Drawing up a list of the best wine bars in Sydney is not easy.
From ambient and intimate venues in Potts Point and Freshwater to chic and sophisticated hot spots around the laneways of the CBD and the harbour, the Emerald City is blessed with many choices.
Between them, they offer thoughtfully chosen wine lists from Australia and around the world, the freshest produce they can source and sleek design spaces in which to enjoy your time.
Whether you are heading there for date night, catching up with friends or enjoying a quick drink after work with your colleagues here are 14 of the best Sydney wine bars to go to.
Head to any of these places and you’ll no doubt have a wonderful time.
1. Black Bottle
Situated in Darlinghurst, Black Bottle is a relaxed and intimate venue that dishes out exceptional Mediterranean inspired share plates.
Replete with ambient lighting and lots of aesthetically pleasing greenery, the venue prides itself on the quality of its service. It is also known for its delicious take on oysters, as well as its inventive range of craft cocktails.
Sourced from all around the world, their wine list is surprisingly affordable as far as Sydney prices are concerned.
Address: Shop 2/118-116 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 7901 4114
Hours: Wed – Sat 5 pm – 12 am, Sun 4 pm – 10 pm
2. Ash St. Cellar
For many Sydneysiders, the only wine bar to go to in the Sydney CBD is Ash St. Cellar.
Set within the Ivy Precinct, just off Angel Place, the inviting venue boasts wooden, Parisian-style decor that instantly puts guests in a relaxed frame of mind.
Celebrated for its incredible tapas, excellent share plates and contemporary European cuisine, arguably its main drawcard is its wine list.
Personally put together by the highly acclaimed Frank Moreau – the award-winning sommelier from Merivale – the menu features an outstanding selection of labels. Most of them hail from the Mediterranean, including a Syrah from France’s Northern Rhone Valley and a delightful Malagoussia from Greece.
For the most parochial of wine drinkers, there are some Aussie brands thrown in there too. Best of all, prices vary. So they can accommodate most budgets.
Located in: Ivy Precinct
Address: 1 Ash Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9114 7302
Hours: Mon – Fri 7:30 am – 12 am
3. Wyno Bar and Shop
Formerly known as the less-than-charming Wyno Bar and Shop, WyNo X Bodega has reinvented itself in recent times.
Now set within a vibrant, colourful space, it offers innovative Latin American-style tapas which derive from its bustling open kitchen.
To complement the food it also offers a terrific selection of imported international and local wines that make up one of the best vino menus in Surry Hills. The music selection is killer too.
Address: 4/50 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9212 7766
Hours: Tue – Fri 4:30 – 11 pm, Sat 4:30 pm – 12 am
4. The Wine Library
If you consider yourself an oenophile, the Wine Library in Woollahra is the place for you.
Definitely one for the aficionados, this cosy venue is a place where you can learn, indulge in and experiment with various wines until your heart is content.
Featuring exposed brick walls, the atmosphere in this upscale setting is very refined. You will find it at the top end of Oxford Street and once there you are sure to be impressed by its exceptional list of handpicked wines and delicious share plates.
If you want to impress someone on a first date, this is a very good wine bar in Sydney to visit.
Address: 18 Oxford St, Woollahra NSW 2025
Phone: (02) 9368 7484
Trading hours: Tue – Thur 5 – 11:45 pm, Fri – Sat 2 – 11:45 pm
5. Monopole
If you are a true lover of wine then you may well have visited Monopole already. If you haven’t then you should definitely add it to your bucketlist.
Featuring an extensive list of more than 500 labels, their wine list takes you on a journey around some of Europe’s most celebrated regions.
Providing you with the chance to enjoy and compare the flavour profiles of these different drops, a good selection of them are boutique or rare brands.
Although a bistro by day, the CBD venue is better known as a wine bar. Indeed it has previously been awarded the title of ‘Wine list of the Year’ in 2017 by SMH Good Food Guide. It also was awarded two hats both in 2018 and 2019.
Outstanding service, a wonderful menu of gourmet, artisanal cheese and sophisticated design round out the offering here.
Address: 16-20 Curtin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8080 9144
Hours: Tue & Sat 5 – 11 pm, Wed – Fri 12 am – 11 pm
6. Where’s Nick
Rightly or wrongly wine bars often get a bit of stick for being a bit pretentious. However, one destination that bucks this trend is the fabulously named ‘Where’s Nick’.
Tucked away in Marrickville, this funky restaurant and wine bar champions an excellent selection of drops.
These come from Adelaide, Chile, France and New Zealand, as well as several other regions around the world. Between them, they possess flavours that derive from fruits like fresh cherries and spicy oranges.
The establishment is run by its Julian Abouzeid, who for five years held the position of wine buyer at Oak Barrel. He is partnered by his brother Dominic, who assists with the daily management of the operation.
In case you are wondering who Nick is? He is the third brother. You’ll have to pop into their venue on Marrickville Road to find out.
Address: 236 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: 0481 759 182
Trading hours: Tue – Wed 4 – 10 pm, Thur 4 – 11 pm, Fri 4 – 11:30 pm, Sat 12 – 11:30 pm, Sun 12-10 pm
7. The Dolphin Hotel Wine Room
Well known for its courtyard and bistro, The Dolphin Hotel is an iconic destination in Surry Hills. However, it also has a Wine Room which not so many people seem to know about.
An intimate side bar, it presents a distinguished selection of wines sourced from all over Australia and the world. Designed to match all palates you can enjoy them with a sumptuous selection of cured meats and gourmet cheeses.
Unlike other, more lively parts of the hotel, the Wine Room has a distinctly refined air to it.
Address: 412 Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9331 4800
Hours: Monday 11:30 am – 11:45 pm
8. Ragazzi Wine and Pasta
For Italians, wine and pasta is a match made in heaven.
There are several venues in Sydney that champion this combination, but few can compare with Ragazzi Wine and Pasta for the excellence of their offerings.
Situated on Angel Place, within the CBD, they are backed by a wine list of 300 bottles. The majority of which is imported from Italy, or Australian-made from Italian grapes. Focusing on minimal intervention, their wines change every day to keep repeat customers coming back for more.
Featuring modern Italian-inspired decor, they also dish up pasta every bit as good as something you would find in Rome, Florence, Venice or Palermo.
Address: 1 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8964 3062
Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30 am – 12 am, Sat 12 pm – 12 am, Sun 12 – 6 pm
9. Dear Sainte Éloise
Over in Potts Point, Dear Sainte Éloise is a charming wine restaurant on Orwell Street.
Drawing inspiration from its location it takes its name from the reference to Sainte Eloise in George Orwell’s famous memoir Down and Out in Paris and London. The part where he prays for enough francs to be able to purchase a bottle of wine and some bread.
Offering over 400 labels, it is unclear whether Orwell would have been able to afford any of the bottles available at this charming wine bar. However, he would surely have been impressed by the quality of its range and the fact the descriptions accompanying them make it much easier to navigate than it would otherwise appear.
Accommodating only 40 seats the venue is quite intimate, so it is an ideal spot for a date or small celebration. The food menu, whilst consistently excellent, changes every couple of days depending on what seasonal produce is available.
Address: 5/29 Orwell Street, Potts Point NSW 2011
Phone: (02) 9326 9745
Hours: Mon – Thu 5 pm – 12 am, Fri – Sat 12 pm – 12 am, Sun 12 pm – 10 pm
10. Baretto
In Italian, Baretto translates to ‘small bar’, which is an apt description of the establishment of the same name at Freshwater Beach.
Nestled on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, its robust wine list has a strong focus on the region of Sardinia. Available by the glass, you can enjoy a drop, along with their delectable menu of Italian bar food, whilst taking in the wonderful views of the water.
Suppose you aren’t into wine, or just fancy a change. In that case, they also present a selection of classic cocktails, including their signature Pilu Negroni, as well as spritzes and beers that hail from Sardinia and Australia.
Address: Moore Rd, Freshwater NSW 2096
Phone: (02) 9938 3331
Hours: Fri – Sun 5 – 9 pm
11. 10 William St
Boasting a wine list that changes on a monthly basis, 10 William St strives to always provide their
customers with the season’s most exceptional drops.
Set across two levels in Paddington, this cosy bistro purveys upscale Italian cuisine and a considerable wine list of labels that are sourced from all over Europe.
Featuring the top vino from all around the globe options range from intriguing Japanese digestivos to sensational reds born from France’s Loire Valley. For its sheer variety, 10 William St is a real favourite among wine lovers in Sydney.
Address: 10 William Street, Paddington NSW 2021
Phone: (02) 9360 3310
Hours: Wed – Thur 5 pm – 12 am, Fri – Sat 12 pm – 12 am
12. De Vine
Enjoying a convenient location on Market Street within the Sydney CBD, the De Vine Food and Wine Restaurant offers one of the most memorable wine experiences in Sydney.
Established in 2003, it offers more than 400 wines overall. Most of which come from European stock. Supporting them is a fantastic selection of tapas and classic Italian meals that feature fresh, handmade pasta and delicious sauces.
If you are looking to impress a date or celebrate a birthday in style, this is as good a place as any in Sydney to go to.
Address: 32 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9262 6906
Hours: Tues – Fri 12 – 11 pm, Sat 5 pm – 11 pm
13. Love, Tilly Devine
An institution in Darlinghurst, Love, Tilly Devine is a wine bar rich in character.
Named after a former female brothel owner, who was believed to be a general badass, you won’t find any ladies of the night in this sophisticated venue. But what you will find is over 300 different wines sourced from the four corners of the planet.
All of these wines honour the soil the grapes were cultivated from and the herby or fruity flavours they embody.
The venue itself is cool and funky and boasts a lovely selection of Italian nibbles. In time honour tradition it is the kind of place where a good time is guaranteed – but not necessarily in the way Tilly’s business might have offered it.
Address: 91 Crown Ln, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9326 9297
Hours: Mon – Sat 5 pm – 12 am
14. Bentley Restaurant + Bar
Last, but by no means least, on this list is Bentley Restaurant + Bar.
If you ever find yourself longing for a delicious share plate of gourmet cheese, meats and accoutrements along with a delightful glass of red by a warming fireplace, then this place is for you.
Situated on O’Connell Street, this venue offers that in spades and more. It is also backed by a team of some of the city’s best chefs and sommeliers. Whose collective expertise makes this one of the best wine bars in Sydney to visit for a night out.
Address: 27 O’Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8214 0505
Hours: Wed – Thur & Sat 6 pm – 10 pm, Fri 12 – 3 & 6 – 10 pm