s good, not normally too busy and the beer is decent.
I don’t drink the wine. Sorry. But I’m sure it’s great.

Great little boutique wine merchants bar!
Price at £8 for a small glass of red plonk it was a quick one and move on but the atmosphere was lovely and it was at least homely for the city of London area. All lit by candles its also quite nice for a date or couples night out! Or even post work drinks if you happen to work round there!

Artillery Passage is a wonderful, atmospheric portal between Liverpool St and Spitalfields, an area I am deeply in love with. Grapeshots is quite literally a hidden gem as it is very easy to miss it even when walking past. The exterior is muted and dark, as befits the Passage. It’s actually part of the Davys winebar chain which were so popular in the 80’s with Filofax wielding yuppies in the City. Then, the beer selection was basic-​Old Wallop bitter or there was Old Wallop bitter. Now, things are different and Grapeshots carries a hefty selection of continental lagers as well as a draught wheat beer and. Old Wallop. The wine selection was extensive and they have a good selection of wines by the glass. We had a glass of house white burgundy and it was very good indeed. The atmosphere was great-​all dark tones, flickering candles and hushed conversations (I didn’t listen though). The service was fine, though we didn’t eat. I like wine bars and there aren’t too many around now. This one is certainly deserving of patronage.

Quick glance:
+ hidden gem
+ huge selection of wine
+ quiet place to catch up
— a bit pricey
Full review:
Grapeshots is located in the lanes across the road from Liverpool Street station. Despite its proximity to the city, it’s not particularly busy, which is great if you are after somewhere quiet to catch up with friends.
The place offers wines by the glass or bottle, and the price can be a little bit dear. Still, I like the atmosphere — quiet and dark furniture to encourage an intimate catch up. The venue does close early on weeknights though, which is good to ensure you don’t stay up too late on a school night, but bad if you are looking for a wild night out.

Nipped in here for un cheeky petit verre after dinner at Mudmee (qv). A minor irritation greeted us before we stepped across the threshold; cash only (PDQ machine out of service). Never mind we scraped together enough cash for a couple of glasses. And then, when we ran out, they persevered and got the payment made. So it was a very minor irritation. Charming staff and good wine I asked about a particular wine and was asked if I ‘d liike to try it service above the norm, as I was buying by the glass. Not to my taste, but the manager guessed exactly what i was going to order instead. Décor wooden, Victorian, charming if a little too tourist-​friendly. Some very yobbish old City boys behind us, which was a shame. Par for the course in those parts, though. I liked it, and will definitely go back. They are open later on Fridays I hate being asked to leave anywhere (see above) but it’s quiet around there earlier in the week, so I’d imagine they don’t get much custom on Monday and Tuesday, to give them there due.

«Just to let you know, we’re closing in 15 minutes, please finish your bottle of wine.»
«Why so early?»
«We close at 9pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.»
Yep, a pub that calls last orders at 8:45.
This wasn’t an exchange I was expecting in a busy bar just off Liverpool Street. But Grapeshots did indeed kick everyone out at 9pm. And despite the wine being lovely, I’m unlikely to go back no matter what day of the week it is.

I do like the feel of this place and like the review below me, i love the old feeling about the location.
The only bad point, is when I ordered my wine, they measured it! Really? Are we really being that cheap now we have to measure wine too? God forbid I get a little extra in my path to alcoholism!
Outside of that, nice bar!

I like this place because of the location. Grapeshots is on Artillery Passage which is a cool alley which has a bit of an authentic feel in between Spitalfields and Bishops Gate. At first I was so excited by the place – very old feel, pub style wine bar. They don’t have beer on tap – just in the bottle. My friend ordered some very cool-​looking (by the bottle) beer and it was served up in a metal stein. But the wine list was a bit disappointing and had very commercial wines ala Kendall Jackson and Ventisquero. No music in the background and good seating and old-​school London feel, although I could have done without the cases of wine in boxes hanging out in the main room.