MELBOURNE | Housed in the former laneway blacksmith workshop that was most recently home to Spanish restaurant Portello Rosso, you’ll find Myrtle Wine Bar. I popped in for What’s On Melbourne a few weeks ago to check it out.
Owners Kirsty McAteer and Chris Smith, who is also the head chef, have made the most of the building’s bones. It’s a rustic, softly lit space with exposed brick, timber tables and furniture, and homely touches. The open kitchen and bar look across the venue, and there’s more seating upstairs for large groups and functions.
The focus at Myrtle is on locally-sourced ingredients, native produce, and Australian wines. The seasonal modern-Australian menu features classic and nostalgic dishes with a twist, designed to showcase the quality of the produce, and pair well with wine.
Dishes include things like confit beetroot with macadamia cream, roast macadamias, and mache; “chip shop potato cakes” with Yarra Valley salmon roe, cultured cream, and chives; and O’connor’s hanger steak with, wild garlic maître d butter, and hand cut wattle seed spiced fries.
The wine list champions small, independent Australian winemakers. It’s an interesting, diverse list, featuring classic styles, and experimental, funky drops. There’s rotating local beers on tap, along with spirits and cocktails follow the same philosophy as the food. Try the Native Negroni, a blend of Kangaroo Island Spirits’ Wild Gin, Regal Rogue’s Bold Red vermouth, and Autonomy Distillers’ Native Australian Amaro and Davo Plum Aperitivo.
Myrtle Wine Bar
15 Warburton Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9602 2273
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Tue – Thu: 3:00pm to 11:30pm
Fri – Sat: 12:00pm to 11:30pm