If you like the atmosphere and menu of a wine bar, here’s where to find Sydney’s finest pours.
Keen for a chill vibe and top-notch drops? With the scent of wine in the air, glasses clinking, and flavours that’ll knock your socks off, the buzzing bars on Sydney’s wine scene are fair dinkum about their pours, each offering an unforgettable blend of vibes and bottles that’ll have you saying “strewth!”.
We asked the dining experts at Westpac Concierge to share the wine bars they flock to, and they crafted this curated list of 10 venues. Remember, they’re not just here to share their insider knowledge but also to help you secure bookings and unlock exclusive benefits. If you’re a Westpac cardholder, you may already have access to this service, so check your eligibility today.
In Sydney, there’s a wine bar on every corner
Bar Copains
At Bar Copains, the atmosphere is as convivial as its French name suggests – with ‘copains’ meaning friends. Found in Surry Hills, this cosy joint, born from the friendship of chefs Morgan McGlone and Nathan Sasi, serves up a ripper time with its intimate setting and great pours. With around 20 seats, it’s snug as a bug, but don’t let the size fool ya – it’s big on flavour, heart, and coolness, without any of the fancy-pants stuff.
Whether you’re up for a casual snack or keen to dive into a shared feast, its food menu has you covered with options ranging from oysters and chicken liver parfait to beef tartare and the signature BBQ Westholme Wagyu flank with a bomb Café de Paris butter sauce. And, with (mainly natural) classic and new-wave wines on offer, there’s something to tickle every fancy.
📍 67 Albion Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Dear Sainte Éloise
At Dear Sainte Éloise, the devotion to wine is unmistakable from the moment you walk in. Opened by the team behind the acclaimed Love, Tilly Devine, this Potts Point wine bar is alive with ambience and banter. Picture this: more than 350 bottles from around the globe on display at the copper bar, beckoning you to take your pick.
Whether you’re kicking back at the tables outside or cosying up at the bar, there’s an epic wine list to match your vibe, paired perfectly with mouthwatering sharing plates, such as steak tartare, anchovy brioche, and Thai-inspired kingfish crudo. Let the crew guide you through the bar’s wine bible and share a toast with you to good wine, good mates, and good times.
📍 5/29 Orwell Street, Potts Point, NSW 2011
Poly
At Poly, the wine does the talking. Tucked inside Paramount House Hotel, it brings the heat – literally – with a kitchen helmed by Mat Lindsay of award-winning Ester restaurant fame. But here, the vino is the real hero. Curated by sommelier and co-owner Julien Dromgool, the wine list is a testament to minimal intervention and skin-contact drops, thoughtfully organised under headings such as ‘mid-weight & complex’ and ‘light & juicy’. It’s like having your own personal wine guide to navigate you through the impressive selection.
Unlike its Chippendale cousin, Poly proudly wears the badge of a wine bar first and a restaurant second, so you know every sip will be spot on. And with fabulous dishes cooked on the massive coal-powered grill, the pairing possibilities are endless. So, grab your mates, come for the wine, stay for the flavours, and let the good times roll.
📍 74-76 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
She Loves You
Behind a plain wood-framed door on Newtown’s King Street lies She Loves You. It’s a snug joint with dim lighting, booth seating, and no written menus. Instead, you’ll have to chat to Sophie, the owner and sommelier extraordinaire, who has more than 20 years of wine wisdom under her belt. She’s handpicked a ripper selection from all over, from Georgian orange Tsitska wines to superb French chardonnays.
With only 30 seats, this place is intimate and buzzing. Don’t expect a fancy wine list – just tell the bartenders your vibe, and they’ll sort you out with something bloody good. It’s all about trusting the experts and going with the flow at this wine bar.
📍 530 King Street, Newtown, NSW2042
Where’s Nick
With a focus on minimal intervention and natural wines, Where’s Nick is leading the charge in Marrickville’s wine bar scene, yet it remains a rather under-the-radar spot. Owned by brothers Julian and Dominic Abouzeid and award-winning sommelier Bridget Raffal, it’s anything but an elitist wine bar – it’s all about laid-back vibes and top-notch drops. Whether you’re a wine aficionado or just dipping your toes into the natural wine movement, this place has something for everyone. The atmosphere is as lo-fi as what’s in your glass, making it the perfect spot to kick back and unwind.
Be sure to check out Goblin Wine Shop next door, where you can snag a few bottles to take home and recreate the magic in your own backyard.
📍 236 Marrickville Road, Marrickville, NSW 2204
Coogee Wine Room
Craving a glass after a scorcher at Coogee Beach? Look no further than Coogee Wine Room, the brainchild of locals Tom Hardwick and Michelle Morales. Blending European wine bar charm with Aussie beach life, it boasts a whopping 500-strong wine list. Choosing the right one might seem daunting – but fear not, the friendly staff are here to give you a hand. Head chef Greg Humphry leads the kitchen, dishing up mouthwatering Mediterranean-style grub that’s bursting with flavour and showcases the finest local produce.
Coogee Wine Room is more than just a wine bar – it’s a community hub where locals and visitors alike come together to savour good wine, tucker, and company. Keep an eye out for its regular wine dinners, offering diners a fair dinkum cellar-door experience paired with a delicious four-course menu crafted by chef Humphry.
📍 222 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee, NSW 2034
Monopole
Inspired by the French bistronomy movement and taking cues from the finest modern bistros around the globe, this CBD spot is all about good times and bloody delicious eats. Monopole’s seasonal menu is always evolving, brought to life by chef Brent Savage with contemporary cooking techniques and local savoir-faire. Cue dishes such as Comté custard with sourdough, Abrolhos scallop with green apple, or cured baby snapper with blackberry, pink pepper, and shiso.
But let’s talk wine. Sommelier Nick Hildebrandt’s wine list is a real beaut, boasting more than 500 bottles, including organic and biodynamic options, mostly from France and Australia. From undiscovered local producers to classic estates and edgier cult wines, there’s something here to tickle everyone’s fancy.
📍 20 Curtin Place, Sydney, NSW 2000
La Salut
Get set for a taste of Catalonia in Redfern at La Salut. Inspired by chef Scott McComas-Williams’ scorching summers in Barcelona, the menu packs a punch with Spanish-infused snacks and sharing plates celebrating the freshest Aussie produce cooked a la plancha (on a hot grill) for that authentic taste. Think salmon belly pintxos with salsa verde, tortilla de gambas, and tongue a la plancha with a scrumptious asadillo (roasted red pepper and tomato salad).
And let’s not forget the vino! With more than 200 bottles on offer, La Salut takes you on a journey through Spanish winemaking, from the classics to the up-and-comers, all handpicked for your sipping pleasure. Plus, no true-blue visit to La Salut would be complete without a cheeky glass of vermouth, the beloved Catalan aperitif that’s currently going through a renaissance.
📍 305 Cleveland Street, Redfern, NSW 2016
Paski Vineria Popolare
Slip into Paski Vineria Popolare, where Italian wines flow like a summer breeze. Opened in 2021, it has quickly become a hotspot for culinary cats and vino buffs alike. With new wine bottles added monthly and staff behind the bar to steer you through the 450 bottles from small-scale legends, there’s always a discovery waiting. What’s more, bottles are sorted and ordered by producers instead of style to highlight the winemakers.
Downstairs at the bar, soak up the relaxed vibes while pairing meats, cheeses, and nibbles with your pick from the vino lineup. Upstairs at Paski Sopra, the intimate dining space with a view overlooking Oxford Street, dive into handcrafted pastas and fresh seafood with a side of rare and special wines curated to elevate the experience.
📍 239 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Gildas
Welcome to Gildas, where Sydney’s ambience meets the charm of Europe’s Basque Country. With Lennox Hastie, the legend behind Firedoor (you know, that spot ranked third best steakhouse in the world in 2022), at the helm, it’s no surprise that this wine bar is making waves.
Inspired by the lively pintxos culture of San Sebastian and the timeless allure of Rita Hayworth’s Gilda, this romantic wine bar is all about kicking back with a glass of top-notch sherry or a classic martini, Aussie style. What’s more, chef Zach Elliott-Crenn serves up a storm with dishes such as mussels escabeche with charred cucumber, txistorra tart with piperrada and piquillo peppers, and a Basque cheesecake that’ll knock your socks off!
📍 46-48 Albion Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Keen for more insider tips on where to soak up the Sydney sun with a glass of vino or a cheeky cocktail? Check out our top picks for rooftop bars in town. And if you’re a wine lover who also needs your daily caffeine fix, we have you covered with our list of 20 banging coffee shops. Cheers to good times and great sips!
