Head to the south side of town to Hampton Wine Co. for dinner in both solid and liquid form — here, the wines are just as important as what you’ll be eating. The menu is made up of sharing plates with an emphasis on meat and seafood.

Lygon Street doesn’t have any shortage of Italian wine bars, but Agostino is certainly notable — if not due to its food and wine offering, then because of its history. 

Just off Footscray’s Nicholson Street and down a street art-filled laneway, a small doorway leads you up a set of colourful stairs and into a bright, airy bar. Welcome to Baby Snakes, a European-style wine bar brought to you by Mark Nilson.

Internet radio station Hope St Radio found a new permanent home in 2021, opening the doors to a wine bar and kitchen within the revamped Collingwood Yards. The venue boasts an expansive space beside the precinct’s central courtyard.

If you’re looking for some hard-to-find wines, Malvern’s Milton Wine Shop is a clear go-to in Melbourne’s southeast. The cosy bottle shop isn’t just for takeaway, either — the venue doubles as a wine bar that slings rare drops by the glass. 

This standout Melbourne wine bar is a destination for flavour lovers who aren’t afraid to try new things. Sure, you could stick with your favourite rosé and charcuterie, but creativity reigns supreme here so it’s well worth digging a little deeper.

What do you get when you combine three fine dining heroes with decades of combined experience that spans pretty much the entire world? Although this sounds a lot like a punchline, the real answer is Etta.

Swing by Waxflower, a Brunswick neighbourhood wine bar, for minimal intervention wines, local craft beer on tap and great coffee — stick around all night for the banging soundtrack. 

This beloved Fitzroy wine bar sits within a legendary crime boss’ old underground casino. Alphonse Gangitano left this spot back in the 90s, and it was left untouched for 20 years, until the current team made it into a true drinking and dining destination.

Brought to you by those clever folks behind the Town Mouse (that sadly closed back in 2018), the Russell Street wine bar is instantly inviting, with a chic, yet warm, European charm. 

When someone like Andrew McConnell opens a wine bar in Melbourne, expectations are high. When that bar sits beside his iconic, two-hat restaurant Cutler & Co., forming some kind of wining and dining super-spot, you can bet they’re even higher. 

They're responsible for the original iterations of Three Bags Full, Top Paddock, and Higher Ground. Now, Mulberry Group has spread their wings to Cremorne, taking over a converted warehouse for their wine bar Lilac — a sure-fire smash hit.