Franklin's Wine
Quick info
About Franklin's Wine
Franklin's Wine is a wine bar on Westbourne Grove that also operates as a wine shop, with bottles available to buy and take away. Guests can pair a glass with burrata, cured meats, and other cheese and charcuterie offerings, alongside cocktails for those not drinking wine. A mystery tasting challenge invites guests to guess the wine and its origin. Seating runs downstairs as well as outdoors. It operates on a walk-in basis, with no reservations taken. Buying a bottle to take away carries a £5 charge for drinking it on site.
Good to know
“Franklin's Wine is a friendly, neighbourhood wine bar in Notting Hill with a welcoming, homely vibe—perfect for romantic dates, corporate events, or a casual drink solo or with friends. Located near Portobello Market, we offer a curated selection of fine and casual wines, expertly chosen by our sommeliers. Pair your wine with our specialty cheeses, charcuterie boards, arancini, lasagne, and seasonal dishes. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or just starting out, visit us and experience Franklin's Wine for an unforgettable time.”
- ReservationsWalk-in only
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention burrata and cured meats, mystery wine game, wine bottle not shown and £5 corkage to drink in.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention burrata and cured meats, mystery wine game, wine bottle not shown and £5 corkage to drink in.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers keep returning for the wine selection, with several singling out the burrata and cured meats, glasses of white and red, and cocktails alongside a "mystery wine" game where a correct guess wins the bottle for free. Most describe a cosy, friendly neighbourhood spot near Portobello Market, good for a solo glass or meeting friends, with staff called knowledgeable and helpful in guiding wine choices. Two accounts complain sharply about service: one reviewer describes a server becoming confrontational over a disputed £5 sparkling water charge despite the table offering to pay anyway, and another says a waiter poured wine without showing the bottle first and gave no explanation when asked, calling the experience dishonest and unprofessional. Both frame these as isolated staff interactions rather than the norm reflected elsewhere. Otherwise, reviewers note a £5 corkage-style charge to drink a purchased bottle in, seating downstairs and outdoors, and repeat visits for gifts and casual catch-ups, with one calling it their neighbourhood wine bar since the Covid era.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers keep returning for the wine selection, with several singling out the burrata and cured meats, glasses of white and red, and cocktails alongside a "mystery wine" game where a correct guess wins the bottle for free. Most describe a cosy, friendly neighbourhood spot near Portobello Market, good for a solo glass or meeting friends, with staff called knowledgeable and helpful in guiding wine choices. Two accounts complain sharply about service: one reviewer describes a server becoming confrontational over a disputed £5 sparkling water charge despite the table offering to pay anyway, and another says a waiter poured wine without showing the bottle first and gave no explanation when asked, calling the experience dishonest and unprofessional. Both frame these as isolated staff interactions rather than the norm reflected elsewhere. Otherwise, reviewers note a £5 corkage-style charge to drink a purchased bottle in, seating downstairs and outdoors, and repeat visits for gifts and casual catch-ups, with one calling it their neighbourhood wine bar since the Covid era.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“A very nice place, cosy, excellent variety of wines and food to go with it. A definite go again 👏👏”
- Google user
“The staff were rude, dismissive, and completely unprofessional. I ordered Italian wine and, instead of showing me the bottle (which is basic practice, especially when selling Italian wine), they simply poured wine into glasses with no transparency at all. When I politely asked the waiter why we weren’t shown the bottle, he didn’t even bother to answer. No explanation, no apology, nothing. Just silence and attitude. As an Italian, this was especially disappointing. Italian wine is about culture, respect, and honesty — none of which were present here. What you get instead is a place that charges for wine without proving what they are actually serving. That feels dishonest at best. I’m genuinely sorry to say this, but I strongly recommend avoiding this place. Poor service, poor manners, and a complete lack of respect for customers. In my opinion, this is not a trustworthy establishment.”
- Google user
“We stopped for a glass of wine when visiting the Portobello Road market. Small and cosy with additional seating downstairs, at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, we found a seat without problem. The wine list is not intimidating and the staff very helpful. We took on the challenge of their 'mystery' wine, which comes with the promise the wine is on them if you can guess what it is and where it comes from. We failed badly, but enjoyed the wines!”
- Google user
“have been going here for years, since Covid, as my neighborhood wine bar and it's the best. great atmosphere and service. I frequently buy gifts for my friend's events here as well”
- Google user
“I’ve been to Franklin’s before and loved the vibe, food, and drinks. But on my second visit this evening, the service from one staff member really let the experience down. While one server (a lovely woman) was friendly and helpful, the male server was noticeably curt throughout and became confrontational over a small billing error. We were charged for two bottles of sparkling water, but all three of us distinctly remember only ordering and receiving one. Instead of handling it calmly, he insisted - quite forcefully - that we were wrong, despite us politely saying we’d pay regardless. It wasn’t about the £5 - it was the attitude. Hopefully, it was just an off day for him. Still good food and atmosphere, but today’s service took away from it. Edit: Appreciate the response from the owner. We understand your intention was to clarify the order, just as ours was. All three of us are certain only one sparkling bottle was delivered. Again, it wasn’t about the £5 - it was about the principle and the way it was handled. I hope it truly was just a miscommunication, and that future service feels more open and respectful. :)”
Location
Wine Bars near Franklin's Wine
- All Bar One Covent Garden4.55,3033.4 mi
grey goose melon sour, bakewell sour, nachos and nibbles
- 3.7 mi£10–50
converted victorian public toilet, peaches and cream cocktail, mushrooms and truffle dish
- The Winemakers Club4.53894.3 mi£20–60
cheese and charcuterie board, extensive wine list, arches under viaduct
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin's Wine | 4.5181 | — | — | burrata and cured meats, mystery wine game, wine bottle not shown |
| All Bar One Covent Garden | 4.55,303 | 3.4 mi | — | grey goose melon sour, bakewell sour, nachos and nibbles |
| WC Wine & Charcuterie Bloomsbury | 4.4264 | 3.7 mi | £10–50 | converted victorian public toilet, peaches and cream cocktail, mushrooms and truffle dish |
| The Winemakers Club | 4.5389 | 4.3 mi | £20–60 | cheese and charcuterie board, extensive wine list, arches under viaduct |
The 3 nearest wine bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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