Gerald's Bar

Bar · Carlton North

Gerald's Bar

Bar · Carlton North

3

386 Rathdowne St, Carlton North VIC 3054, Australia

Photos

Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by Chloe O’Loan
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null
Gerald's Bar by null

Highlights

Snug, lively wine bar hung with quirky art & knickknacks, offering a seasonal bistro menu.  

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386 Rathdowne St, Carlton North VIC 3054, Australia Get directions

geraldsbar.com

$$

Information

Static Map

386 Rathdowne St, Carlton North VIC 3054, Australia Get directions

+61 3 9349 4748
geraldsbar.com

$$

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
payment credit card
reservations

Last updated

Mar 5, 2025

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@eater

"You’ll find plenty of industry types hanging out at Gerald’s Bar, where Heston Blumenthal has even been known to spin records behind the bar. For 15 years, owners Gerald Diffey and Mario Di Ienno have brought their jovial spirit to the bar, filling the place with laughter, good cheer, and happy times. The drink list is interesting and far-reaching, and there’s a simple bistro menu to keep you well fed." - Audrey Bourget, Sharlee Gibb

The 38 Essential Melbourne Restaurants
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@foodandwine

"Sometimes, that does mean hewing close to the European ideal, as with Geralds Bar on leafy Rathdowne Street, its storefront full of vintage ephemera." - Besha Rodell

Melbourne Wine Bars to Visit Now
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@cntraveler

"If every neighborhood had a Gerald’s, no one would ever again venture far from home. Jovial, relaxed, and inhabited by locals, this is the warm and welcoming wine bar you want as your second living room. With lace curtains and shelves of tchotchkes, the space—in Carlton North—isn’t going to win any design awards; then again, it has a charming European atmosphere—as if it's been airlifted out of a small Spanish or Italian village. The 200 bottles on the wine list range from the classics to the skin-contact and orange selections that seem to be getting a lot of recent attention. There are always three reds, three whites, and a sparkling open for by-the-glass pours—if you happen to get there early enough or as a bottle finishes, you get to choose the next to lose its cork. You can also order from the range of craft beers, classic cocktails, and spirits, but most people are here for the vino. To ignore the menu—which changes daily and is written on a sheet of butcher’s paper hanging behind the bar—is to do yourself a disservice." - Carrie Hutchinson

15 Best Bars in Melbourne | Condé Nast Traveler
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elisa m

Google
a unique, daily changing seasonal menu is what enticed us here! we enjoyed the warm, homely feel of gerald's, feeling so welcome as soon as we walked in! we loved the concept of their set menu, without even ordering or being shown a menu we were just brought dishes, it was so exciting!! we especially love their anchovies, thinly sliced vitello tonnato, and they absolutely perfected the snapper. you won't be bored at gerald's! perfect place for a tasty bite, a wine and great conversations.

Jasmine (Jas.eats)

Google
ORDERED: 🥦  Broccolini, butter beam hummus, dukkah ($24.00) 🐟  House-smoked trout, kipfler, creme fraiche, trout roe ($28.00) 🍝 Pasta Mista, pork ragu, 3 yo grana padano ($25.00) 🥧  Banoffee Pie, coconut ($14.00) 🎂  Chocolate pudding, cream ($14.00) It was $60.50pp, including a drink between two. REVIEW: 💖  Our favourite was the dessert!! In particular, the chocolate pudding blew us away. The airy crispy top. The molten bottom that liquifies into a decadent hot chocolate. It was a living dream. I would order this again in a heart beat! The banoffee pie was a little too decadent and sweet. However, the caramel flavour (definitely no coffee flavour in sight!) was delicious and incredibly addictive. The crispy base shattered my diet but it was fantastic as well. 🤩 ✔️  Pasta mista isn't something I typically served at Italian/European centric restaurants. There was an element of fun, seeing all the different pasta types and eating it with the pork ragu and the generous shaving of salted cheese. ❌  The house smoke trout kipfler was not my favourite. I know it's hard to find all the pin bones in the fish. My suspicions were raised when I inadvertently swallowed a couple before I was able to catch one with my teeth before it went any further.  😰 They're thin and small enough not to do any real harm, but it's unpleasant to have. 👎 ❌  In house bread had weak game. Felt like it was left out for a while where it had hardened, and it didn't seem like the butter/oil came complimentary. When we asked the waitress, she was happy to accommodate whichever we preferred, but very strange for it to not come with anything. 😬 ➖  Service was fine. They kept an eye on our dishes, and were timely with dropping off and picking up our new dishes. The waitress with the brunette braided ponytail was extremely friendly, while I noticed the others seemed a little more annoyed. 🤨

Troy Hynam

Google
3 months in Melbourne and service 15/10 seriously amazing. UNTIL we got to Gerald's. Beautiful cocktails but what's the rude big guy in the vest? A pig. He was so rude it was so surprising. Melbourne service. 5 star. The fat dude at Gerald's? -3

Renae Paradise

Google
A charming place and the team were passionate and knowledgeable about the food and wines on offer. We had the feed me menu which is great value and the variety of dishes were delivered at a good pace and the meal flowed well. Can’t wait to go back and try some delights from the menu! The night was topped off with a delicious banoffee coconut pie! This seems like a great place to drop in for a wine or quick bite. That said we had a very special dinner and a night to remember. Thanks!

Chris Duell

Google
Went here the other night with my mate and shared a whole lot of different items from the amazing menu. We shared the mortadella, white anchovies and cecina to start then for mains shared the haloumi with burnt honey, pork tonnato, spiced lamb ribs and the porterhouse. There was not a single thing I could fault with this meal everything from the service to the quality of ingredients used were top notch. I absolutely loved every minute of my time here and will absolutely be back. Unfortunately I forgot to take photos before we ate the food as we got top excited.

Jenniferjane

Google
First visit to Geralds Bar, can’t believe I missed it all these years. We shared a series of dishes, everything was cooked perfectly, pasta and meat tender and succulent with the most delicious sauces. I’ll definitely be back.

Joey Lim

Google
Overall- will visit again. It’s a casual homey bar. A place you will go for date with girlies/ partner. Simple food made good. Cocktails are so good. 2 cocktails, 1 each of canned anchovies, zucchini flowers, smoked eel cigars, wallaby tartare came down to $140 -1 star for bad bread game. It wasn’t fresh and it didn’t come with olive oil or butter.

Gaelle D (GalouD)

Google
Unfortunately, the food, nor the coktails reached our expectations. Very disappointing for the price. Service: One of the waiter was nice, the other wasn't feeling it at that time. Maybe we came in a bad day... Good location though.