Parisian-inspired wine bar opens in Walthamstow

A Parisian-inspired wine bar called Forest Bar + Kitchen has opened in the East London borough of Walthamstow, which will shine a light on natural wines.

As reported by Eater London, Forest Bar + Kitchen has taken over the former estate agent next door to natural wine shop Forest Wines, which opened in 2014.

Run by Jana Postulkova and her husband Ali, the tiny bar has a single communal dining table. Heading up the kitchen is young chef Nico Salzano, who trained in Paris.

Salzano’s weekly changing menu is inspired by Paris’ popular natural wine bars and will include dishes like roast chicken and padrón pepper toasties; and pickled egg, pea shoots, and girolles.

The wine list is almost entirely made up of natural, organic and biodynamic minimum intervention drops from small producers. Forest will be open on Fridays and Saturdays this month, but is due to extend its opening hours next month.

The bar is the latest in a growing gang of new wave wine bars championing natural wines and seasonal sharing plates, such as P Franco in Clapton, Newcomer Wines in Dalston and The Laughing Heart in Hackney.

Restaurateurs are increasingly being driven away from central London due to sky-high rents, and are moving their businesses to east London where minds are open and rents are lower.

Last December new-wave wine shop Gnarly Vines opened in the east London borough of Leyton.

Founded by William Jack and Tom McKim, the duo behind Clapton Craft, the hybrid venue sells a selection of craft beers and spirits, artisan cheeses, ceramics, chopping boards and knives.

Click here for our recent round up of London’s most exciting new wave wine bars.