Bar Rogue

Bar Rogue is the ultimate spot for drinking wine. This handsome bar and diner from the team behind European bistro Le Rebelle has a more laid-back feel to the mothership up the road, with plenty of space for spontaneous walk-ins and a menu that’s primed for both mid-week snacking and lengthy Sunday lunches.

While the drinks list includes beers on tap, boutique spirits and a concise list of cocktails, wine is very much the focus here. The list is broad, with bottles ranging from skin-contact South Australian chenin blanc to American riesling from Oregon.

The international approach carries over to the kitchen, with previous menu highlights including spicy moo ping (Thai-style pork skewers); French-influenced cold-fried chicken with house-made fromage blanc and caviar; and wine-friendly antipasti. On Sundays, Bar Rogue serves a three-course lunch involving snacks, a main dish with sides and a dessert.

Husband and wife owners Sarah and Liam Atkinson have designed the two-tiered space to be old-world in the front, with the mezzanine area adopting a more modern aesthetic. Save for the framed black and white photo of Meatloaf and some salvaged signs from the space’s past lives as Kings Brasserie and Mykonos, everything looks very of the moment. But Bar Rogue also feels like it’s been watering the neighbourhood for years.