The Rocket Society

Overview

When Melbourne's beloved Middle Eastern restaurant Rumi moved from Lygon Street to Brunswick East Village in 2023, owners Joseph and Nat Abboud decided to also create a neighbourhood wine bar next door.

Playfully named after the Lebanese Rocket Society — a university club that endeavoured to join the space race in 1960s Beirut — the wine bar is a brilliant spot to drop by before dining at Rumi, or to spend a few hours sipping and snacking with mates.

During the day, Rocket Society serves up flatbread sandwiches, fries with tahini mayo, HSP croquettes and a bunch of mezze plates. As the sun sets, a heap more mezzes make the list, including lamb and sweetbread skewers, pickles aplenty, crunchy fried cauliflower leaves, cheesy doughnuts and freshly shucked oysters with pickled verjuice grapes.

Being directly connected to Rumi, we expect great things in the food department. And we were absolutely not disappointed on our visit. These eats pack a punch, with plenty of spice and umami goodness weaved into each dish.

The team behind the bar also know their bevs. They shake up a mean martini and a bunch of other classic cocktails, and pour a well-curated selection of 50+ wines hailing from Australia, Lebanon, Morocco and Europe. These drops range from mild to funky, so let the crew find your ideal pairing.

You can't book a spot at this small wine bar in Brunswick East, so get in early to nab one of the few seats available. There are a handful of streetside tables, but we recommend heading inside to get all the vibes. Jump onto one of the high tables, or get a stool at the bar where the team is mixing drinks and spinning vinyl until 11pm each night.

When compared to the local institution that is Rumi, Rocket Society feels like the cool younger sibling. It stays up later, plays alternative beats and is a bit more playful with its food and drink offerings.