First Look: The Aussie Milk Bar Meets an American Dive at Coburg’s Sweet Nectar Inn

Cosy and unpretentious, Coburg’s new neighbourhood hangout Sweet Nectar Inn combines the charm of the classic Australian milk bar with the laid-back appeal of an American dive bar.

“We wanted to have the sort of hybrid corner store and local bar where you could come for a casual drink in the afternoon and leave with a bottle of wine and some groceries to put dinner together,” says Devon Hunter, who co-owns the bar with his partner Sam O’Farrell.

Hunter grew up in California and spent a decade working in hospitality there, most recently behind the bar at Henry’s in Berkeley when chef Chris Kronner and the Tartine team were running the show.

He brings an easy, laid-back Californian approach to Coburg. “We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable drinking something they haven’t tried before or would otherwise be nervous to ask about,” says Hunter.

The wine list and rotating tap beers are all Australian, and the bar hosts relaxed wine and beer tastings. Drink specials, such as the occasional spritz, are scrawled on the blackboard and the bar has refillable one-litre flagons you can use to take home wine from producers including Fin Wines and Konpira Maru.

O’Farrell, a ceramicist and former sales assistant at Preston Apothecary, has curated a small pantry section with City Larder pates, Acide pickles, hot salami and dill pickle potato chips. Plates are provided for what Hunter calls a little “DIY picnic situation”, and anything from the pantry can be enjoyed inside or at one of the small footpath tables.

Devon and O’Farrell transformed a former hair salon and completed as much of the fit out themselves as possible. “We were left with a pretty blank slate to do everything from the ground up,” says Hunter. They custom fitted the space with warm wooden furniture and O’Farrell spent nearly six months crafting 300 handmade tiles for the bar top. They’re adorned with colourful hand-painted motifs and tie into the flower-shaped ceramic light fixtures she also made.

The west-facing bar is tucked away from the bustle of Sydney Road, and warm light fills the space in the hours before sunset, dreamily showing off the owners’ handiwork.

Sweet Nectar Inn
140 Nicholson Street, Coburg
No phone

Hours:
Wed to Sat midday–9pm
Sun midday–6pm

@sweetnectarinn