The guide to 29 great wine restaurants and wine bars in Melbourne 2025
Melbourne, Australia's second biggest city, is a city with plenty of great places to visit for every wine lover. Here, Star Wine List's ambassador Liinaa Berry have selected her favourite wine spots in the city.
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Phone: (03) 9654 8239
Address: 11-15 Duckboard Place, Melbourne
Lee Ho Fook is not your average Chinese restaurant. If you’re expecting lazy Susans, MSG-laden banquets, and bottomless teapots, think again. This is Victor Liong’s playground, where Chinese flavours get dialled up, refined and thrown into a whole new gear, but without losing their punch. It’s a whole new identity and has been an important part of the culinary landscape in Melbourne. The entrance? Through a laneway, of course. Because all great Melbourne dining experiences start with a moment of “Wait… am I in the right place?” Step inside and it’s moody and humming with energy. The tea-smoke...
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Phone: (03) 9125 1777
Address: 22 Punch Lane, Melbourne
There are wine bars, and then there’s CIRCL, a place that pushes the boundaries and celebrates the full arc of a sommelier’s devotion. Tucked on Punch Lane, just near Sunda, CIRCL is a project shaped, curated and fully realised by Xavier Vigier, whose depth of experience shows in every page of the list. After more than a decade in the game, during which he won multiple national awards for his work at Ten Minutes by Tractor, including at Star Wine List of the Year, he’s now poured all of that knowledge, and all of that love, into this space. One hundred wines by the glass. Yes, you read that...
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Phone: +61 (03) 9973 2061
Address: 31 Stephenson Street, Cremorne
Lilac’s Wine Bar philosophy is a deliberate focus on smaller producers deeply engaged in the vineyard embodying a hands-on approach that allows the site and soil to speak through the wine. A distinctive feature lies in showcasing classic examples of grape varieties and regions side by side with less conventional counterparts from the same grape and location – a harmonious blend of the classic and the modern. I love this approach and I have myself previously written some lists highlighting comparative tastings because it gives perspective and allows a deeper understanding of the world of wine....
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Phone: (03) 9347 0292
Address: 165 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Bar Olo is the younger, slightly looser sibling of Scopri (an institution in Carlton). It’s got all the charm and warmth of an old-school Italian enoteca, with a slick Melbourne edge. Think dim lighting, parquet floors, and a little bar buzzing with the sound of well-poured wine and animated conversation. Now, let’s talk about the real reason you come here: Barolo. This place boasts over 120 different bottlings of the stuff. That’s right, they’re not just flirting with Piedmont; they’ve put a ring on it. But don’t worry if you’re not ready for a deep dive into Nebbiolo as there’s plenty more...
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Phone: (03) 9600 4550
Address: 46 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Kirk’s Wine Bar has that European pavement café charm, where the wine is always flowing, the food is just what you need, and there’s no such thing as staying for just one. Sitting on the corner of Hardware Lane, it’s Melbourne meets Paris meets that little bistro in Rome you still think about. Mornings start with strong coffee and a pastry, afternoons slide into long lunches and crisp white wines, and by night, it’s buzzing with people drinking something delicious and looking like they’ve made the right life choices. The wine list is sharp, with a mix of classic, natural, and everything in b...
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Phone: 0432 365 869
Address: 92 Smith Street, Collingwood
Owned by chef Peter Gunn, IDES isn’t intended as the kind of place you just stumble into, but one that you book on purpose because you want to be challenged and surprised. It’s fine dining in a dimly lit space, where the focus is on what’s on the plate and what’s in the glass. The wine program aims to complement rather than complicate the overall experience, with pairings very popular for added insight from staff members; they might even have unusual bottles open for a cheeky extra pour. The wine list is organised by style, focusing on classic wines and artisan producers employing ethical vit...
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Address: 9 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Le Splendide is the more seductive sibling to France-Soir, not trying to recreate the full-throttle Parisian bistro experience but offering something far more intimate. You don’t go to Splendide to be seen on social media. You go to disappear for a while, and be present. Jean-Paul Prunetti started France-Soir in 1986, and his vision hasn’t slowed for a moment. Le Splendide feels like a dream he’s been perfecting for decades; something elegant, cinematic, a little mysterious. There’s burlesque in the mood, velvet in the shadows and a delicious sense that, once you’re in, the outside world doesn...
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Phone: (03) 9416 0666
Address: 359 Napier Street, Fitzroy
If Napier Quarter were a person, it’d be that impossibly cool friend who always knows the best wines, makes effortlessly good food, and somehow pulls off vintage linen shirts without looking like they’ve just emerged from a pile of laundry. Nestled in the backstreets of Fitzroy, this tiny, sun-dappled, European-style wine bar and café is proof that less is more. The wine list is thoughtful, restrained, and perfectly in tune with the place. Expect a small but mighty selection of lo-fi, food-friendly wines; a love letter to France and Italy but with plenty of local gems in the mix. For what it’...
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Phone: (03) 9191 7990
Address: 555 Nicholson Street, Carlton North
You walk into a place like Brico and you know it's been built by people who live wine. Not in the showy, flexy way, but in that deeply thoughtful, boots-in-the-vineyard, hands-on-the-glass kind of way. Tucked into a quiet stretch of Nicholson Street, it’s part neighbourhood hangout, part industry haunt, part tiny portal into the minds of two people who really give a damn. The owners cut their teeth at Melbourne's Bar Liberty and London's P. Franco, and it shows, in the confidence of the selections, the clarity of purpose, and the deep respect for wines that come from healthy soil, honest farm...
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Phone: 0419 399 220
Address: 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Cathedral Coffee might not sound like a place where you’d drink a bottle of Jura with lunch, but that’s exactly why I love it. It’s unexpected, understated, and quietly brilliant. Tucked inside an arcade off Swanston Street, it’s one of those spots you don’t stumble across. You’re either led there by someone in the know, or you spot a few chairs scattered along the corridor and feel just curious enough to peek in. And that curiosity pays off. By day, it’s a proper café, open at 7.30AM, pulling espresso shots, serving food, catching the rhythm of the city. But three nights a week, it stretche...
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Phone: (03) 9421 2645
Address: 193 Swan Street, Richmond
If you know Lyndon Kubis, you already know the vibe: effortless cool, genuine hospitality, and a wine list that offers one of the most diverse collections of lesser-known, smaller, artisan producers, with a reassuring number of familiar wines as well. He’s the same mind behind Toorak Cellars, The Moon, The Alps, and the importing portfolio Foreign Fruits, who's been curating the Melbourne wine scene quietly and confidently for years, and Clover is the culmination of all that experience. It’s elegant, yes, but unpretentious to its core. No posturing, no fluff, just a space where great wine an...
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Address: 295 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Bar Magnolia doesn’t open every night, which means its only three days a week (Thursday to Saturday) are busy, joyful, with the room full of people who have been waiting to come in. This small, serious wine bar sits quietly just off the start of Sydney Road, like it’s been there longer than it has. Inside, it’s soft light on brick, bentwood chairs, stained glass catching just enough of the day, and a room that invites conversation. Things here are done properly, but never too fussily. The wine list is tightly curated, sharp in its focus. There’s structure and acid, a bit of funk when called f...
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Phone: 0434 491 699
Address: 153 Weston Street, Brunswick
There's something that happens when you walk into Waxflower: your step slows, your shoulders drop, and before you’ve even looked at a menu, you’re already vibing. It’s more than a wine bar. It’s a listening room, a groove den, a bar that runs on rhythm as much as it does on Riesling. There’s always someone at the decks, flipping vinyl, warming the space with funk, soul, jazz, or some left-field groove that makes what's in your glass taste even better. The vinyl collection is serious, and the sound system isn’t there for show. The atmosphere is palpable. Not overpowering, but present. Music is...
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Address: 116 Rokeby Street, Collingwood
116 Rokeby is the brick-and-mortar extension of The Local Drop, the personalised wine service co-founded by Jagdev “Jag” Singh, now taking shape in the industrial edges of the backstreets of Collingwood. After years of building a loyal following through thoughtful subscriptions, private tastings, and access to cult allocations, Jay has opened the doors to a space that brings it all together with confidence and clarity of purpose. This is part retail shop, part bar, but most importantly, it’s a venue anchored in relationships; between importer and grower, sommelier and collector, bottle and dr...
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Phone: (03) 9939 8113
Address: 268 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Aru is a must-visit in Melbourne if you enjoy bold flavours and food cooked on open flames. It has a very smart international wine list to accompany the intriguing dishes and unconventional combination of ingredients. With a South East Asian penchant, every dish is tweaked with flair, and their vegetables are lifted with so much flavour you could just eat that and be content. There is a great selection of aromatic wines to match the flavours, with classics from Europe, Italy, France, and a strong Australian representation.
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Phone: +61 (03) 9822 0144
Address: 1121 High Street, Armadale
Owner and Chef Clinton’s food is inspired by fine Australian ingredients, which he cooks with various culinary techniques from around the world to produce intriguing and flavorful dishes. My birthday lunch experience there lasted four hours, and we enjoyed eight courses with a bottle of white Burgundy that opened up well across the time. We ended up with two glasses of Victorian Shiraz from a top producer from their usual pairing menu for the red meat. They serve so many snacks, to begin with, you almost leave thinking you had fifteen courses, not because you are stuffed, but because you hav...
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Phone: +61 (03) 9078 8381
Address: 181 Bank Street, South Melbourne
A sibling business to Prince Wine Store, one of the most established wine shops in Melbourne, Bellota is especially known for being able to bring in wines from the shop with a small corkage fee. Ruling the southside of Melbourne with its extensive collection, there are gems to be found at every corner, and along with being a registered wine educator and provider of WSET courses, the place is buzzing with people passionate about bringing to the fore access and demystification of the wine world to its community. A menu that is tantalisingly good and always on point with wines picked from both th...
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Phone: (03) 9415 9025
Address: 234 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
Effortlessly cool and very much a place that brought nostalgia to me whenever I wasn’t living in Melbourne, Bar Liberty is the inspirational Fitzroy place for wine and good food. I can say that because I lived in Fitzroy for many years. It has to be one of my favourite places to visit when in town, perfect for gorging on the vibe of the natural wine bar scene. It has one of the most exciting wine lists around, combining many of the more revolutionary producers but also an equally impressive selection of cocktails. You will not be let down by the food either. All is sumptuous with a warm cosy...
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Phone: (03) 9654 6657
Address: 159 Spring Street, Melbourne
Just on the edge of the city, where the city ends and the hip northern suburbs begin, you will find City Wine Shop on the ground floor of a three-storey Victorian-era building. This institution operates both as a retail and on-premise wine shop with an ever-evolving wine wall. The wine list reflects the wine wall, so you have the choice to pick from the wall or the list. With a mostly classic selection, you can enjoy by-the-glass things like a Saumur, a fine Pinot from a top New Zealand producer or something delicious from the Adelaide Hills. This place is an institution as I think it has pl...
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Phone: +61 (03) 9650 3155
Address: Basement/141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Coda is now part of the institutions of Melbourne. I recall going there for dinner and drinks when I first discovered the greatness of the Melbourne hospitality scene around 2009. Set in an underground trendy industrial chic space, Coda offers a clever combination of Vietnamese with a French influence, celebrating great Australian produce. The wine list has quite a big selection of half bottles, which I guess is to compliment the share plates, in the spirit of sharing different wines with different flavors. The list leans on French wines, with some of the more obscure local wines encouraging...
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Phone: +61 (03) 9277 9777
Address: 33 Russell Street, Melbourne
Gimlet at Cavendish House is perfectly located for what it offers. A busy venue in a busy part of the Melbourne CBD, it is all-day dining, all-hour cocktail with an attractive wine list that complements their European-inspired dishes using ethically sourced Australian produce made with contemporary techniques. Gimlet is a Chicago-style space located on the ground floor of a heritage building. As soon as you walk in, there is an immediate need to go to the bar for a cocktail, as the name itself tickles this wish. Peruse the menu and winelist whilst enjoying said Gimlet or a glass of Champagne,...
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Phone: +61 3 9419 6262
Address: 53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Best Short List Award Australia 2021
One of the venues of Chef Andrew McConnell’s empire proudly boasting several reputable outlets including multi-awarded Gimlet, Marion was the fourth shingle to join the squadron in 2015, after seven years in the making. Sharing its wine cellar with McConnell’s neighbouring business Cutler&Co, a staple in the fine dining landscape of Melbourne, it has since become an all-time favourite watering hole in Fitzroy. Located on the idyllic Gertrude Street and open every day from 12 till 10pm, it is both a refuge for the thirsty shopper looking for a respite and for anyone who loves lunching with a gr...
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Phone: +61 (03) 9486 8306
Address: 1 Reid Street, Fitzroy North
Simon Denman & Almay Jordaan unveiled this wine sanctuary in Fitzroy North in 2013 boasting a collection of 1200 bottles and 20 odd wines by the glass. Once you walk up the unassuming stairs off the street, you are greeted by a moody dimly lit room dominated by antique wood finishes and warm coloured surfaces. The space feels homely and offers an ideal setting to perch at the bar, where one can relish the tunes of jazz and blues records from the 70s. The food is unpretentious, celebrating classic Australian seasonal fare with a focus on traditional cooking and simplicity. Pick a wine by the...
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Phone: 0498 562 323
Address: 179 Saint Georges Road, Fitzroy North
I am so glad I discovered this gem. One of my older colleagues from City Wine Shop, who went on to open his own wine distributing company, has now opened a place to let you enjoy, in refreshing conviviality, amazing food with an obvious selection from his portfolio along with other wines from friends who also import natural wines. This is a place of connection. The stories are always intertwining. The record is always on with groovy tunes inviting you to a tiny ground-floor shop at the front of the tram line with wines to pick from the shelf. This is a place that I am proud to call my local.
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Phone: +61 (03) 8618 8900
Address: 80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Society is probably the place to be seen in Melbourne when you are dressed up, in the mood for a lush soiree where you know you will start with a prohibition-inspired cocktail in The Lounge, have plenty of fine wine in the Dining Room, and finish with Negronis on the terrace. With a collection of more than 10,000 bottles, you will find just about anything to satisfy the wine enthusiast to the wine expert. Guided by a strong team of sommeliers, you can feel as soon as you walk in, the culture of wine and the art of fine and luxurious hospitality. Off the busy and glamorous street of the Collin...
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Phone: (03) 9191 7720
Address: 66-68 High Street, Northcote
What strikes me more than an extensive wine list is a small concise list, with a selection so terrific that I’d pick pretty much any of the wines listed. Strategically placed on High Street, a busy street in Northcote in the northside of Melbourne, VEX, founded in November 2020, is a small neighbourhood restaurant with an ever-changing menu consisting of ethically sourced and seasonal ingredients influenced by what the farmers bring in every week. The owners are both hospitality veterans. Chef Florian Ribul was on the pans at Little Andora and Neighbourhood Wine, and Owen Probert worked seve...
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Phone: +61 (03) 9804 5468
Address: 142-144 Greville Street, Prahran
Entrecôte is a French brasserie serving amazing steak frites. The place can feel both sophisticated and more relaxed at the same time, welcoming guests who want to finish a business meeting with a creme brûlée, couples who want to celebrate their anniversary, dates, or larger group bookings and events. It is a busy venue with a timeless spirit - the thoughtful arduous work of a passionate owner and wine lover. You should enjoy bumps of caviar with Champagne as an arrival shot. As would be expected, the wine list is mainly French. French classics with a good representation of Australian wines...
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Phone: +61 3 9866 8569
Address: 11 Toorak Road, South Yarra
France-Soir is an institution. I brought my french speaking parents here many years ago when they were visiting from Mauritius. My brother was looking for a nice piece of rib-eye, and I wanted to drink French, so everyone else had to follow. This is the authentic Parisian corner of Melbourne. Always busy and noisy, the waiters seem to all be French-speaking, rushing with gusto amongst the small spaces in between tables, delivering steak frites, canard a l’orange, and pouring wine from a very comprehensive wine list of more than 1500 references. This is proud old-fashioned busy white table clo...
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Phone: +61 455 122 121
Address: 122 Russell Street, Melbourne
International Best Short List of the Year, presented by DAOU 2023
Embla truly embodies the essence of Melbourne wine bars. This small intimate wine bar takes bookings, but most of the time, this is a place kept for walk-ins. This reflects the true spirit of walking by and deciding, on a whim, to drink a good bottle by yourself at the bar and engage with the staff or walk in with your mate for a lunch of thoughtful and satisfying snacks. Because of the nature of the bar, with its walk-in culture, they don't have a huge wine list but instead a selection of wines by the glass at the back of the food menu. The wines aren't listed like the classic Pinot Grigio...
