Bambini Wine Room
NileGuide Expert Says:
Like stepping into a Parisian Left Bank cafe, but with a superb wine list (many be the glass) and tasty bar bitesAddress:
Phone:
(02) 9283 7098Description:
Long before NSW's liquor licensing laws encouraged the small-bar movement, there was Bambini Wine Room. Ahead of the rest, setting the standard, and many years later, still showing newer upstarts that 'grand café design' and Grenache wine are not mutually exclusive.Clothed tables now cluster on the footpath near the entrance, but inside, the distinctly Euro feel thankfully remains; round marble-top tables and wicker chairs on large rough-hewn tiles; antique mirrors (above a long lush banquette) on one wall reflect the giant wine wall on the other. There are two cosy corner booths clothed in leather and echoing convivial chatter.
As the name suggests, wine is the star here. It's mostly Australian, but there's plenty of European varietals too, and many available by the glass. My Rimauresq Rose from Provence ($13) was so good, I had three.
But if cocktails are your thing, you won't miss out either. They're divided into Limey bastards (mojito, caipiroska, etc), modern classics (Cosmopolitan, Lychee Lounge) and Old fashioned faves (Negroni, Manhattan, etc).
The bar bites are just that; tapas size tasty nibbles. The outstanding svelte chicken liver pate, with chutney, crunchy sourdough and pistachio crumbs is the standout. Sydney Rock oysters and salt n pepper calamari aren't too far behind.
Bambini Wine Room; one of the first 'small bars', and still going strong.
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