Kirk's Wine Bar

Favourite wine bar where you can sit outdoors and people watch in the bustling Hardware Lane or cosy it up indoors with a glass of Nebbiolo. Arguably also the best wine bar fries in Melbourne. Crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside.

RECEIPT No. 2. Kirk’s Wine Bar, Melbourne (A RETURN, observed) There was a time I came here every week. Just me, a bar seat, a sketchbook, something simple and lovely on a plate. I’d order a drink, watch the bar staff work with elegance and ease, and draw whatever felt true. I always left feeling more like myself. Last night, I brought Sam. It was a surprise, he didn’t know where we were going, just that we were going out. I booked us an Uber there and back. He said no one had ever done that for him before. The night was my thank you to him. For every meal he made while I worked on my 75 illustrations. For all the quiet support, the warmth, the steadiness. I wanted to take him somewhere that meant something to me, and now, to us. We arrived just after 5pm, early enough to beat the no-booking crowd. Even so, the place was already buzzing, a rainy, cold night, but still full. We got lucky with a window seat. We started with two Negronis and asked the waitress what the most “Kirk’s” dish was. She named it without pause. (We ordered it, of course, and shared everything, as always.) There was steak frites with café de Paris butter, thick house-made chips, a green leaf salad dressed with dijon and bright grapefruit. And for dessert: two affogatos, one with amaretto, one with frangelico, soft, sweet, and just the right ending. The whole evening felt like a gentle collage of our travels and rituals, Milan and Paris, folded into one small window seat in Melbourne. Familiar food, thoughtful service, soft lighting, and the sound of a wine bar alive with conversation, just tucked off a laneway in the city. A treat, a thank you, a soft celebration. The total: $200. Almost exactly what we’d spent at Marmelo the week before. Coincidence, or just what good dinners cost when they mean something? wine bar: a favourite returned to chips: fat, golden, made in-house affogato: shared, spiked, softly celebratory total: $200, still worth every cent More @thejulietreport

Casual wine bar in Hardware Lane, that serves good food. This related enclave of wine bar, another small dining room for 8 downstairs, street dining in Hardware Lane situated under the French Saloon upstairs. So many options. There are a number of specials posted on the wall in addition to the menu. Good wine list, but wines by the glass are limited but there are a couple of Corovin offerings as well. The food does not disappoint and the sauces like upstairs are delicious and the dining environment casual and friendly. Staff are friendly and helpful too. No negatives here. This wine bar is worth a visit. As I said, so many options but walk-ins only. Enjoy.

As you may be able to see from my pictures it was pouring rain the second time we were there. We did however have a terrific time our waitress, Alice, although getting soaked from the rain was a real Trooper and did a great job. We had lots of fun and it was a night to remember.

Such a fun little bar, whether sitting inside or out. Lovely selection of wines too. Good place for people watching too if you’re so inclined

Stopped by for a quick lunch and enjoyed a selection of snacks and small plates. The snapper dish was a standout—full of flavor and cleverly prepared! The tartare was a bit overwhelming for my taste, but the wine recommendation was spot on. Great food, good wine. I'll definitely be back to try more!

Love love this place - we shared a cheese plate. Wine is always outstanding. I feel relaxed and happy here - try to go when I visit Melbourne- right in the heart of things

Kirk’s is my favourite bar/restaurant in Melbourne. I will come here every time in the city. Highly recommend the pasta special and the pig head donut.

Hidden gem - a little off the beaten track but well worth the effort. Great selection of wines with full bar available should you need it. Lots of excellent small plates.

Oui Oui! Kirk's is a lovely escape in the centre of Melbourne. If you're longing for your next European holiday, then a visit here for glasses of wine and shared plates of cheese, charcuterie and other wine-friendly foods, will help tie you over until you purchase that plane fare. Forget the fact that the menus are written in English and the waiters have that Aussie twang, if you squint hard enough you could be on a Parisian street corner watching the world go by as you drink glasses of Chablis. A lovely spot for a date or a catch up with a friend, but probably not the place for a large gathering as seating is minimal. Service is efficient and non-obtrusive. They're happy to load up your table with eats and then drift past when your glass is looking low. There's always some daily specials that are a little more substantial if you want to stick around for dinner, but my pick is to come here for a few nibbles and a glass or two before moving on to another venue.

Ok, so this place just opened, like December 1st 2016, not even a week ago! Cool simple fit out. Nice beer selection, no advertising on taps which makes for more engagement with the really lovely 2 bar staff.its a small bar. Stools are comfy. Will have to return to try more, this includes food, wine and beers. From 1st impressions, I think this is and will be la winner.

This is one of my favourite wine bars. You can almost always get a seat. The wines list changes semi regularly. Tonight I had food all from the specials list. The cauliflower fritters were delightful lightly battered morsels served with a lime dressing. The calamari came with roasted brussel sprouts (my favourite) and segments of mandarin. Also had the cured kingfish served with raw and seared (I think) beetroot. Delicious.

Tried this place for breaky today. Extremely impressed. I got the special omelette and it was pretty amazing. Superb coffee and quick polite service. I am coming back here for sure.

Sunny in atmosphere, service and taste. The coffee is great too. Enough said I wanna get back to my food.

Friendly service. Trendy wine bar. Had a very tasty and well prepared steak tartare. I wish that wine bars like this would be just a little bit more passionate when it comes to the selection of beers. I get it, wine is the thing, but there are som many tasty and interesting beers out there but these places always plays it safe. Nevertheless, Kirk's Wine Bar is great and I recommend it without hesitation.

Wine is good. However, the staff-(man with a beard) not friendly and very brush offish. Needless to say. I won't come back, however, do try it and while you're here do taste the burrata. Don't say check he'll get his panties in a twist, it's, "The bill".

This cute little wine bar on the corner of hardware lane and little bourke has quite a variety of yummy nibbles to soak up the awesome wine they have. It's a little bit squishy and intimate in the colder weather because it's such a small area but in the warmer months it would be a great spot to sit down with a glass of wine and snacks and watch the world go by. Bonus is they do have heaters outside if you feel a bit too warm inside you can sit outside in a little bit of comfort!

Lovely little wine bar along a little pedestrian alley. Stopped in for a bit in the afternoon. Service was very friendly and prompt.

Although this is called a Wine Bar, it's a café too - it's open from before 8am on weekdays and is ideal for a pre-work coffee or an early business meeting. It's a bit tricky to know where the entrance is ... there is one right on the corner of the block and there's also one a little along Hardware Lane. Once inside, the place has small but workable tables, most pleasantly situated. Be careful not to select the table right at the corner entrance though as this will be buffeted by people using the corner entrance and may become irritating. The service is great and coffee is good - it's nice.

My favourite spot day noon or night. Part of the European / city wine shop / journal stable, you are assured of top notch food always. The Holstein, tuna Nicoise, gnocchi are just some recurring favourites. Wines by the glass are always well chosen and they have interesting obscure beers. Ppl watching was never so much fun!

Great offerings breakfast thru dinner. Impressed with the selection of both local wines and cheeses as well as the cocktail menu.

A great wine list with a good range of local and international varieties by the glass. The menu comprises a number of substantial bar-snack options and a few mains. We had zucchini flowers stuffed full of creamy goats cheese, a special of mushroom and eggplant fries and fantastic house-cured ocean trout with orange and pickled fennel. Some excellent desserts too.

Fantastic night. A great setting down in the wine cellar, surrounded with wines and history. A party of 5, sharing dishes, wines and desert, averaged to $80 per head. The Oysters with horseradish and the Gnocchi were outstanding. Oysters (both natural and horseradish. Marinated Olives. Spiced Roast Nuts. Fries with Aioli. Polenta Chips. Cured Salmon. Saganaki. Fried Chicken. Gnocchi. Affogato. Will go again.

Great place. Good selection of wines from both Australia and the old world. Big ups to Laszlo who took the time to talk us through not just the on premise wine list but also other wine places around the city. Thanks guys for a great time.

We stopped for a quick drink.. Nice wine and a small interesting menu that we'll be back to sample.

Cute little wine bar in a central location, we had our last glass of the evening here. Worth a visit, especially if you enjoy wine and want to stay out late.