Carlton Wine Room

Restaurant · Carlton

Carlton Wine Room

Restaurant · Carlton

172-174 Faraday St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Highlights

Nestled in a chic 19th-century building, this wine bar serves up inventive European fare and an impressive wine list, making it a cozy hotspot for laid-back dining.

172-174 Faraday St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia Get directions

thecarltonwineroom.com.au

@thecarltonwineroom

$$$ · Menu

@infatuation

"Carlton Wine Room is, in fact, many rooms spread across five levels of a 19th-century terrace house. We reckon the place to be though is the marble bar on the ground floor. Staff act as masterful guides for a 100-strong wine list covering both classic and contemporary terrain, while the kitchen puts up pretty dishes that drive you to delve deeper into that drinks selection. The potato focaccia has a pleasing squish-to-crunch ratio, begging to be torn apart and dipped into an accompanying bowl of stracciatella in chive oil. Don’t miss the rum-soaked baba either, though if you’re a few wines in be warned: it’s big on booze. " - ellen fraser

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@eater

"Led by a team of hospitality superstars (vets of Marion, Cutler & Co., and Coda), this popular wine bar has a comfortable dining room with banquettes upstairs and a lively bar downstairs. The menu leans European, with dishes like duck and pork croquettes, potato focaccia (to dunk in chive oil, stracciatella, and pickled mushrooms), and a classic rum baba. The revolving wine list satisfies both lovers of traditional drops and offbeat natural ones. Melbourne’s beloved arthouse Cinema Nova is just around the corner for a perfect date-night pairing." - Audrey Bourget, Sharlee Gibb

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@infatuation

Carlton Wine Room - Review - Melbourne - The Infatuation

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@foodandwine

"About 10 blocks south is the acclaimed Carlton Wine Room, a brighter, larger version of the classic Melbourne wine bar." - Besha Rodell

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Jo Thredgold

Google

Took my bestie out for a special celebration meal and had a fantastic evening here. The service was friendly and laid back whilst managing to be perfectly attentive at the same time. The food was excellent, so many amazing flavours, every bite was a delight. We had the fish of the day (whole flounder - my favourite, perfectly cooked), the duck leg (melt in your mouth), and too many entrees (all flavour bombs but whatever you do, don’t skip the focaccia). I know it’s the Wine Room but the negronis were too good and I didn’t look past them. It was busy but we could hear each other and ended up staying for dessert. Looking forward to going again.

Holly Graham

Google

Delicious food with 5 star service and a really nice dining experience. Daily menu $95pp. Catered perfectly for dietary requirements. We had gluten free and dairy free and the kitchen prepared separate dishes as required. All delicious. Huge variety of dishes and solid serving sizes. Wait staff were great, friendly and experienced. Highly recommend!

Christopher Wu

Google

Went to a birthday event here and the staff produced a stunning set menu. From the steak being juicy to the other dishes being fresh it was a wonderful time. The pasta was al Dante which isn’t my favourite but it was ok. Salad dishes such as the beetroot was fresh but the flavours weren’t tasty. I believe it was more an organic fresh experience. Other than that oysters were oysters and the potatoes were nice and crispy. A good place would recommend if in the area. Just gets pretty busy as it’s Carlton / lygon.

Richard Replin

Google

What a fabulous and delightful restaurant. Don’t be fooled by the “wine room” name—this is a restaurant, with a great wine selection. The food was outstanding and prices were reasonable. Service was friendly and attentive. We loved it so much we went twice in three days, and were greeted like friends on the second visit.

Megan

Google

Best thing we did on our short Melb getaway, was sit at the bar here for dinner. The bartender gave us incredible recommendations for drinks and pairings with our meal, the food was incredible and we left feeling on cloud 9. There's nothing better than a wine bar where the staff actually know their products and can confidently recommend what they think you'll like. The stracciatella and pickled mushrooms was by far our dish of the night, followed closely by the croquettes. I'd recommend getting the olive oil cake for dessert. It was a HUGE portion for 2 and so incredibly delicious! I'll be recommending this place to anyone who wants to listen.

Gym Junkie Gourmets

Google

First Visit: We had a delightful dining experience at Carlton Wine Room. Although the service was initially a bit slow, the staff quickly adjusted, creating a more seamless experience. The food was well-prepared, and the extensive wine list offered plenty of options. I was impressed and looked forward to returning. Second Visit: We returned for an impromptu lunch as walk-ins and found the experience somewhat lacking this time. The service didn’t meet the previous standard, and while the food was generally fine, it didn’t deliver the same umami punch we had enjoyed before. Given the flavors, textures, and balance, some dishes seemed overpriced for what they offered. In saying that the Wagyu skewers were delightful. Overall, Carlton Wine Room remains a decent establishment, but there is certainly room for improvement.

Sonia B

Google

Thank you Sam for making our anniversary such a special night. My husband and I watched you work your magic across the room with flair and expertise. You picked our wines perfectly and your knowledge of them were impressive to say the least. Many thanks to the chefs and back of house staff. Pure perfection.

WanderingSpringRoll

Google

Food was amazing !!! Highly recommend the anchovy fish toast, the croquette and both the pasta and steak was delicious!!! The kingfish dish looked fancy and interesting in the caviar like tin but it was just okay!

Zachary C.

Yelp

Imagine a perfect day in Melbourne. Sunny, a touch cool but not enough for a sweater. A day of city walking begs a drink and some food. The Carlton Wine Room is he spot. Amazingly warm staff welcomed me in...bag and all as I was headed to the airport. The wine suggestion from the bartender was spot on, and the series of food choices were equally stellar. Briny oysters, sublime stracciatlla (honestly out of this world), well balanced Kingfish crudo, broccolinni with crispy smoked pork and chopped egg was like the best deviled egg meets Peter Luger bacon meets...well, you get it. Final delectable bites were in the form of rigatoni, peas, parmesan, beans and a delicious velvety sauce. Do not miss this spot.

Evan K.

Yelp

Just like Bridget Jones, i am at the pivotal moment of my life where my only formidable relationship is with a bottle of red wine; and The Carlton Wine Room is my choice of poison. The venue is magnificent, the wait staff friendly and the wines spectacular. The menu is great for simpleton's like myself and the venue has an atmosphere like no other. Located on the corner of Faraday and Drummond, the venue is not really near a-many other pubs, or restaurants but does attract a big crowd. It's hard to get a seat / table most of the times i have attended. Without a doubt if you are a wine enthusiast then this really is the place for you, most of the wines are European but hey, always good to mix it up a bit (being a margaret river man myself, it's good to experiment).

Kellie H.

Yelp

A very sophisticated and refined looking wine room, serving some delicious drops. Semi regretted my choice of eating elsewhere first as the food being sent out of the kitchen looked incredible. Will be back :)

Hope M.

Yelp

I obsessively watched the renovations on this site in the months leading up to the Wine Room's opening as it's on my daily coffee route. The building had originally housed a very strange bar with far too many plants and not enough patrons. I got increasingly excited as I saw the new proprietor rip the jungle out, and gradually add classic, tasteful new elements like a pressed-tin bar and Thonet chairs. Then, in the middle of winter, it opened and I was not disappointed... The menu is as tasteful as the décor (don't miss the pork belly), and the service is great. As you would imagine from the name, the wine list is extensive. I am easily confused by European wine regions, but on both occasions I've been here the staff have taken the time out to explain and help me choose a wine that I'll like, without trying to 'up-sell' me to the bottom of the list. I've only ever been seated on the ground floor, where there is a great buzz both inside and out on the street - it's a really easy place to linger later into the evening and discover a new dessert wine or two.

Margot M.

Yelp

Came here on a Monday night for a nice staff dinner with a mixed bunch, chefs to Accountants. I arrived a touch early as they had an NZ wine on their online menu I wanted to try, yum! Happy they had it in stock! Sat at the bar waiting for the crew, lovely service and bar staff chatted to me and I didn't even get a chance to get my phone outa of my bag to keep me occupied which was really nice. Crew arrived and we headed up stairs, the place was almost full on a Monday night which is a good sign and I wasn't disappointed. We did the "just feed me" 5 courses and selected our own drinks. The staff were knowledgeable and really nice to have around. Food came out fast, well presented and was really nice. Tartar, cauliflower, smoked avocado John Dory, beef ribs and cheese were my favs. What was really nice was that they let us split the dessert into a sweet board and a cheese board, yummy! I'll def go back. Thanks guys!!

Two S.

Yelp

Popped in for a glass of wine with a group of friends. The decor was lovely. Thev place has been stylishly renovated. I had a French white. It was lovely. I enjoyed it here and would certainly return.

Lauren D.

Yelp

Carlton Wine Room is consistently good; that is all. Just kidding, I'm as verbose as they come, of course there's more! The menu here is small-ish due to an emphasis on seasonal produce, but there is always something delish. Dishes are thoughtfully prepared and usually pretty well sized for their price. Of particular note: the tomato salad with toasted almonds, puffed brown rice and burrata - sounds strange but is properly amazing. It's only around in summer when tomatoes are multicoloured and awesome, so get in while the weather's warm, you won't regret it. Other than that there are vegetarian and meaty dishes alike, a handful of inventive desserts, and options for "Just feed me" (chef's selection set menu). All are very pretty to look at, and equally nice to devour. Service is attentive and friendly, without being pushy, and the decor has that lovely "I'm-in-Carlton-so-therefore-I'm-cool-without-being-annoying" vibe. Decent wine list too, with options for all budgets. Tip: I think this would be a great place for a first date. Provided you and your date both like awesome food, and aren't into, you know, ribs and burgers and whatnot.

Tim M.

Yelp

Friendly waiters in abundance set the vibe of this place which is a perfect place for a glass (or carafe) of wine with a good friend or a first date. There's no pressure to give up your table by a certain time, which seems to be a trend across Melbourne these days, so I really appreciated the people who work here and make it so relaxed. The food is elegant, sophisticated and highly shareable. A few vegetarian dishes on the menu which are well thought out. I particularly enjoyed their nice selection of cheese from Spain.

David F.

Yelp

As non-locals there's always that risk that you end up at a "tourist" version of a great dining experience. In this case, though, we were fortunate to dine with friends who love food and know Melbourne's restaurant scene. They chose the venue for our evening and what a choice it was! The friendly staff were happy to help, be it recommending a good beer to start off or explaining the dishes on the menu (and yes, the pork belly is just wonderful) nothing seemed too much trouble. We particularly enjoyed the shared dining experience as we all got to sample portions from the menu. As a result, while I know the pork belly is great, I also got to enjoy other dishes too. I would happily enjoy a dining experience like this again.

Tessa M.

Yelp

Disappointing. As a coeliac I was very ill after eating here. I asked for reassurance about my meal multiple times and was assured it was gluten free. Sadly there was a miscommunication somewhere and I was informed the meal wasn't gluten free after I had finished it. For a coeliac there is no worse feeling then knowing how Sick you are about to get and not being able to do anything about it. To the managers credit we were not made to pay and she apologized many times. Very unfortunate. A nice restaurant but wouldn't recommend for coeliacs

Julian T.

Yelp

Wonderful selection of wine (yes, it's a wine place after all - and a pretty good one at that too!) and sophisticated and well-crafted food to go along with your carafe. It's one of those places that you could easily idle away a lazy afternoon or a quiet evening with a friend whom you can talk till you go blue in the face (yes, with more wine flowing of course). Excellent service, ambience and reasonable priced menu - a definite welcomed and refreshing addition to the otherwise tired and wash-out Lygon area.

John D.

Yelp

I was very excited when I saw The Carlton Wine Room open near my apartment. I visited not long after and was a bit disappointed. The dining room is very nice, and the wine selection is great (but expensive). The food was pretty good but also expensive, and to my mind not really worth it unfortunately.