Young's Wine Rooms
A wine bar with Mediterranean snacks in a 100-year-old Hawthorn East building.
Overview
Best known to most as the long-running antiques haven Young's Auction House, the historic site at 227–229 Camberwell Road has swapped the furniture and vintage treasures for vino and Mediterranean fare, stepping into its new role as Young's Wine Rooms.
Imagined as a multifaceted wine bar and dining destination, it's the latest venture from the Klapanis family, who also brought us Hawthorn East's contemporary southeast asian hit, St Cloud Eating House.
Step through the door into a space that respectfully blends old and new, with brick walls and exposed beams now married with natural tones and contemporary textures. A diverse collection of spaces makes this a spot for all occasions, from tapas and wine sessions in the Champagne and cocktail bar, to lazy lunches in the sun-drenched internal courtyard.
Classic southern European flavours combine with traditional French technique for a menu that's generous and lively. You'll find a strong lineup of snacks — perhaps manchego and jamón croquettes ($6 each), harissa octopus ($14) with potato and parsley or fresh burrata ($15) teamed with basil and grilled peach.
Meanwhile, the raw bar is plating up creations like a wagyu beef tartare ($17) with marash pepper and cos, and a selection of larger plates includes the likes of calamari ($27) with sultanas and radicchio and duck ($36) with carrot purée. Can't choose? A Feed Me menu is available for a very reasonably $65 a head.
To match, you'll find a considered and well-travelled wine collection, with bottles from Greece and Croatia starring alongside approachable drops from both Europe and closer to home.
