Zigi's Wine Bar

Overview

With the growing crop of clean-eating establishments, there is little that represents unadulterated culinary rapture quite like cheese. No dietary requirement insists on the eating of cheese, but isn't that the delicious, decadent point of it? And at Zigi's Art Wine Cheese Bar, the pleasure is on point. Cheeses range from familiar to the obscure, and with a perfectly complementary share menu, this place loves a little shameless indulgence.

Zigi Ozeri — titular proprietor and hat-wearing, dancing maitre d' — loves not just good food but the simple pleasure of eating with company. The space is so amiable it's easy to pop in for a cheeky drink and stay on for the evening. There's much to be said for a mural-walled, art-stuffed bar: good wine is poured, laughs are had and the gaze has something interesting to fall upon.

Beneath a belle epoque light, bespoke cocktails and far-flung wines are served at the bar, and there's the option of cosier seating at the back. As we've established, expect a bold cheese selection, like soft oak-smoked cheddar, French comte and awesome homemade labne ($40 for three cheeses with dried fruit and lavosh.)

Israeli-inspired mezze plates and surf and turf make up the share menu, as well as a section entirely dedicated to hummus.

The gallery upstairs rotates exhibitions monthly, and if you need any more reason to keep hanging around, Zigi also runs cooking classes.

Images: Destination NSW.