The 25 best wine bars in Sydney

Famelia is a charming female-owned wine bar and bottle shop located on Enmore Road in Newtown. The 25-seater was founded by Amelia Birch (formerly of the Book Kitchen), who envisioned a space where people could enjoy quality vinos and hear the stories behind each bottle. Expect a weekly selection of Birch’s favorite 12 wines from mostly-female winemakers, starting from $12 per glass, along with wine flights, great snacks, and bottles at retail prices (cya, Dan Murphy's).

Marrickville's first and only dedicated wine bar also happens to be one of Sydney's best. Why? Because there's absolutely no pretense here – just well-loved mismatched furniture, service both warm and informed, and a whole heck of a lot of interesting wine at incredible value. Brothers and co-owners Julian and Dominic Abouzeid want you to drink well more than anything else, and to that end they keep the tightly edited selection on constant rotation. The by-the-glass blackboard is a treasure trove for new discoveries, but be warned it's pretty much a guarantee that one glass will turn into a bottle.  

P&V is housed in one of many storied terrace houses that dot this hip strip in a suburb dating back to the city’s early Victorian times. For those who don’t know, the slang expression ‘full of piss and vinegar’, means someone full of energy or excitement. And that seems to be the prevailing attitude among both staff and customers at P&V (yes, it stands for Piss & Vinegar) in Paddington. P&V aims to be a one-stop shop for craft brews, small-scale spirits and wine and, unlike the OG Newtown outlet, is both a bottle shop and wine bar. And it's exactly the kind of place you want to keep returning to.

The line between wine bar and restaurant is mighty fine, and no venue in town treads it quite like 10 Willie. Slide in after work for that legendary pretzel and a chalice of something wild and orange, or end your night at the bar with an unforgettable tiramisù and a sweet vermouth or amaro. Coming for a proper feed is most certainly worth it – splurge on a magnum of something off-kilter and see just how many small plates and truly al dente pastas you can fit on one of the pint-sized tables.

Love, Tilly Devine was one of the early adopters in the small bar boom, and it's no less popular now than when it opened a decade ago. There's still a Melburnian magic about the tucked-away laneway location, and securing a perch by the window still feels like a badge of honour. This is a particularly smart choice if you're looking to get acquainted with some of the dominant players in Australia's minimal-intervention winemaking game.  

'Copains' means 'friends' in French, which is an apt name for this gem by longtime mates and chefs Morgan McGlone and Nathan Sasi. Fun fact: McGlone and Sasi have both donated hundreds of wines from their personal collections that they have been building up over the years to Bar Copains, some of which are proudly lined up on shelves along the wall like kids' swimming trophies. Together, they worked with Christian Robertson to curate the list, which features a mix of both local and international producers, natural and conventional wines, some funky and some classics, plus a selection of rare vintage drops.

You may have visited Theeca for a celebratory lunch or dinner – the Darlinghurst spot is well-known for its 'gram-worthy tablescapes dotted with colourful florals, flickering candles and delicious share plates. Or, perhaps you’ve dropped by the light-filled café in the morning. Now, you can – and should – swing by at night, as Theeca has transformed into a wine and vinyl bar, complete with a killer new wine list, live DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, and a fresh menu of wine-bar hits. Drinks-wise, expect lots of bubbles and pet nat, crisp and minerally whites, orange drops, textural and chilled reds, as well as some heavier numbers, curated by sommelier Jaymie Wallace.

These guys got it right the first time with their Darlinghurst darling Love, Tilly Devine, but their Potts Point follow-up casts the net wider with a broader selection of wines from around the world and a (slightly) larger kitchen for more involved snacking. Order something fresh and mineral-driven from the 46-page list to accompany the signature smoked mussels on toast, and you will feel like you've stumbled upon a little gem on a Parisian backstreet.

If you've found yourself delving into the world of natural wine at any point over the last decade or so in Sydney, you probably have one man to give thanks to. Co-founder of Rootstock and now fully-fledged bricks and mortar businessman Giorgio De Maria has opened a wine shop/bar/restaurant in a pokey two-level space on the Darlinghurst end of Oxford Street, and it's all killer, no filler. 

Caravin is newest French diner on the Potts Point block. It’s a wine bar, mostly, but their quirky and delicious roster of Comté custard, poisson cru and smoked beetroot tartare has brought patrons here to drink and dine. If you’re lucky enough to nab a seat outside, you'll experience a carefree European feel, with street-drinkers joyously swilling bottles on short stools, and pre-drinking during Caravin’s late-afternoon Apéro Hour.

Gildas, by Lennox Hastie (the genius behind Firedoor) is a Basque-inspired wine bar and restaurant. It is also a triumph. Do as the Spanish do and start your night off with a glass of sherry – our knowledgeable waiter knew the two-page fortified wine menu like Nadal knows a tennis court, and pointed us to a glass of Fino Bodegas Tradicion, which was clean and fresh, and the Bodega Yuste 'Aurora' Amontillado sherry, which was creamier, with caramel and hazelnut vibes. Vino lovers are in for a treat – the wine list, which features drops from Spain, France, Portugal and Australia, is broken up into different regions. Hungry? You can’t go past the Gildas, of course. And the charred leeks with nutty romesco and lardo.

Located just around the corner from the QVB, De Vine Food & Wine is one of Sydney’s oldest wine bars, having opened in 2003. The charming spot underwent a multimillion-dollar makeover earlier this year, but its 500-strong wine list remains. There’s a focus on Italian drops made with organic or biodynamic principles. A brass display featuring 250 bottles of amaro (a bitter Italian herbal liqueur) is sure to catch your eye – the team says it’s the most comprehensive collection this side of the equator. Yes, the refurb is modern, but De Vine’s appeal lies in sticking to its tried-and-tested formula of offering authentic Italian cuisine paired with fine wines to give its guests a taste of Italy. Salute!

Manly hospitality group Saga – who are behind local favourites Donny’s, InSitu, and The Hold – pay homage to ‘The Father of Manly' with their classy wine bar Henry G’s, which features more than 170 drops from around the world and an 1800s-inspired fitout. If you're up for trying something new, the knowledgeable staff are more than happy to give you a taste and guide you through the list. With vintage knick-knacks, antique books and old black and white photographs gracing the walls, the space looks like it’s been plucked from the memories of our great grandparents. The fact that you don’t know where you could be – or what year you’re in – is all part of the charm.

Some nights you want to park yourself in a snazzy little wine bar – other nights, there’s nothing like grabbing a bottle of something nice and setting up at your mate’s dining table. Lil Sis offers the best of both worlds. Despite being in the multi-level party palace that is the Abercrombie Hotel, it feels like you’re in a cosy, homely terrace house that’s been put together organically. It’s unpretentious, warm, welcoming and makes you want to settle in for the night. We say come do that.

Located within Oxford House in Paddington, Busby’s has taken a leaf out of the music-led bars found in Paris, Berlin and LA – it's a natural wine and record bar where good times and great classic hits are front and centre. Throughout the week, top record spinners will be playing feel-good soundtracks for you to enjoy with your cocktails and tasty bites. Purveyor of great natural wine and co-owner of P&V Wine and Liquor Mike Bennie has created a natural wine list that focuses on Australian, French and Italian drops. And top chef Clayton Wells (ex-Automata) is on the pans, serving up yum snacks and larger plates to share.

Elegance, top-notch service, great drinks and above all, deliciousness is found on the Enmore block at Bar Louise. Housed in a heritage-listed pink and purple façade, the Spanish-style tapas bar is by the Porteño Group – so you can expect some seriously tasty plates of food alongside killer wine.

There’s a lot to like about Lokal, a tiny wine bar situated on a sunny corner in Surry Hills, across the road from The Cricketers. But at the top of the list is that it’s a two-man operation. There are no other floor staff, no kitchen hands, nada. It's all run by Patrick Frawley and Nelson Cramp, who met moons ago working overseas and reconnected over their shared dream of opening their own place. Like hot chips and tomato sauce, their skill sets complement each other well. Frawley, is an expert on grown-up grape juice. Meanwhile, Cramp feels at home over a chopping board. This tiny wine bar exudes a sunny-yet-cool attitude, offers thoughtful plates, and pours vino we’re keen to keep drinking. If you’ve got a date coming up or a catch-up with a vino-loving pal, give it a go.

Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant? Who knows? Who cares? When the brains behind Ester throw their weight behind a more casual walk-in establishment stocked with bottles of funky, cloudy goodness from all over the world and umami-packed eats like unmissable anchovy toast and fried potato with salted egg sauce, expectations run high. And if the seemingly never-ending convivial buzz in the cool industrial space is anything to go by, those expectations are not only met, but exceeded.

Fix might just be the one that started it all. Back when it opened, in 2006, there was hardly a wine bar in town, let alone one that offered so daring a selection from avant-garde European producers. The list remains razor-sharp today, with 100 options by the glass alone, all of which are also available in tasting pours and carafes, so you can really have some fun. Owner Stuart Knox is almost always on hand to offer expert assistance, and you definitely shouldn't overlook the share plates – especially the first-rate fried chicken.

Bibo has all the essential hallmarks of an upmarket Euro-style wine bar: it’s low lit, dark and looks like an old-world smoking room. There’s an open-air deck out the back for balmy nights in the east; a private dining room upstairs that can seat 40 people; and a museum wine list of cellared wines if you are as rich as a Kennedy. If you just want a snifter of a millionaire’s life they also do museum wines by the glass.

There's been a changing of the guard at this Woollahra mainstay, but you wouldn't know it. The narrow, low-lit room is just as inviting, the tariff just as comprehensive, the service equally informed and obliging. If you're craving something rare with some serious bottle age, you'll definitely find it here – and a stockpile of premium pours by the glass lets you dip the toe in without committing to a triple-digit price tag for 750ml. 

Spon is a hybrid bar and bottle shop found on Newton's King Street. Inspired by the funky spots in Melbourne, Spon has been brought to life by the Odd Culture team – they wanted to create a place where punters could pop in and try rare, funky and eclectic vinos by the glass or bottle at an accessible price point – and enjoy right there. Every day, Spon features 12 new wines, ales and ciders to try, with two of them chosen by the team, and the rest is up to you. So if you see a bottle that you want to try, you can.

Who'd turn down the offer of a quick rosé when you've still got sand between your toes after a swim down at the beach? Not us. If you happen to be swimming in the east, head to Coogee Wine Room after. With close to 25 wines by the glass and a big chunk by the bottle available for less than $100, there's lots of ground to cover. 

There's room for just 40 punters in this timber cubby on the south end of King Street, which is pretty much the fully realised vision of the small, neighbourhood wine bar. The stereo's set to country and blues, and sommelier stocks the shelves with well-crafted wines from titans in the sustainably farmed, hands-off wine world both from our golden soils and overseas. There's no list, per se – so get chatting and fall in love with something new and exciting. 

Annata has been quietly making a statement in Crows Nest since its doors first swung open in mid-2015. The beverage offering at Annata has always been top-shelf; the wine list has plenty to offer from all around the globe and the sommelier is very knowledgeable and happy to chat in as much or as little detail as you require - suggestions of wines to match our food are spot on.