Forget going to the pub gentlemen, we have done the work and found the best bottle shops Sydney has to offer, with the most impressive, authentic pickings to quench your tastebuds. ‘Boring’ is not in our vocabulary and we have tracked down the prestigious and planet-friendly as well as the weird and the wonderful.
In this Sydney bottle shops story…
Sydney CBD
Best Cellars
91 Crown Street, East Sydney, 2010
Best Cellars has a hard-earned reputation as one of Sydney’s leading independent bottle shops for fine wine. Popular amongst corporate professionals, this bottle shop prides itself on its personalised service with free delivery within the Sydney metropolitan area – so the entrepreneurial moguls can have merlot delivered straight to his desk. With a selection of rare and collectable wines at highly competitive prices, it’s understandable why this is the business hotshot’s bottle shop of choice.
The Bottle Shop
1 Palings Lane, Sydney, 2000
Part of the Merivale empire, Franck Moreau, the master sommelier, has curated a collection of easily accessible quality wines, from everyday tipples to rare vintage finds. The best thing about this bottle shop is that it stocks the selections that can be found in the Merivale venues, and the staff will be more than happy to help you find the drinks that you have enjoyed there. Now you can enjoy your favourite Saturday-afternoon-at-the-Pav drink from the comfort of your living room sofa!
Bel & Brio Cellar
T3.01/300 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo, 2000
This wine-lovers paradise of a bottle shop rolls all the glory of a wine bar, cellar door and event space into one, with an impressive selection of over 3,500 wines sourced from celebrated and new wineries in Italy, France and Australia. Catering to a diverse range of tastes, legendary wine expert Jon Osbeiston has curated a selection of the best and finest quality wines from all corners of the world. One for date night or a special occasion, head down to Bel & Brio for one of their regular wine tastings, specialized forums with winemakers, or a pre-arranged wine tasting dinner.
Kent Street Cellars
1/168 Kent St, Sydney, 2000
Searching for that perfect gift with a unique, personalised twist? Look no further than Kent Street Cellars in the heart of Sydney CBD. In addition to your standard Australian and International wines, spirits and beers, this boutique bottle shop is dedicated to showcasing the quirky and unusual. Broaden your palate with a Japanese whisky tasting set or opt for a bottle of Cipriani Bellini that comes with a free gift of a coffee machine, it’s up to you! Free delivery to all CBD locations.
Red Bottle
343 Pitt St, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Infuse your dinner party or corporate drinks with the characterful flavours of Asia after taking a trip to Red Bottle Pitt Street. Stocking a wide range of wine and spirits, this Sydney CBD bottle shop is best known for its range of Korean products, imported beers and a great selection of sake. With a whole world of wine out there, maybe it’s time to switch up your usual bottle of pinot for something slightly more adventurous?
Eastern Suburbs
Kemenys Food & Liquor Store
137/147 Bondi Rd, Bondi, 2026
The Instagram-able beachside vibes of Bondi tend to drive up the prices of bottle shops in the area, but Kemeny’s Food & Liquor Store will give your bank balance a refreshing break. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for one of the secret label bottles and pay a fraction of the price for top-quality wine. A ten-time winner of Australia’s Liquor Store Of The Year, you know you’ll be getting some boozy bang for your buck.
Dan Murphy’s Double Bay
1 Kiaora Rd, Double Bay, 2028
Don’t be fooled by the chain store branding, this is a truly amazing bottle shop with a fabulous selection of spirits. In particular, the whisky range showcases selections from America, Japan, France, Ireland, Tennessee and more. Lowest Liquor Price Guarantee ensures that you’re getting the best deal around and the option to taste certain spirits means you can try before you buy, helping you to find that perfectly balanced blend.
Native Drops Bondi
19-23 O’Brien St, Bondi Beach, 2026
Streuth almighty! You don’t get much more Aussie than this! Native Drops is an artisanal cellar set against the backdrop of Sydney’s most iconic beach suburb, stocking exclusively local, small-batch, Australian natural wines, craft beers and spirits. Designed for the new generation of liquor-drinkers, Native Drops overhauls the image of the standard bottle shop, injecting it with innovative style and excitement. For the full experience, re-shape your perception of Australian wine with a Master Class Tasting Session!
Bellevue Hill Bottle Shop
100A Bellevue Rd, Bellevue Hill, 2023
The expert sommeliers at Bellevue Hill Bottle Shop do all the research so you don’t have to! Every week the team test over 100 wines to select the very best to display on their shelves. Head on down for one of their weekly tastings or free events, including ‘Champagne Heaven’, ‘Big Red Heaven’ and ‘Rose Heaven’, a chance to try the creme de la creme of delicious wine culture.
Camperdown Cellars
120-128 Macpherson St, Bronte, 2024
An icon of Sydney wine culture, Camperdown cellars have been providing locals with fine wines and exceptional service since 1947. Not just for wine drinkers, fans of craft beer flock to the Bronte store for exclusive pickings, as Camperdown is one of the city’s specialist craft beer outlets. On the shelves, you can find a range of quirky and unusual craft gems including fresh batch Aussie IPA exclusive to Camperdown.
Inner West
Glebe Liquor
375 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, 2037
A gateway into Sydney’s mesmerizing history with original 1932 signage, this bottle shop operates with a unique motive; to act as a middle ground bridging the gap between the accessibility of cheap chain stores and the expertise of high-end boutiques. Whilst offering expertise without pretentiousness, stock selection is focused around agriculture – owners Louise and Tim Smith stock only the varieties that have been having a good year, refusing to compromise quality in the name of quantity.
P&V Merchants
64 Enmore Rd, Newtown, 2042
What else would you expect from the hip alleyways of Newtown than a community-focused liquor merchant with recycled timber shelves and an emphasis on sustainable alcohol? Not your average bottle shop, P&V hold fundraisers for local charities and educational tasting events where you can sample some organic and biodynamically farmed wine. Why not be an eco-warrior this weekend and pick up one of their takeaway cocktails in a returnable bottle? Go on, do it for the Earth.
Vintage Cellars
240/242 King St, Newtown, 2042
If you can’t find the perfect champagne for your wedding reception, the full-bodied red for the Friday night dinner party or the delicate rosé for your alfresco Sunday lunch at Vintage Cellars, you won’t find it anywhere! The masters of customer service with a plethora of fine wine knowledge, the team at this Newtown bottle shop are the definition of expertise. The sparkling wine varieties include products from Champagne, South Eastern Australia, Yarra Valley and Tasmania.
Camperdown Cellars
140-144 Parramatta Rd, Camperdown NSW, 2050
All hail the ale! We may have mentioned Camperdown Cellars’ Bronte post, but for the absolute best selection of booze, you can’t pass up their flagship Parramatta store. A long-time hit with fans of craft beer due to the eclectic selection of over 650 craft and international pickings, Camperdown Cellars’ Paramatta store stocks brews you won’t find anywhere else. Not to mention, if you realise you’ve missed the cheese off the shopping list, there is an excellent range of groceries at the back of the store to compliment your wine selection.
Union Wine Cellars
a03/120 Terry St, Rozelle, 2039
Under the glow of golden chandeliers, Union Wine Cellars (formerly Terry Street Cellars) oozes prestige and luxury. Each carefully selected wine variation has its own unique story, which the delightful team will be more than happy to illustrate for your imagination. The ethos revolves around highlighting smaller, local and international producers, with a specific passion for sustainable and small-batch produce – a far cry from the monotony of the supermarket chain bottle shop.
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