The guide to the 21 best wine bars in Melbourne 2026
European classics or revolutionary Australian producers. In Melbourne you can find it all. Here is the guide to the best wine spots in Melbourne, selected by our ambassador Liinaa Berry.
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![The Local Drop @ 116 Rokeby, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Waxflower, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Magnolia, a wine bar and restaurant in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Clover, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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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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![Brico, a wine bar and restaurant in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Napier Quarter, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Le Splendide, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Kirk's Wine Bar, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Bar Olo, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Lilac Wine, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Bellota Wine Bar, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Bar Liberty, a restaurant and wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![City Wine Shop, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Cardwell Cellars, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
Phone: +61 (03) 7042 1022
Address: 461 Victoria Street, Abbotsford
A small wine shop and bar in Abbotsford that defines itself with a geographic approach and a widespread selection where East meets West. The listings span from classic AOCs and declassified parts of Europe, a thoughtful selection of Australian wines from smaller producers, along with a trajectory of lesser-known bottles from countries like Japan and Lebanon, to name a few. What really puts this wine shop apart is the way they navigate the wine world and present their selection; Cardwell Cellars, awarded a three-glass rating from Wine List of the Year Awards in October 2023, explores wine with...
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![Coda Melbourne, a wine bar and restaurant in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Enoteca Boccaccio, a restaurant and wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
Phone: +61 (03) 9276 0103
Address: level 1/1046 Burke Road, Balwyn
Italian Wine List of the Year International Open 2026
The d’Anna family has been operating the Balwyn store from their rich Italian heritage and enriching Melbourne’s culinary landscape with authentic Italian flair with a modern twist. A project that organically evolved from 60 years of being an Italian wine and food store and grocer whilst operating successful Italian wine distributing company Mondo Imports, Enoteca Boccaccio finally offers an outlet for all the produce and vino to be enjoyed by day and night coupled with a serious offer from the kitchen. An extensive list from both their own Italian imports with verticals of Barolo and the ow...
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![Marion, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
Phone: +61 3 9419 6262
Address: 53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
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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![Neighbourhood Wine, a restaurant and wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Public, a wine bar in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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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![Society, a wine bar and restaurant in Melbourne, Australia.]()
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...
