Goodbye Horses
Wine bar · East Canonbury
21 Halliford St, London N1 3HB, United Kingdom
Highlights
Artsy wine bar with hand-painted curtains, oak counter
Artsy wine bar with hand-painted curtains, oak counter
"Goodbye Horses in Islington is the kind of place that makes us feel like a Love Island bombshell. Staff tinker with a record player and the mood is as easy and relaxed as the crinkled linen top your date is wearing. Modern European plates look pretty and taste even better, like fancy beef tartare and oxtail ragout. Plus, they have their own chic, sceney ice cream shop-cum-wine bar across the road—for extended flirting opportunities over gingerbread scoops." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley
"There’s so much going for this former pub which has been transformed into a wine bar and restaurant with a young, on-trend vibe. The place is packed with East London’s coolest diners, all delighting in a concise menu based around high-quality, seasonal British produce. The treacle tart makes for a wonderful end to the meal – and if your sweet tooth is still not satisfied, the same people run The Dreamery ice cream shop across the road. The eclectic wine list specialises in natural options, which the affable and knowledgeable team will happily guide you through." - Michelin Inspector
"These days, London has no shortage of excellent new-age wine bars. It’s been a signature category in the city since the days of P. Franco and the likes of Terroirs before. But in more recent times, spots like Cadet, Hector’s, and Yuki Bar have raised the standard of wine bars sharply. At Goodbye Horses, which opened in the second part of 2024 (and where I enjoyed one of my favorite nights out last year), sommelier Nathalie Nelles oversees one of the most interesting wine lists in the city. Nelles has a penchant for excellent French wines from the Jura, Loire, and Burgundy. Go in the evening to enjoy a selection of small plates, which might include an avant-garde beef tartare, some carefully arranged crostini-like toasts, and a cheese plate. But you’re here to drink, really, and to take in the quite extraordinary interior, hand-painted curtains and long, organically shaped wooden bar — which lend the room a World of Interiors vibe in the best way. Must-try: Complex savagnins from the Jura, elegant chenin blancs from the Loire Valley, grower Champagnes, and a mix of modern and classic wines from regal Burgundian producers." - Adam Coghlan
"This Islington wine bar, restaurant, and vibe emporium is about as chic a place as you can eat a cheese toastie in London. Curtains are hand-painted, records are stacked, and people sit at the solid oak counter swirling wine and nibbling at brilliant oxtail ragout with broken rice. For post-dinner ice cream and another glass, head to Goodbye Horses’ psychedelic dessert spot sibling, The Dreamery, across the road." - jake missing, sinead cranna
"An evening at Goodbye Horses is like a dinner party at a not-so-struggling artist's house. One who lives in a white-washed Islington townhouse, has a curated stack of records, and serves modern European small plates, including the perfect toastie. This pinstriped, griddled number is far superior to anything our Breville has churned out. The cheese is a creamy, tangy, stretchy delight, and the addition of a leek pickle is inspired." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, heidi lauth beasley, sinead cranna, daisy meager
