Overview
Fancy a good glass of wine after a day at the beach? Coogee locals Tom Hardwick and Michelle Morales certainly do, and their new venue will let you do just that. Taking cues from the bustling wine bars of Europe, Coogee Wine Room hopes to be the new post-beach go-to for the eastern suburbs. It'll open this September along Coogee Bay Road — just one block up from the ocean.
As to be expected, the team is taking its wine game very seriously. The 400-strong list has been created by Hardwick and Venue Manager Brooke Adey, whose resume includes time spent at Bea, Chiswick and Yellow. On the list is a whopping 30 drops by the glass, along with limited vintages and hard-to-find drops. Over 50 different varieties are represented here, too.
Steven Woodburn
In the kitchen, Head Chef Sandro Di Marino (A Tavola) is plating up a succinct, Mediterranean-style menu. For share dishes, expect oysters, Spanish anchovies and pork cheek sliders to be served alongside the requisite cheese and charcuterie. Larger plates include ricotta ravioli with chestnut, parsnip and butter; chargrilled octopus with lentils and herbs; and salted cod, fried to golden brown, and topped with yoghurt and red onion chutney.
Local design studio Tom Mark Henry is behind the fit-out, which spans two storeys and — as goes the trend — maintains an industrial vibe. Expect exposed brick walls, concrete floors and a black steel staircase, along with warm timber tones, deep leather furniture and marble finishes. It'll seat 96 all up, with walk-ins welcome and long lunches also on the docket.
Coogee Wine Room will open this September at 222 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee. Keep an eye on this space for more details closer to the launch.
Images: Steven Woodburn