Monopole

On the Grid : Monopole

"You’ll have to take extra care when trying to find this place, it’s barely visible to the naked eye. Monopole is a wine-bar-meets-restaurant on Macleay street owned by two Sydney lads with a leading reputation in the industry. The wine list is outstanding, although somewhat overwhelming, but don’t be shy about asking for help from laid back staff who are super knowledgeable. Aside from the wine, the share plates are a hit. Nice lighting, easy going service and fantastic booze. What more could you want? Photography: Monopole." - Squad Ink

"A wine bar with excellent eats Sydney is only just getting into the wine-bar-with-fantastic-food thing, but so far it's doing it extremely well. The new digs of sommelier and local wine expert Nick Hildebrandt and chef Brent Savage (the pair also own the more serious Bentley Bar) has been decked out by designer Pascale Gomes McNabb. It is dark and elegant; a beautiful, long, stool-lined counter runs from bar to kitchen, and the walls are lined with bottles from the 500-strong, leaning-towards-natural list. You can drop in for a glass of wine (the place has just won a best wine list award for 2014), but I'd recommend making the most of this wine-and-dine bar. A house-cured beef pastrami, made from beef tongue, is curled on a finger-length spelt crouton with pillowy goat's curd and pickle. Calamari is served with a black sausage puree and fresh broad beans."

"Monopole, Potts Point by Squad Ink. You’ll have to take extra care when trying to find this place, it’s barely visible to the naked eye. Monopole is a wine-bar-meets-restaurant on Macleay street owned by two Sydney lads with a leading reputation in the industry. The wine list is outstanding, although somewhat overwhelming, but don’t be shy about asking for help from laid back staff who are super knowledgeable. Aside from the wine, the share plates are a hit. Nice lighting, easy going service and fantastic booze. What more could you want? Photography: Monopole."

21 Best Bars in Sydney | Condé Nast Traveler

"If ever there were a bar to impress your most sophisticated globetrotting friend, Monopole would be it. The sexy European-style wine bar goes all in on atmosphere with a gleaming black bar, slivers of gray metal hanging from the high ceilings, and dark, rich woods. And although the cocktails are decent, what you're really here for is the award-winning wine list: that's 500 rare and boutique bottles from around the globe hand-picked by co-owner (and one of Australia's most renowned sommeliers) Nick Hildebrandt. The bites coming out of the kitchen are likewise excellent." - Kris Fordham, Laura Dannen Redman