Lord Lygon

Sibling and neighbour to Carlton's new boutique hotel Zagame's House, Lord Lygon is a 50-seat wine bar that's putting the flavours of Victoria front and centre. It's heroing top local produce and booze throughout with chefs Chris Bonello (Vue Group) and Michael Tse (Rockpool, Vue de Monde) heading up a kitchen offering, which holds its own against the venue's forward-thinking wine list.

Expect a share-friendly menu of drinking fare, starring lots of fresh, clean flavours. You'll find snacks like an oozy whole baked wheel of camembert infused with garlic and thyme ($24), and fall-apart bourbon and coke lamb ribs ($18), while larger plates include a wagyu sirloin matched with mustards and watercress ($39). And many an after-work grazing session awaits with a lineup of cheese and salumi primed for mixing, matching and snacking.

Offering stacks of options to sip in or take back to your hotel room, the vinous selection is the work of head sommelier and winemaker Marcus Radny. You'll spy a solid spread of organic drops and plenty flying the flag for our small-batch producers, too, with a twenty-strong rotation of wines available by the glass. Settle in with something like a South Australian Sigurd riesling or the Quealy '71 Rows' pinot noir from the Mornington Peninsula.

Stay tuned, also, for a program of educational sessions and tasting events, covering cocktails, charcuterie and wine.

Images: Parker Blain.