BALHAM BARS
UPDATED FOR 2025
I’ve got to be honest, Balham isn’t my first choice for bar hopping. But having just revisited the area, 3 spots have proved me well and truly wrong.
I only recommend somewhere I’d happily visit again and again. Here are the standouts…
Enjoy,
Jump to: For cocktails / For wine
Lost & Found Bar
FOR COCKTAILS…
I truly believe that there aren’t that many great cocktail bars in Balham. Wine bars? Yep. It’s just not the spot for cocktail bar hopping. With Lost & Found, however, you don’t need to hop; just stay for the eve. I’ve had a couple of banging nights here.
The drinks…
Right, cocktails – you can be boring like me and go with the classics (whiskey sours and negronis all day) or be like my more adventurous friends and try Lost & Found’s original concoctions.
The classics were decent. Are they the best sours I’ve ever had?… No, but it’s unfair to use that as a marker, and I’ve gotta stop doing it. Negronis can be bitter AF, but these had the right amount of vermouth to balance everything. They kept coming and I kept drinking – and that speaks volumes.
The rest of the group had the likes of ‘Passion in My Pants’ (a passion fruit tequila, lychee liquor, and juice medley), a Watermelon Margarita (what it says on the tin), and a Pina Colada Margarita. More rounds of the same and smiles all around – and at ~£11 per cocktail, you’re not going to get a better Taste x Price action in the area.
A couple of things to mention…
Lost & Found is small. I hate describing places as ‘intimate’, but it’s, hmm, cosy. It feels less like a cocktail bar and more like a mate throwing a party at his quirky gaff. It’s probably not for everyone, but I liked the vibe (what a w**nky sentence).
They offer a private space for karaoke – people travel across London to sing the night away. Again, not for everyone and I’ve not booked the room, but do bear it in mind if you’re looking for a karaoke bar in the Balham area.
Why we like it…
All in all, I’ve been twice, and each time I’ve stumbled out with a rather large smile across my ugly mug – so it must be a pretty decent cocktail spot. Thank god Balham has Lost & Found.
The London Butler note: Hungry? Yard Sale Pizza is at your beck and call (not a shock to anyone living in London)
10 Bedford Hill, SW12 9RG; Lost & Found Bar
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All images by Lost & Found Bar (my photography turned out meh)
Balham Wine Bars
Henny’s
I’ll say it right off the bat, henny’s is quality. We visited a few wine bars for this piece, and I can wholeheartedly say it was everything I want a wine bar to be: coffee shop vibes, lacking pretence, and staff who don’t give a sh*t if you’re a novice or expert – they just want you to have a good craic.
My experience:
We were welcomed in as if we’d been there loads of time (we hadn’t), asked about our wine likes and dislikes, and given some recommendations. Super simple, and how it should be. It felt like a friend having you around his place (a friend with a penchant for wine).
I had a white, not normally my go-to, but it was exactly what I asked for – crisp and refreshing for what was a bloody hot day… I can’t for the life of me tell you which wine I had; I just went with their recommendation. And that’s all you need to do.
If wine isn’t your thing, they do a wonderful negroni – a staple of my terrible diet.
Oh, and if you get hungry, dive into some nibbles or order pizza from Yard Sale (ofc).
If this is starting to tickle your fancy, read about Niall and his journey to raise a glass for his grandfather, Henny.
The London Butler tip: henny’s is a café / workspace from 8am – 4pm – will be heading there soon to do some bits, will update you once I’ve done so!
195C Balham High Rd, SW12 9BE; henny’s
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Full image credit to @hennys_wine
The Wine Tasting Shop
ALFRESCO CHEESE & WINE
I gave huge praise to henny’s for being what I want a wine bar to be, but I feel the same way about The Wine Tasting Shop, despite it being a different beast.
Let’s talk alfresco drinking…
One of life’s greatest pleasures is going on hol and sitting on the street drinking, eating, and having a jolly ol’ time. I love it.
Whilst The Wine Tasting Shop can’t take you away from Blighty, it can give you a glimpse of the good life – it’s got plenty of seating out front that, with a glass in hand, is relaxing, and dare I say, wholesome.
Next up, cheese and charcuterie…
I’m a cheese fiend. Pair it with the right wine and you’ve got a concoction sent from the skies above. Sounds like utter shtrite but I mean it. So good.
The Wine Tasting Shop does just that… Sharing plates with all types of cheeses (creamy, hard, stinky – jeez, you name it). I’m too easy to please with this sort of thing, but the wine and cheese selection was spot on.
Drinks…
As for wine, you’ve got so much choice. The team prioritises bottles from lesser-known makers. More importantly, they genuinely want to give you quality time so that you make the right choice. I had a light Riesling which sorted me out no end – I won’t go into their whole offering as it’ll take up too much real estate, but trust me, you’ll be fine. Cocktails and non-alcoholic bevs are also up for grabs.
All in all, with plenty of wine-tasting events (held in their beaut cellar), live music, alfresco drinking (blankets are available) and quality service, it’s hard to dislike this Balham wine bar.
The London Butler note: Vegans, don’t fret – they’ve got vegan boards on the menu to accompany your vino.
18 Hildreth St, SW12 9RQ; The Wine Tasting Shop
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All images by the apple blue (my photography is bang avg!)
Let me know if you visit any of these or if I’ve missed any quality Balham bars.
See our guide via: Google Maps | Apple Maps
And if you’re wanting more tips on the area, be sure to check out our guides to Balham’s brunch spots, cafés, pubs and restaurants.
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