Sandia Chang’s favorite places to drink Champagne in London

“A great place to drink Champagne these days is not based on whether the venue has red velvet couches or crystal flutes or trolleys of caviar. Now, it is all about being able to drink and try exciting new producers, discover rare gems and also enjoy great food. The extravagance of the experience has become more about the selection of Champagne on the list and innovative pairings, rather than a stuffy atmosphere,” says Sandia Chang, sommelier and co-owner, with chef husband James Knappett, of London’s two-Michelin-starred Kitchen Table restaurant.

Having worked the wines at the likes of Noma and Per Se, California-born Chang opened Kitchen Table and the now closed hot and dog and Champagne focused Bubbledogs with Knappett in 2012.

Her passion is grower Champagnes and in 2020, she launched Bubbleshop, “a one-stop online shop delivering the most sought-after bottles of grower Champagnes nationwide,” including those drunk at Kitchen Table.

Who better then to tell us where to drink Champagne in London?

“A great, secret spot under the bridge in Farringdon. They have a great selection of grower Champagne producers that they import directly from the domain. Bottles are priced very fairly, and they have a great amount of space for large parties, or little nooks for romantic dates. There are little nibbles of cheese and charcuterie to go perfectly with Champagne— and they are also very dog friendly.”

“As you’d expect for a restaurant connected to Hedonism—one of the best stocked wine shops in London—Hide has access to the most amazing list of Champagnes. Along with award-winning food by Ollie Dabbous, you can choose Champagne off of the entire stock list of Hedonism, including rare vintages and large format bottles too.”

“They are no strangers to the wine-loving world, but few people know that the people behind Noble Rot are massive Champagne lovers. They also list an amazing range of grower Champagnes alongside the great and rare grand marques. The staff are all very knowledgeable and can help guide you to find a champagne you've never tried. Whether you want to just sit for a drink, or have a long lunch or dinner, the vibe here is definitely chill.” [Various locations]

“This is a young and fun version of a wine members’ club in Haggerston—it is, however, open for the public to dine and drink as well. The owner is a big supporter of grower Champagnes and has a great list to represent. The food here is cooked by renowned chef Sebastian Myers, who cooks Nordic-influenced food with seasonal British ingredients.”

“A tiny little wine shop and bar in Dalston that has a wider selection of Champagne and wine than it can hold. One can choose a bottle of Champagne from their retail shelves and pay a small corkage fee to drink it there. The selections of Champagnes are exciting—from new, up and coming Champagne producers to hard-to-find gems. If you don't see what you want in the shop front, ask to see the downstairs cellar (by the toilets) for more secret stashes. The food is simple small plates, but a plate of potato crisps topped with a mountain of serrano jamón is all you need with your Champagne.”

“If you have the budget to splurge on a three-Michelin-starred meal and want to drink some amazing grower Champagnes, this is the place to be. The collection of Champagnes—which ranges from old vintages to new producers, collected over the two decades—is certainly a reason to go. The service, led by Jack Settle, is top notch.”

“We’re a two-Michelin-starred restaurant with a daily-changing menu based on the best seasonal ingredients Britain has to offer. The wine list here is primarily composed of the largest selection of grower Champagnes in the UK—and an extension of the Champagne list at the once famous Bubbledogs (which used to be housed in the space that’s now our lounge and bar). We have a lot of personal relationships with the growers themselves, and diners are able to learn the stories behind the producers of the great Champagnes they sample throughout the evening.”

“Michael Sager is no stranger to wine bar goers. His passion and knowledge of wines is second to none. This wine bar has been around for a decade now and still boasts one of the most extensive and diverse wine bar lists in London with a great selection of grower Champagnes—some of which Michael imports himself. The Hackney location is dangerously romantic, serving gooey hot cheesy toasties to accompany the Champagne.”