darlinghurstMon-Sat 5pm-late
Champagne-led wine bar on Stanley Street, East Sydney. Caviar service, grower-Champagne pours by the glass, the kind of room booked for celebrations.
Signature pour: Grower Champagne by the glass
Wine focus: Champagne and traditional-method sparkling
Food: Caviar service and oysters
paddingtonTue-Sat 5pm-11pm
Paddington's natural-wine ground zero on William Street, Sydney. Pasta of the day, Italian-leaning list, a small upstairs counter, nightly seating.
Signature pour: Pinot grigio from Friuli
Wine focus: Minimal-intervention Italian and Australian growers
Food: Italian antipasti and daily pasta
darlinghurstTue-Sat 5pm-11pm
Back-alley natural-wine bar on Crown Lane, Darlinghurst, Sydney. Matt Swieboda's room has poured one of Australia's deepest minimal-intervention lists.
Signature pour: Skin-contact gewurztraminer from Alsace
Wine focus: Natural and biodynamic wines
Food: Charcuterie and bar snacks
potts-pointTue-Sun 5pm-late
Natural wine bar on Llankelly Place, Potts Point, Sydney. Same crew as Love Tilly Devine; Mediterranean small plates and a deep Champagne-by-the-glass list.
Signature pour: Beaujolais cru by the glass
Wine focus: French natural growers
Food: Mediterranean small plates
potts-pointTue-Sat 5pm-11pm
Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt's wine bar on Macleay Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Open 7 nights; small-plates menu and natural-leaning wine list.
Signature pour: Riesling from the Mosel
Wine focus: European and Australian by the glass
Food: Charcuterie, cheese, sourdough
woollahraMon-Sat 4pm-late
Wine Library on Oxford Street, Woollahra. Deep by-the-glass list, snack menu and a regular Sydney crowd through the late afternoon and evening.
Signature pour: Etna Rosso by the glass
Wine focus: Italian and small-producer Australian
Food: Italian small plates and pasta