Where’s Nick

Located in Marrickville, this little wine bar is right at home in Sydney’s inner west. With bric-a-brac furniture, wall murals and a whole lot of quirky personality, brothers Jules and Dom created an offbeat neighbourhood gem of a venue.

Named for the third brother, Nick, who refused to be involved in the project at all and then later popped up for cameo shifts when short of cash, this is a bar that refuses to take itself too seriously.

Set in an old cake shop with concrete floors and living room vibes, this venue nails the brief; wine service with professionalism yet zero pomp and pretence. Though the offering has evolved over recent years, and now caters to guests looking for a full dinner service to accompany that bottle of Burgundy, at its heart it's remained pleasingly casual, accessible and enjoyable. Witness the locals propping up the bar, chatting with the staff over a glass of wine and a cheese board, dogs snoozing at the door.

The wine list is esoteric and unapologetic. No marlborough sauvignon blanc to be found, but a plethora of wines by the glass to dip into should you be nervous about committing to a bottle of something strange and new. If you’re looking for guidance, then it is very much on hand.

There are Belgian beers by the bottle and local craft brews in tins, along with an extensive aperitif offering of vermouth, sherry and spritzes. Where’s Nick does what it does well, and is first and foremost a wine bar, so don’t go asking for raspberry mojitos or espresso martinis.

In the murky world of natural wine bars, this list plays by some firm rules: sustainable viticulture and no additions bar sulphur. Expect some pretty natural looking wines mixed in with the more classic, and take advantage of the very well priced grower champagne and vin jaune collections. Take note: this is a venue that rewards guests who drink well. The rest of the quirky and cult listings are broken up into bizarrely named sections like 'Watermelon' or 'Wines of Virtue'. Anything out of stock might be scribbled out in biro - not pretty, but highly practical, and a technique that some more polished venues in Sydney could employ to their benefit. Much loved by locals and those in the know, this is one of the city’s best lists.

(Bridget Raffal, sommelier at Where's Nick, is also Star Wine List's Sydney ambassador, Editor's note)

Where’s Nick runs monthly masterclasses on different styles, regions and producers