Diogenes The Dog — Restaurant in London

Diogenes The Dog isn’t your average wine bar. It’s serious, but not stiff — a place where curiosity is poured into every glass. Named after the Greek philosopher of Cynicism, the bar lives up to its name: questioning conventions, celebrating underdog wines, and inviting guests to think, taste, and explore.

The wine list is a journey — from unexpected regions like Poland and Texas to bold reimaginings of classics. Each bottle is handpicked by the owner, Sunny Hodge, with personal connections to small producers2. The result? A rotating selection that’s as thoughtful as it is adventurous.

The small plates are elegant and satisfying — burratina, terrine of the week, oysters on weekends — all designed to complement the wines without stealing the spotlight3. 🎶 The atmosphere is intimate, stylish, and quietly confident. No gimmicks, no noise — just good conversation and great wine.

Final Thought Diogenes The Dog is for those who want more from a bar: more story, more substance, more soul. Whether you're a wine novice or a seasoned sommelier, this place invites you to sip slowly and...

We've visited Diogenes the Dog many times, and it’s one of our favourite wine spots in London. The Harvest wine is truly unique and very reasonably priced. We often come for oysters (as we did a few days ago), which are just £2 each during happy hour.

If you're looking for something relatively light to share for lunch, the cheese board and charcuterie is a standout dish. The anchovy butter and bread is also fantastic. The use of Indian-style spices on garnishes like the pickled cauliflower creates interesting yet simple flavour combinations.

The staff are clearly very well-trained and knowledgeable, always ready with excellent recommendations. It’s great to sit outside, but the inside environment is just as lovely, with a relaxed feel and carefully considered decor — even the hand soap smells amazing!

Whether you're in the mood for an impromptu meal or celebrating a special occasion, this place is perfect. You won’t be...

This is simply a very chilled and unpretentious place to get a small, but carefully curated, selection of really good and interesting wines, a few great cheeses and enough quality meats and other nibbles to see you through a very comfortable and relaxed time.

More importantly, the folks providing these things (which are, after all, just things that if delivered badly, are totally worthless) are great. If you need help or want to know more about what they’re serving and actually ask them then you’ll discover they’re extremely knowledgeable with no showing off, and will guide you to the thing you need that fits your tastes perfectly. It appears they really do want you to be as comfortable as possible while getting exactly what you’re after, whatever your tastes. Basically I’ve just outlined the blueprint for any establishment to stand a chance of succeeding....