Bistro du Vin Exeter

Walk into Bistro du Vin and you're in classic French bistro territory—the kind of place where they take their butter and their wine lists seriously. You'll find yourself at a table surrounded by warm wood and decent glassware, tucking into food that doesn't try too hard but executes brilliantly. The menu leans into proper French classics: think confit duck, proper steaks, fish done simply. What sets this apart is the wine programme—it's thoughtful without being pretentious, and the staff actually know what they're talking about. It's the sort of place you book when you want to feel like you've made an effort without it tipping into stuffiness. Magdalen Street's got better lately, and this sits comfortably at the neighbourhood's more refined end.