What defines a wine bar? Waiters that know their Semillons from their Sauvignons are a good start. And of course, you need a comprehensive selection. At Urban List, we reckon atmosphere plays a big part too. It can't be considered one of Brisbane's/Meanjin's best wine bars without soft lighting and a sommelier that'll make you feel like you're all of a sudden an expert on the ol' plonk.
So where’s the best spot to get a good glass of vino in Brisbane? Well, at Brisbane's best wine bars, course. Here’s your handy cheat sheet.
Wineology
471 Adelaide Street, Brisbane CBD
Whether you’re a wine novice or a total oenophile, you really need to know about Wineology. This Brisbane wine bar is unique for one thing: here you pour your own wine. Yep, thanks to their state-of-the-art wine dispensers, you can taste your way through 96 different wines, opting for either just a 30ml taste, a half or a full serve when you find one you like. This may just be our new favourite way to drink wine—especially considering there’s plenty of tapas to share them with.
Milquetoast
199 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane CBD
We love an underdog. And Milquetoast was made in honour of just that: built in dedication to the indie venues that make up the backbone of Australian hospitality. You’ll find Milquetoast tucked down a CBD alleyway painted black in a disused garage. You will quite literally find bottles upon bottles of wine lining the walls of their teensy space, so you know you’re in safe hands here when it comes to wine. We highly recommend finding a spot and settling in for the day with their snack menu that changes with the seasons.
Cru Bar & Cellar
1/22 James Street, Fortitude Valley
Image credit: Cru Bar & Cellar | Facebook
Cru Bar is a James Street icon, and for good reason. This Fortitude Valley wine cellar meets restaurant has been a fan-favourite for years with its inside-outside dining room spilling out onto the leafy James Street thoroughfare. Their newly revamped space is absolutely worth visiting. Pull up a seat at the bar or book in for a long lunch and peruse their 450 strong wine list spanning indies and classics. The best part? Thanks to their Coravin system they can offer wines by the glass without needing to pull the cork, meaning the wines don’t ever come into contact with oxygen and you can pick from almost anything. Genius.
Cordeaux Social Club
462 Montague Road, West End
Cordeaux Social Club is your classic neighbourhood wine bar, nestled on a corner of the bustling streets of West End. Pull up a seat in their sun dappled court yard or people watch from their street fronting tables. Born out of a desire to build a restaurant that instills local pride through top notch food and a heavy hitting wine list, Cordeaux Social Club is the perfect spot to while away an afternoon with a delicious wine list.
Bar Hugo
65 Hargrave Road, West End
Bar Hugo is a super cool, wood panelled wine and vermouth bar in West End. Expect old school pull up bar seating and only a select number of tables. Here you can choose from a wall packed full of wines from across the country. From sparkling to skin contact, you’ll find a bottle or glass just perfect for your needs. These guys are entirely anti two hour seating times and encourage you to sit back, work your way through the menu, and try all of the wines. To us, that sounds like the perfect vibe for a wine bar.
You might also like:
Bar Francine
29A Vulture Street, West End
Image credit: Bar Francine | Facebook
An historic Queenslander cottage doing wines and snack plates? Yep, that’s Bar Francine. The Bar Francine motto is simple but highly effective: yum eats, fun wines and great times. When it comes to the yum eats the team here curates their menu daily so you never quite know what you’re in for. And as for the fun wines? Their menu is laser focused on small, independent Aussie wine producers and based on what the team love to drink themselves. You’ll probably find wines you’ve never heard of here, so if you’re feeling adventurous you’re in the right place.
Maeve
39 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
Also one of Brisbane's best date night spots, Maeve is one to add to the top of your list. The heritage-listed building is packed with plenty of natural light, and has an extensive menu of delicacies to accompany the impressive wine list. Pop in for a late-night pick-me-up or cosy dinner date.
Mr Chester Wine Bar
850 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Escape the summer heat by hunkering down in Mr Chester’s wine bar—or should we say, wine bunker. Their menu is packed with the best new world boutique wines with a heavy emphasis on Aussie bottles, served alongside carefully selected cheese and charcuterie boards and some of Brisbane's best pizzas.
Adelita
32 Glenora Street, Wynnum
Image credit: Adelita | Facebook
Raised above a street corner in Wynnum, this Bayside beauty is draped in emerald tones and a stunning marble bar for an experience as gorgeous as its wine list of hundreds of international and local vinos. It’s not just about the wine at Adelita though—the food menu is equally as stunning, from the prawn katsu sando to the Golden Gaytime dessert.
Snack Man
East Street, Fortitude Valley
Follow the twinkling fairy lights of East Street down to the dark door of this inner-city wine bar. Snack Man sits in stark contrast to the light, bright and bustling space of its sister venue, Happy Boy. Its moody, refined decor will transport you to the streets of SoHo, so prepare to embrace your inner Serena van der Woodsen and browse the outstanding selection of esoteric drops.
La Lune Wine Co.
109 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
One of our favourite Fish Lane haunts, La Lune is the brainchild of famed Brisbane restaurateur Paul McGivern. Their extensive list of international wines has been designed with flavour in mind, so prepare to have your tastebuds blown away by tipple paired with oysters and kangaroo tartare.
South City Wine
5/148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
Image credit: South City Wine | Max Homer
Drawing inspo from Italian and French neighbourhood wine bars, South City Wine will whisk you round the globe in a single, cheeky afternoon. Surrounded by terrace seating, the charming green facade leads into intimate mahogany booths–and, most importantly, shelves brimming with European tipples. Dive into glasses of elegant Champagne, bright reds, and old world varietals as you pore over the cheese and charcuterie window (because how could you not?).
Proud Henry
153 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
Take a trip back to the ‘20s with a night out at Proud Henry. Known for their endless selection of gins (including some super rare releases), Proud Henry’s wine offerings have been somewhat overshadowed—but trust us, they’re worth a taste. Pair a glass of your fave vino with a selection from their small-but-delicious range of bar snacks, and a charcuterie board made to share (or not).
The Old Seven
567 Old Cleveland Road, Camp Hill
Classic French vibes collide with top-notch wine at The Old Seven on Brisbane’s east side. The cafe’s intimate atmosphere and antique vibes will sweep you away from the hustle and bustle of city life, leaving you to indulge in their range of more than a hundred local and international wines.
Wineism
1D/97 Sandgate Road, Albion
Image credit: Wineism | Supplied
Is it a bar? Is it a bottle shop? Well, yes and yes, but Wineism takes both far beyond your wildest wine-infused imaginations. Award-winning sommelier Ian Trinkle has breathed life into a space that blends shopfront with sit-and-sip experience. Pull up a chair in the sleek industrial bar to taste test a hand-picked list of global wines, and, when you’ve found your poison, dive into the takeaway and home delivery options. Sipping was never simpler.
Noir
216 Given Terrace, Paddington
Despite the dark and mysterious name, Noir ushers wine-and-diners into three storeys’ worth of warm, cosy spaces to tuck away with a nice red, some fresh sourdough, and a chunk of blue cheese. Now, if you’re not halfway out the door already (what are you doing?), we’ll deign to add that these Given Terrace legends have married up your favourite Aussie drops with an ever-changing menu of international and rare wines. Get to it.
Dark Red Wine Bar
694 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Tucked halfway down Bakery Lane, Dark Red’s impressive floor-to-ceiling lineup is just the first of many delightful discoveries. The intimate space, which focuses primarily on Italian and Australian Italian drops, spills out into laneway seating with plenty of foodie options around for a mix-and-match meal. Oh, and get this: they’re pooch friendly. See if you can spy Daisy, the resident doggo, snoozing by the bar.
Niky
64 Doggett Street, Newstead
Another Brisbane wine bar that’s very easy on the eyes is Niky, the pastel-pink after dark counterpart to Newstead’s Salt. Owner Zac Lazerac will happily talk you through the chalkboard menu of natural drops and bite-sized snacks, and probably even stop for a chat if you nab a stool at the massive oval-shaped bar.
Clapham Junction Wine Bar
2/17 Royal Parade, Banyo
Northsiders, we haven’t forgotten you! Clapham Junction Wine Bar is our go-to venue for lazy afternoon drinks that always slide right into dinner. The bar’s vintage vibes and vast range of wines bring a taste of Europe to Banyo, allowing you to sample tasty boutique drops without breaking the bank.
Looking for more alcoholic inspiration? Check out:
Image credit: Wineology | Supplied
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.