The story
Goodbye Horses is a modern British wine bar at 21 Halliford Street in Islington, London, with a short small-plates kitchen and a Local Gem mention in The Good Food Guide 2026. The Michelin Guide lists it as Recommended for 2026.
The house works on a zero-zero basis, so nothing is added to the wine and nothing is removed. The glass selection is wide, and the bottle list is long enough that The Good Food Guide points to it as the best value on the page. Most of the bottles are hyper-natural.
There is no printed menu or wine list. The kitchen runs a short list of small plates each evening, and the Guide's reviewer found the food a reason to stay rather than a reason to travel across town. The service is warm, and the neighbourhood crowd gives the room its pull.
A long, stripped oak bar runs the length of the space, with a wall of vinyl records and a lantern mural that gives the room a Japanese edge. Once evening comes, candlelight fills the room. Counter seating keeps the focus on the bar and the people pouring.
Recognition
Details
History
The absence of a menu and wine list reinforces the too-cool-for-school vibe at this Islington hangout – though the information blackout doesn’t appear to be bad for business; you’ll find it buzzing every night of the week. A long, stripped oak bar, a wall of vinyl and a striking lantern mural lend a Japanese edge to the aesthetic, and come nightfall, the space is entirely illuminated by candlelight. Wine here is hyper-natural, and the extensive bottle list will give you the best bang for your buck. We wouldn’t travel across town for the short small-plates menu, but the warm service and neighbourhood atmosphere make it feel like a good place to be.
Location
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