"On the wall at Dan’s—a great little neighbourhood wine bar in Dalston—there’s a framed poster of a red blob person sitting on a wine glass while holding a bottle of red aloft like it’s a microphone. It’s nice to see someone living your dream. This place feels like the buzzing living room of your coolest friend who has a thing for house plants and restoring original fireplaces. Sit knee-to-knee with someone you fancy, pick at a plate of comté, and let the handy, layman’s wine descriptors—think ‘easy skinsy’ or ‘turbo chilled red’—guide your order. If you prefer your ‘fun skinsys’ in a more sit-down, dressed-up setting, head to Dan’s Clerkenwell brother, Ken’s. " - heidi lauth beasley