The Truscott Cellar in Belsize Park: the first proper wine bar in NW3

Although it’s one of London’s most expensive post codes, NW3 lacks fine dining and drinking destinations. The Truscott Cellar aims at addressing this issue. An exciting 65-cover contemporary wine bar with food from former Blumenthal disciple, chef Aidan McGee of Truscott Arms. The Truscott Cellar is situated right in the heart of Belsize Park.

This is the second venture from Andrew and Mary Jane Fishwick, owners of The Truscott Arms, title holder for Best Roast in Great Britain.

There’s a cool vibe in the space, which has been designed with Michal Schranz of MS-DA. It offers guests an intimate environment in which to savour all that is on offer, but it takes it too far and the under-illumination becomes a unpleasant.

The food is a selection of small sharing plates, such as Beef Chips and the Meat Board, and more substantial ones such as Beef Cheeks, Smoked Mash, Crispy Shallots; Cornish Cod, Salsify, Greens, Cider Sauce, Mussels or Colcannon, Ragstone, Basil.

These are prepared using the same fine ingredients sourced from the suppliers as at The Truscott Arms. The cheese board and puddings – which include Chocolate Mousse, Honeycomb, Chocolate Soil and English Strawberries, Lemon Cream, Mint Ice – are a chance to indulge in luscious tastes.

The dishes are all pleasant but they are there to compliment the drinks, not the other way round: this is not somewhere you’d go regularly to have dinner, it’s a wine bar. And naturally wine is the focus: amongst the well-known names and the all-time greats are winemakers, regions and grapes that just might broaden one’s horizons.

With over 80 wines available by the glass, nearly 400 different bottles one can experiment, a cocktail list reflecting the appreciation of artisanal products and a range of London brewed bottled craft beers, The Truscott Cellar bring to NW3 a much-needed drinking hotspot.

The editorial unit
Photos: Filippo L’Astorina

To book a table at The Truscott Cellar, 240 Haverstock Hill London NW3 2AE, call 020 3581 3223 or enquire here.