Wines of While
and Vincent Wine, a pair of wine bars at the top of Northbridge, are constantly buzzing, with patrons regularly overflowing onto William Steet. Soon, this wine hub will grow from two to three with the opening of Margot’s, a WA-focused bar and cellar door. Taking over the space that used to be Ginger nightclub, Margot’s is an opportunity for its owners to mix work and play.

“We’ve transformed upstairs into our offices [Baltinas Architecture] and knew the space downstairs would be perfect for a bar,” says architect Barry Baltinas, one of the partners behind the project. “This area is an incredible multicultural hub, and Margot’s is sort of the trilogy in the wine bar offerings.”

Opening the 100-person bar and cellar door with Baltinas is his wife, interior designer Rebecca Frost; and hospitality veteran Gary Beadle, the owner of Tiki as Fk, who also opened Lot Twenty, Five Bar and 399.

Never miss a Perth moment. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

“If something good came out of the pandemic, it was that people learnt about their own backyard and discovered how special it is,” says Beadle. “It may seem obvious, but we live in WA and it’s our place and our home. Supporting our local businesses makes us happy.”

According to Beadle, Margot’s will be an intimate bar that connects producers and customers. Previously part of the adjacent Mela Indian restaurant, it will offer indoor and outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. Half of Margot’s will be a cellar door, with the other half set aside for the bar. The space will also feature a tasting bench that will be used by local winemakers to share wines with guests.

“We were inspired to create an interactive space that connects producers with customers, that don’t typically frequent regular bottle shops,” says Beadle. “The aim is for people to get to know the small wineries that they may not otherwise come across.”

The food offering will complement the small-batch local wines with small-plate dining options and shared tasting boards. Vegan and gluten-free options will be available. The bar will also partner with neighbouring Dough Pizza to offer guests exclusive Margot’s-only pizzas matched with selected wines.

Designed by Frost, the bar’s interior will reflect the West Australian landscape through the use of jarrah flooring and a distinctive Pilbara red marble.

“As we’re championing Western Australian produce, we also felt moved to put the spotlight on materials and designers from the state,” says Frost, who plans to work with local designers to produce the bar’s furniture. “That’s also how the name Margot’s came about: Margot is Greek for pearl, and we have the most beautiful pearls up north, so it’s all tied in.”

Margot’s Bar & Cellar Door (434 William Street, Northbridge) is due to open in February 2023.