The Wine Bar Trail
OVERVIEW
The Wine Bar Trail
With its back alleys, basements and tiny shopfronts, Paddington is perfect place for sexy little wine bars.
Arguably the nation’s finest boutique wine bar, 10 William St, is a long established success. Closely filling two levels of a minute terrace, it offers superb Italian-style eating, with delicate entrees, pastas and Sydney’s best tiramisu. There’s a focus on natural, mostly Italian, wines. 10 William St.
The Wine Library offers, as the name suggests, an encyclopaedic number of wines, with 700 by the bottle and 65 by the glass. A Mediterranean inspired menu and weekly events make this venue a wine leader. 18 Oxford St, Woollahra.
Underneath Fred’s restaurant, Charlie Parker’s is a speakeasy-style bar that specialises in botanical cocktails. The basement fit-out smoulders, the snacky menu is built to match the cocktail program and in winter you might find live jazz or nightclub events. It’s not easy to find but worth the effort. Or you could slip into the drinking mood at Fred’s Bar, situated in front of the restaurant. Take a classic martini over olives as a sampler to the restaurant or as an experience in its own right. 380 Oxford St.
The sassy new Oxford House hotel has two intriguing bars. Busby’s, newly opened in late 2023, is a natural wine and hi-fi bar (a DJ is often on deck) found through an Oxford St entrance. Deep inside the hotel, too, find Oxford House Pool Bar, a summery alfresco deck-style bar set with palm trees that’s perfect for warmer days. 21 Oxford St.
Sit in the back patio over a glass of chilled orange wine at P&V Wine + Liquor, a cool natural wine and craft spirits store with a bar attached. Find simple but effective dishes the likes of stuffed zucchini flowers and ricotta ravioli. 268 Oxford St.
For an old school alternative, the Paddo RSL offers a different experience. At 6pm, the Ode of Remembrance is read out and patrons stand to honour the fallen. There are schooners, counter meals, footy on the TVs and all the old-fashioned treats. 220-232 Oxford St.
