The Athenian Riviera is home to the ancient Temple of Poseidon, beautiful beaches and now a pumping food and drink scene featuring Michelin stars and listening bars. Bar Sophia brings plenty of that energy to the largely Italian dining scene in Glen Iris via a 45-seat dining room and a 12-seat front bar in the former site of the old Burke Road bottle shop, 161 Cellars.

Through an open window into the kitchen, you can see the chefs at work on the woodfired oven that gives the restaurant its identity. House-made flatbreads topped with grated kefalotyri (a tangy Greek goat’s cheese) and small plates like Shark Bay scallops, pork neck skewers and house-made haloumi using Gippsland Jersey milk were just some of the opening-menu highlights.

The wine list highlights Greece, Sicily and Georgia, with some small Aussie producers in the mix. The restaurant is fully licensed, which means you can buy a bottle for the road. Cocktails include a house Martini made with Votanikon gin from Greece. Expect funk, Italo disco and, of course, some Greek classics in the vinyl rotation.