So, what makes a wine bar actually good? Is it the waiters who can drop knowledge on Semillon vs Sauvignon like it’s NBD? The wine list of course plays a part. We want to see some international drops, not just Barossa shirazes, take me to Macedonia or the Napa Valley. Vibe is key too—think moody lighting, comfy leather couches, and a sommelier who can make you feel like a wine expert after five minutes.
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But where the heck can you find the best wine bars in Melbourne? Right here. We've got your ultimate guide to the city’s top spots for vino.
Circl Wine House
22 Punch Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Circl Wine House | Supplied
Circl Wine House has been a much-anticipated opening for Melbourne oenophiles and with its 1500-strong bottle offering, it might be a contender for the city's best wine bar.
A lot of the bottles will be available by the glass, opening the wine menu up for tipplers. The menu, think modern Australian with a Swedish twist for the menu, set in very European decor.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Yes the wine list is long, but don't be intimidated, it’s been built to be accessible.
- This is one of Melbourne’s newest, wine-focused openings, expect it to be busy.
- Circl Wine House is a fine diner as well, dress accordingly.
Gracie’s Wine Room
27 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Image: Gracie's Wine Room | Claudia Goundar
From DIY reno to pouring the first glass, attracted a cult following on TikTok as founder Kelsie Gaffey documented her journey from marketing professional to wine bar owner.
When doors were opened, Gracie’s had patrons flocking to Toorak Road from all corners of Melbourne and it’s no question why. With wine-stacked shelves, an impressive record collection and nostalgic nods to Kelsie’s late grandmother, this place is worth the hype.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Expect a packed house—there’s seating in the front bar, lush courtyard, and group tables but Gracie’s 140 seats fill fast.
- Orange wines are a fan favorite, while Kelsie’s go-to is Fin’s chilled red.
- The share-style menu is tight but top-tier (think lobster rolls and hot honey-stracciatella).
Bar Liberty
FITZROY
Image credit: Bar Liberty | Supplied
Bar Liberty’s vandalised hanging sign tells you all you need to know about this irreverent diner and wine bar on Johnston Street.
Helmed by a team whose collective experience includes , Rockwell & Sons, and Attica, this Fitzroy local has it finely dialled across both the booze and food menu.
INSIDER INTEL:
- The menu is seasonal but expect bites like wood-grilled hanger steak and torched kingfish.
- The wine list is carefully curated but if you're after what's on trend there's lots of natty bottles.
- Also don't miss their in-house bottled Negronis.
Don's Wine Bar
202 Commercial Road, Prahran
Don’s in Prahran isn’t your typical Melbourne wine bar. Tucked away just across from Prahran Market, it offers a warm, unpretentious atmosphere that feels more like a friend’s place than a fancy establishment.
Don’s offers a frequently changing selection of natural wines, focusing more on pet nats and chilled reds rather than an overwhelming cellar list.
INSIDER INTEL:
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You won’t find heavy meals, but small plates designed to pair beautifully with the wines
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It’s always packed here, especially when the sun is out and there’s no bookings.
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Look out for the older bloke drinking a VB, he’s a hero.
Wally’s Albert Park
67 Cardigan Place, Albert Park
Image credit: Wally's | Pete Dillon
Situated on a serene corner along Cardigan Place is Albert Park’s neighbourhood wine bar, Wally’s.
The (relatively) new spot is headed up by head chef Damon Mclvor (Waxflower and ) so you know it's good. Menu-wise we're looking at European-inspired cuisine expertly matched.
INSIDER INTEL
- Wally's is now open Tuesday to Sunday.
- While we're calling it a wine bar, please don't only go to drink, eat as well.
- If you're in Albert Park, make it a crawl and hit up Village Wine Bar.
Lilac Wine
31 Stephenson Street, Cremorne
Image credit: Lilac Wine | Supplied
Tucked away in Cremorne’s backstreets, Lilac is your new go-to for killer vino and wood-fired bites.
From the crew behind Hazel and La Cantina, this spot pairs 150+ wines with chef Kyle Nicol’s creative dishes—think chicken mousse éclairs and house-cured charcuterie. Named after Jeff Buckley’s “Lilac Wine,” it’s the perfect place to sip, savor, and soak in Melbourne’s best.
INSIDER INTEL:
- The same crew run Dessous, Molli and Hazel, all of which are must-visits.
- There's a lot of fun, funky fermented and foraged bits on the menu, making for a unique experience.
- While you're in the 'hood you're not far from Tarts Anon, a must-do for lunch-dessert.
Waxflower
153 Weston Street, Brunswick
Image credit: Waxflower | Annika Kafcaloudis
Waxflower has become a bit of an icon in its own right. What's not to like, vinyls and an extensive wine list, most of it local.
It draws inspo from European's all day wine / coffee bars, start with a glass mid-afternoon, then dip into the share plates and pair with a bottle after a few hours.
It’s a lengthy, social affair, and one that puts emphasis on the quality of the produce—whether that be food or bev.
INSIDER INTEL:
- It's a crowd fave for a reason, drink the Shobbrook's Poolside.
- There's a lot of minimal intervention stuff on the menu, prepare the palette.
- The menu rotates often and plates range from small to communal.
The Moon
28A Stanley Street, Collingwood
Image credit: The Moon | Website
is a Collingwood mainstay for those after a decent drop without the pretension.
It comes from the team behind The Alps, Toorak Cellars, The Hills and Milton Wine Shop, so it's safe to say they know a thing or two about what's in your glass, or in the bottle.
INSIDER INTEL:
- You'll see this crew feature a few times in this list, because they're great at what they do.
- The wine menu is lengthy: there's around 400 to choose from—European and Australian—as well as at least 20 by the glass.
- When you're ordering your Uber make sure you put in The Moon, Stanley Street, not Moon Cruller, Fitzroy (it definitely hasn't happened to us).
Neighbourhood Wine
FITZROY NORTH
Image credit: Neighbourhood Wine | Supplied
Neighbourhood Wine is one of our favourite wine bars and restaurants in Fitzroy North, and without a doubt one of Melbourne's best wine bars—it combines great local wines and a fantastic seasonal menu in one of the quaintest spaces in Melbourne.
The former Fitzroy club room has been transformed into a sleek space with plenty of charm with a set menu that focuses on local produce and accommodates the wine perfectly.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Don't just drink, eat. Expect a fusion of contemporary plates from hand-made tagliatelle with artichoke and ricotta salata, to flank steak with XO butter.
- Neighbourhood Wine is tres populaire with the locals, make sure you book a table or Saturday lunch is usually chill.
- Make it a crawl and hit up Underwood Wine Bar or Public Wine Shop around the corner for a take-away bottle en route home.
Clover
193 Swan Street, Richmond
Image credit: Clover | Ben Moynihan
Perched on a sleepier stretch of Swan Street which chef (The Moon, Etta, Embla) has affectionally dubbed 'the Paris end', is a neighbourhood-friendly 48-seat wine bar and diner.
Led by Charley and wine bar-virtuoso Lyndon Kubis (The Moon, Toorak Cellars, Milton Wine Shop), together the pair have carved out their very own take on the French wine den.
INSIDER INTEL:
- On the wine front, the majority of the list is a collection of Australian, French and Italian drops.
- The team is there to lead you through the steps, whether that be a full pairing or just a couple of bottles.
- For goodness sakes, eat here as well as drink, look at those restaurant creds.
Bahama Gold
135 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Image credit: Bahama Gold | Supplied
All vibe. No fuss. Bahama Gold is found at the Brunswick end of Lygon Street, emanating a buzzing glow from the neon red lights cladding the interior.
The casual counterpart to the neighbouring Old Palm Liquor, you'll find plenty of lo-fi wines on the list—both by the glass and bottle—ranging from a very modest $10 for a splash right through to treat-yourself-territory.
There's also a sprawling courtyard out the back for those balmy, boozy afternoons on the plonk.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Bahama Gold is a local haunt, don't be put off by the rowdy crowd out the front, it's very chill out back.
- You can get recession-proof takeaway too! There's three funky, natty in house options by the *litre* that you can get refilled in store for just $22. .
- The wine list is lengthy, but the staff are knowledgeable, just ask to get a bottle to suit you.
Marion
53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Image credit: Marion | Supplied
Marion on Gertrude Street is basically a Fitzroy legend.
Owned by the hospitality kingpin Andrew McConnell (Cutler & Co.), it’s his chill, younger bro with a killer wine list and menu.
Think low-key luxe vibes, clinking glasses, and sizzling kitchen action. Their share plates are next level – garlic flounder, raw tuna, and mussel, nduja, and fried bread are just the start. But let’s be real, the wine list is the MVP.
We’re talking 20+ pages of liquid gold. Part neighbourhood wine bar, part fine diner, and certainly a contender for the title of Melbourne's best wine bar, Marion is all the things that we’ve come to love from Andrew McConnell’s stable and long considered one fo the best restaurants in Melbourne.
INSIDER INTEL:
- You can't beat the chef's menu at $85 a head if you need to nibble.
- Sitting outside when the magnolias bloom (late winter through spring) for a lunch is a true pleasure.
- For afters, there's records and sake spinning next door at Tamura Sake Bar.
Patsy's Wine Room
213 Franklin Street, Melbourne
Patsy’s Wine Room celebrates the beautiful bounty of the Mediterranean through an incredible meat-free menu and a carefully curated wine list.
Think vibrant salads, inventive veggie dishes bursting with flavour, and house-made pastas that’ll leave you wanting more.
Patsy’s wine list champions varietals from all corners of the globe, with a strong focus on natural and sustainable drops.
INSIDER INTEL:
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Their meat free (vegan friendly) menu is sourced from the nearby Queen Victoria Markets, or their own veggie garden, how cool.
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This venue is by the folks that brought us Bistro Elba and Donna Maria if you’re after same same but different.
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The atmosphere here is stunning, soak in the 1920s Art Deco ambiance.
No.100 Flinders Lane
100 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: No. 100 | Supplied
Introducing , a wine bar, delicatessen and restaurants all rolled into one conveniently located little package.
An all-day venue, No. 100 serves up everything from midday nibbles to a chef-selected menu where decision fatigue is a thing of the past. Nighttime turns No. 100 into more of a wine bar, and the drinks menu is appropriately curated.
Of course, they’re not skimping on the wines either, as well as some beers for that choice after-work knock off.
INSIDER INTEL
- This venue is from the Code Black coffee roasters crew.
- Flinders Lane can be busy, if you're ever waiting for a table somewhere, this is the spot to do it.
- We recommend the Laneway Aperitif, a cocnocotion of Fino sherry, dessert wine, tonic and sage.
Hope St Radio
35 Johnston Street, Collingwood
Image credit: Hope St Radio | Supplied
A community radio station that broadcasts some of the finest talents in Melbourne has now found its permanent home in Collingwood Yards, a well-known artists' precinct. Hope St Radio is now a wine bar and restaurant which has people spilling out into the courtyard with how popular it is.
Owners Pete Baxter and Jack Shaw are big fans of what they produce, both true wine aficionados and appreciators. With a big focus on wines made with minimal additives, the 60-plus selections on offer are sure.
INSIDER INTEL:
- The $50ish pet nat by the bottle makes or breaks nights, don't think, just order it.
- While the wine list is incredible, the food menu is hot to trot too running the gamut from snacks to mains.
- While you're in the 'hood, make sure you visit Runner Up, which you can probably see from your perch at Hope St Radio.
The Alps
64 Commercial Road, Prahran
Over 400 wines on offer? ‘Nuff said. The Alps comes from a seriously good vintage: it was started by the guys from Toorak Cellars and Milton Wine Shop, who seem to be making it their mission to have one . You’ll find rare bottles from all over the world, a cracking bar menu with the likes of charcuterie, cheeses and nibbles, all paired to perfection, of course.
INSIDER INTEL:
- There's a stunning courtyard and solid family-style seating inside, be warned out the front can get a little noisy at peak hour.
- Please eat. The snacks here are sensational and we're a big fan of their cacio pepe toasties.
- These guys have a raft of venues, check out and Clover (above).
Gerald’s Bar
386 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
Carlton and wine go together like steak and a good Malbec, and most people agree that if you’re struck with thirst near Rathdowne St, Gerald’s—one of Melbourne's best wine bars—is where you go.
It’s a warm and inviting space, cosy in winter with the wind blowing a Melbourne gale outside, and the locals love it.
INSIDER INTEL:
- There’s a degustation menu and rotating bar snacks, depending what’s in season.
- The wine collection is so extensive it can only be accessed by one of those Beauty and the Beast sliding ladders. For real.
- Cruise down the road to The Carlton Wine Room after if you're in need of another tipple.
City Wine Shop
159 Spring Street, Melbourne CBD
Part bottle-o, part wine bar, all class–City Wine Shop is a CBD vino stalwart and hands down one of the best wine bars Melbourne has to offer.
City Wine Shop is popular with the theatre crowd who drop in for a pre-show tipple, and the staff are always on hand to run you through the extensive wine list.
INSIDER INTEL:
- The chicken schnitzel with a glass of cold riesling is a must. Odd call, but deal with it.
- Go next door after your wine and meal and rifle through all of the bits at Spring Street Grocer, who also do an excellent gelato.
- There's a lot going on inside, when in doubt just ask for help, the staff are very kind and across all their bottles.
Old Palm Liquor
133B Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Image credit: Old Palm Liquor | Willem-Dirk du Toit
Brought to us by the team behind Neighbourhood Wine, Old Palm Liquor is located in a relaxed former warehouse where you’ll come for a wine, stay for a bar snack and eventually never leave.
The oozing 80s aesthetic throughout provides a laid-back atmosphere perfect for knocking back a couple and indulging in their menu of snacks large and small from wood-fired flatbread with labne to smoked beef tartare with garlic scrapes and guindilla peppers.
INSIDER INTEL:
- Eat head chef Almay Jordaan's flatbread. You've been warned. Or advised, whatever.
- OPL as it's affectionately known by locals is in a vibrant area, make sure you take a stroll down Lygon Street (Brunswick East, not Carlton) before you split, there's a tonne of cocktail and wine bars to enjoy.
- The cuisine is South African if you're wondering.
Bellota Wine Bar
181 Bank Street, South Melbourne
South Melbourne Market might be known for its delicious delights, but for vino lovers, there’s a hidden gem just a stone's throw away: Bellota Wine Bar. Bellota's all about creating a relaxed, European-inspired atmosphere where you can indulge in your love of all things grape (and cheese, obvs).
INSIDER INTEL:
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Enjoy your own bottle from Prince Wine Store next door with just a $15 corkage fee.
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Honest food is the thing here, don’t miss the natural oysters, charcuterie or olives, with bigger bites Italian leaning.
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It’s very European here darling, be prepared to relax and spend some time, not advised for quick bites.
Hampton Wine Co
444 Hampton Street, Hampton
The wine bar that put Hampton St back on Melbourne’s foodie map. Started by the team from Jacques Reymond, Hampton Wine Co is a clean-cut, modern venue, which fits its Bayside address to a T.
The wall-mounted wine racks get the mental wheels turning while the waiters walk you through a menu of smoked salmon profiteroles with tomato dust, charred cos, almond and pecorino, or a cheeky lavender meringue with honey and blueberries for dessert.
INSIDER INTEL:
- They’re also a licensed bottle shop, so you can pick up a few ‘souvenirs’ to keep the good times going back home.
- Hampton has a bustling food scene these days with The French Providore next door, Bang Bang, Feast Wine Bar and even Hampton Gate Cellars.
- Catch the train, trust us, it's easier than finding a park. Also peep the local op shops if that's your thing, there's some bargains to be had.