Greenhart Camberwell

Overview

Greenhart Wine Bar on Toorak Road was your classic neighbourhood vino-sipping spot. The team paired its natural wines with small, sustainably sourced plates or Euro-centric food — a tried-and-true combo.

Even though it made so much sense for the area, it shut down in 2023 and was taken over by Benjamin Ruan (Benjamin's Kitchen). Instead of going down the common Melbourne wine bar route that's mostly about European influences, he decided to put his own pan-Asian stamp on the new Greenhart in Camberwell.

So, instead of pairing a riesling with fresh oysters, say, you can match it with a serving of handmade chicken and prawn wontons in a warming bowl of vegetable broth. And forget your cheese platters and charcuterie boards — instead, change it up with soft-shell crab sliders, san choi bao and curry puffs.

Larger dishes are also available, including a crispy rockling elevated with a ginger, soy and sake sauce; sticky pork belly with chilli caramel and crushed pineapple; roasted duck glazed with hoisin and whisky; or the signature green chicken curry with grilled eggplant and oyster mushrooms.

Many of these eats are favourites from the original Benjamin's Kitchen in Alphington, and Ruan has adapted them for a wine bar setting.

As for the wine, the list is a mostly Aussie affair, with a few drops from Italy and France thrown in for good measure. For a wine bar, the wine list could be a bit longer, but it's still early days for Greenhart Camberwell. A healthy selection of spirits, Australian and Japanese beers, and cocktails are also up for grabs.

Tuck into all of these offerings inside at the bar or by the window to watch folks wander down Toorak Road, or head to the secluded courtyard out back when the sun is shining.

It's great to see a Melbourne wine bar stray away from the usual European aesthetic, and instead showing how contemporary Asian food and Aussie wines are a perfect pairing.