After years of climbing through closets and wandering down dark corridors to find new and exciting hidden bars, you’d think Melburnians would have seen it all. But rest assured, there are still secrets out in the suburbs.
In Melbourne’s west, Corked Wine Bar opened its secret sliding door in 2021, offering a casual atmosphere for the folks of Werribee to drink wine and chill out on Watton Street.
Finding the venue is half the fun. Enter the seemingly innocuous apartment building corridor near pizza joint Teddy Picker and turn right to find the wooden wine bottle wall. There’s a hidden button on the wall you’ll need to find – press it and slide the door open.
The low ceilings and dimmed lights make this spot ultra cosy, with the main bar located at the centre of the room. Settle in one of the many side tables, or on the red velvet couch near the fire. If the weather’s warm enough, head outside towards the backyard courtyard that overlooks the leafy Werribee River.
The wine list is what you’ll be seeking out first – in it, you’ll find a robust collection of international fine wines, many from Italy and Germany, and drops from local vineyards in the King and Yarra Valleys. To complement the wine, there are share plates like smoked barramundi arancini, duck fat potatoes and fried calamari, as well as charcuterie and cheese boards. Two desserts, a dark chocolate mousse and a limoncello panna cotta, will tide over the dessert hounds.
Corked Wine Bar is open from 5pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 1pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The venue can also be booked out for events and functions.