Daly’s Wine Bar

My go-​to when I can’t think of anywhere else to grab a drink near/​on the Strand. Spacious and simple, Daly’s always seems to do the trick. The wine list is extensive and impressive, with over 40 varieties ranging in quality and price — I’d challenge anyone to find me another place on Fleet Street that serves Vueve Clicquot and Dom Perignon, yet also has a pretty hefty-​sized glass of Chenin Blanc for as little as £4.20, Cab Sav for £4.50, and Prosecco for a fiver. And, Rekorderlig on tap as well. It simply doesn’t exist!
While I’ve never had any of the ‘proper’ meals here, which are available between 3 and 10pm (and which include confit duck leg, a bleu cheese, honey, and fig tartlet, and an 8oz Sirloin — quite gourmet, if you ask me!), I have to disagree with the below reviewer and say that the food could be a LOT less imaginative. Sure, the smaller dishes and bar snacks aren’t earth-​shattering in their originality and quality, but when you’re looking for a little something to wind you down at the end of the day, and a greasy bite to go with it, Daly’s indeed delivers.
In my experiences, the bar staff have always been polite and helpful, and are happy to let you sample wines before purchasing them. The bar itself, as mentioned above, has a lot of room in its two main areas (one in the front of the shop, and a more spacious salon area in the back), and has large tables that are good for groups. I think there are also tables outside for people to sit when the weather’s better. Would be nice to enjoy the bustling crowds of Fleet Street, while chilling out and sipping on a flute of bubbly.
Quick notes:
-£5 card minimum, pretty standard.
–They’re pretty militant (but still nice!) about collecting glasses and kicking you out right at 11pm. No drunken stragglers, please.
–Nice lawyery types if you go around 5:30/6pm on a weekday (if you’re into that sort of thing, ahem).
Wish I could give half or quarter stars, because Daly’s deserves around 3.75 — doesn’t blow my mind, but does the job, and does it well.

I read the other review of Dalys, which mentioned the high prices and unimaginative food yet smart location and good service. Champagne and jacket potaroes?
Having previously been a regular, I can explain. Dalys thrives on having a great location with a captive audience of lawyers and management consultants, so virtually all of the drinks purchased there will be on expenses and no-one’s really bothered about the prices. Similarly for the food, it’s typical ‘bar snacks’ fodder being purchased along with a couple of bottles of champagne and a round of beers. The simpler the better, it’s just a stopgap before going elsewhere to eat properly, or home!
All this means that its peak times are 5 – 9 pm especially on Thursday & Friday. Weekends are pretty dead, when it’s presumably filled with people marvelling at high prices and the very ordinary food…

This is a regular haunt of mine, reminiscent of the old spit and sawdust pub/​wine bars but without the sawdust! It has a great atmosphere and the wines/​champagnes are great. The food is good too although I would like to see a bit more on the menu but what there is is tasty and served speedily by a friendly face. The staff are all very helpful and make a point of remembering regulars. It attracts a mixed clientele but mainly suits but is by no means stuffy. Great for lunch but don’t forget to go back to work!

This place is cute enough, but very expensive to match.
I can’t remember the exact price I paid for a glass of vino, but I do remember choking slightly with handing over my shrapnel.
For a seemingly posh wine bar, the food is rather mediocure and unimaginative. They sell jacket potatoes, burgers, and fishcakes… which seems a strange combination when enjoying a bottle of champagne or a £30 bottle of wine. The service was very good, fast and polite. However although this place is fine, it is nothing to scream about and personally I don’t think its worth the money.