Vagabond Wines Northcote Road — Restaurant in London

It was my first experience at one these Vagabond Wine bars. Vagabond being an apt name as if you’re not careful your money will be gone in no time due to the price of some of the wines! Likewise the price of the food, I had the cheese charcuterie for £30.00 was simply not worth half of that!!!

If you haven’t been to a Vagabond Wine Bar before it’s a very clever concept. You have to pre book. On arrival you sign into their app. You then make a tour of the huge range of wines and decide which wine you wish to sample/drink. The choices of wines are vast as are their quality and prices, you certainly pay for quality. You scan the bar code next to the label and pay for either a sample taster or a small or medium sized glass on your mobile and then it pours from an electronically controlled optic.

There were a couple of occasions where we paid but the wine wasn’t dispensed but staff assured us that the money would not be taken from our account.

Despite my negatives the venue is very atmospheric having a great buzz about it with all city types enjoying a night out as we did too. The staff provided an excellent service. Definitely a good date night venue too!

Highly...

For those who are unfamiliar with Vagabond, it is a self-service affair. Using a vending card (which it topped up like an Oyster card), this is inserted into slot adjacent to the wine of your choice and by pressing the relevant button, you are served automatically. Obviously, you need to place your glass under the relevant tap otherwise it will end in tears!

For my second glass of the evening, I didn’t realise that I had received a short measure, basically the dregs from the bottom of the bottle. (For certain wines, it is difficult to see whether the bottle is full or nearly empty.) However, to serve short measures is against the law (Weights and Measures Act 1985). While Vagabond isn’t cheap, I do expect to receive what I paid for.

In hindsight, I should have questioned this with the staff but with topping up the card again, walking back and forth repeatedly from the rear to the front of House to the main wine selection and returning the card for the deposit, I was rarely seated with my guest! Better...

I had the absolute pleasure of being served by Federico, and I can honestly say he made our dining experience truly exceptional. From the moment we were seated, he greeted us with such warmth and genuine kindness that we immediately felt welcome. Federico was attentive without ever being intrusive, he anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, refilled drinks promptly, and made thoughtful recommendations that turned out to be spot on. His professionalism was matched by a wonderful sense of friendliness, which made the whole evening feel both special and relaxed. What stood out most was the way he seemed to truly care that we enjoyed ourselves. Small details, like remembering our preferences and checking in with perfect timing, showed his dedication to providing the best possible service. Federico’s combination of charm, efficiency, and attention to detail elevated our meal into an experience we’ll remember fondly. If you have the chance to be looked after by him, you’re in the very...