Ragazzi

This little wine & pasta bar is nestled into the side of the City Recital Hall at Angel Place in the city centre. A couple of seats along the footpath alert the passerby to its presence, as does the din of happy diners, but otherwise it’s very discrete.

Sleek and modern with concrete walls, dark leather banquettes and brass details, this venue is the perfect spot for quick lunches, long aperitifs, and pre/post theatre dinners. With just 38 seats, including those around the bar at the heart of the space, it’s intimate and buzzy.

From the team behind L​ove Tilly Devine and Dear Sainte Eloise, this little venue brings a sense of neighbourhood to Sydney’s central business district.

Where sister bars Dear Sainte Eloise and Love Tilly Devine focus on the French & Australian respectively, Ragazzi is a loose celebration of the Italian. Within the context of minimal intervention & sustainable viticulture, this 300 strong list shines a light on small Italian producers, and small Australian producers working with Italian varieties.

They’ve not been too strict with the brief here. Champagne and Burgundy have muscled their way in, as has the odd Australian riesling. You won’t find any German examples, but you will find plenty of skin contact Georgians. It’s an interesting list, using Italian regions as a reference point for style, which sees international whites like Muscadet & Australian Savagnin pulled in under Northern Italy, and the richer, more full-bodied whites of Burgundy listed alongside the Falanghinas and Zibbibos of the South.

Frustrating for those looking to find Chardonnays in one place, or even for those who see more similarity between Etna Bianco and Chablis than say, Frappato & Barossa Shiraz, it’s a list that kickstarts a conversation. Fundamentally, it’s a solid collection of natural Italian wines, and while the format takes a bit of navigating, it’s fun and original.