Sip in style with Melbourne’s best wine bars
Melbourne, Australia’s favourite hipster city, has long been known for its cafe culture and foodie and bar scene, with a plethora of old school pubs, rooftop bars, trendy corner cafes, gourmet laneway eateries and, of course, epic wine bars.
From the lively institutions of the city to the effortlessly cool bars of the surrounding suburbs, this is our list of the best wine bars in Melbourne.
Gerald’s Bar
https://www.instagram.com/geraldsbarmelbourne/
Don’t let Gerald’s Bar’s local and laid back atmosphere fool you; it is a multi-award-winning wine bar with an Australian Bar of the Year title under its belt. Located in leafy Rathdowne Village in Carlton North, Gerald’s Bar is home to a cellar of over 200 wines and an ever-changing wine list served by the glass.
It is the perfect place to pull up a pew at the bar or bask in the late afternoon sun while sipping on wines from all over the globe. To keep locals on their toes—the food menu, like its wine list, is forever changing, with fresh seasonal produce always a constant feature.
386 Rathdowne St Carlton North, Melbourne
Open Mon-Sun, 5pm – 11pm
Public Wine Shop
https://www.instagram.com/publicwineshop/
Relatively new to the Melbourne wine bar scene, Public Wine Shop has amassed quite the following. Located in trendy Fitzroy North, owners Campbell Burton and Charlotte Ryan first opened their doors in 2020, and what began as a pop-up wine shop has since evolved into one of the top wine bars in Melbourne.
So what sets it apart from other Melbourne wine bars? Well, all of the wines at Public Wine Shop contain organically farmed grapes and nothing else. Not only that, but the bar offers an inviting setting to while away the evening while tasting an array of global wines and snacking on a delicious bar menu of rock oysters, beef carpaccio, ricotta, razor clams, and tuna belly served with fresh bread, lemon and butter.
179 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North, Melbourne 3068
Open Mon-Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-8pm
Bijou Bottle Store
https://www.instagram.com/bijou_bottle_store/
Bijou Bottle Store is another new kid on the block, located in a hole in the wall on Little Collins Street in the heart of the CBD. The man behind this boutique bottle store slash stylish Melbourne wine bar is Ben Luzz, managing director of legendary laneway cocktail bar Gin Palace, so you are guaranteed a good time.
While serving wines to take away or enjoy in this bustling wee bar, Bijou Bottle Store also delivers an impressive menu of cocktails, local and international spirits and tasty bar eats.
194 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Open Mon – Sat 1pm – 1am, Sun 1pm-11pm
Lona Misa
https://www.instagram.com/_lonamisa_/
Bringing more than a little flavour to South Yarra is Lona Misa— a casual Melbourne cafe by day and a lively Latin bar and restaurant experience by night. The wine list will delight wine-lovers with a range of New Zealand sauvignon Blancs, McLaren Vale Grenaches, French Rosés and more.
But that’s not all this South Yarra bar serves up. Think kombucha on tap, classic and Latin-inspired cocktails and a deluxe vegan menu that fuses European bistro fine-dining with exciting Latin flavours.
Ovolo South Yarra, 234 Toorak Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, 3141
Open Mon-Sun, 6:30am – 11pm
Archive Wine Bar
https://www.instagram.com/archivewinebar/
While technically outside the city limits, Archive Wine Bar in Belmont definitely deserves a mention. Whether a casual wine drinker or connoisseur, Archive’s impressive list of 150 wines, served by the glass, aims to please with everything from German Rieslings and French Chablis to Argentinian Malbecs and the finest Australian Shiraz.
Archive Wine Bar’s indoor bar, lined with bottles and panels from wine boxes, creates a cosy setting to sip, while the vast beer garden is perfect for weekend wines in the sun while nibbling on a menu of gourmet share plates and grazing platters.
140 High Street, Belmont, 3216
Open Thurs 3pm-9pm, Fri & Sa 2pm-11pm, Sunday 2pm-7pm
Where to stay in Melbourne?
Looking for the perfect place to stay while exploring the best wine bars in Melbourne? Laneways By Ovolo, located in the heart of Melbourne City and Ovolo South Yarra are the perfect bases to explore the city and surrounding suburbs. Each luxury boutique hotel features spacious rooms and suites with original artworks and a range of perks and luxurious amenities.