The Wine Library

After a tedious process for dissing their ACTUAL opening times…
Their own web site is wrong, google are wrong and Facebook is wrong we arrived for lunch.
Waiter told me the site is 3 years old and totally out of date.
WTF?
Had…
Truffle toasties
Duck polenta
Cauliflower salad
Delicious and nicely presented.
Waiter was pretty chilled as the place was quiet (horrible weather)
All in all, would gladly go back.

Dropped in here on a Sunday afternoon for an espresso followed by a glass of wine and some snacks.
My double espresso was really good and a lot better than some coffee shops serve.
The gentleman behind the bar had been let down by his casual staff member doing a no-​show so he was under the pump managing the afternoon rush. This did not have any affect on the friendliness of the service at all.
The wine list is extensive and you can peruse on your own or ask for suggestions and advice.
Cheeses were yum but would have been even better had they not come straight out of the fridge but they did soften in next to no time. It was also really good value for the portions given and the waiter talked us through each different variety.
Sweet potato crisps were salty and delicious.
Without a doubt I will be back.

My first time at the Wine Library last night. How does that work? A whole crap-​ton of amazing reviews wasn’t enough to convince me to go sooner? No? Who the hell am I anyway? I sound like a total jerk. Man I’d hate to be me.
What I don’t hate is propping up the bar at this top ‘o Paddo institution (and yes, this is one of those times when the word institution is well and truly warranted. Also, if you’re talking about an actual Institution, like a mental hospital or something).
It’s just so casually cool, like Johnny Depp was before he got weird and started kind of actually becoming Jack Sparrow in real life. And the wine? Well. I think you know how that turned out.

We went here for a quick dinner, we had been there before and it had been great. Tonight we had the chicken and leek pie, and it was not nice at all, very strange flavor the chicken actually tasted like salmon. The carpet was really dirty too, so it seemed a bit run down compared to what it used to be.

Went to the wine library last night after dinner and I was not impressed.
It’s a glorified bar with thousand dollar bottles of wine on the menu. Wine should be served in a comfortable atmosphere and the metal bar stools just do not give me that feeling.
The bartenders are not attentive and rude. I suggest people go to love tilly divine and get a better experience with their tasty wine.
My review is based solely on service and atmosphere of the place. Both are just eh.

Cannot believe it has taken me this long to go. Fantastic food, fantastic fitout, fantastic service, fantastic music. Dishes are perfect in size, flavour and variety. This is a great winter hangout or mid-​week bunker to catch up with a couple of friends in and watch the world go by.

Nice simple interior with high stools at the bar. Gets very crowded on Saturday nights. There is a large variety of tapas ranging from 5 classic European cheeses with crackers, bresaola on grissini, salami slices (pretty small these), meatballs in tomato sauce and the like. Patrons seem to like haloumi, some Greek cheese I had never heard of before coming here and quickly to be forgotten. Tapas are always dangerous as your bill runs up without noticing it. We had a first Australian semillon/​sauvignon blanc wine which was OK, followed by a Petit Chablis which was quite good. Prices for the wine were in the 50 – 70 AUD range but some are surprisingly expensive making me wonder who wants to pay 300AUD for an Arbois or other Franche-​Comte wine.

Love the ambience, wine is awesome… You don’t come here to pig out, Yeh, it’s on the expensive side but hey what the hell when you have good company, good wine, average food, staff that leaves you alone but checks in every now and then… 5star if food is as good as the wine.

Great spot for the wine afficionado (and generally lover alike). Very good selection and the service is top notch and friendly. Can get a bit busy so better for a couple than a gang. Definitely a good date night for a suave first impression.

Stopped by this bar during a Sunday stroll. Was intrigued by the menu and loved the décor inside.
We just wanted a quick class of wine and a snack. I had a glass of the Reisling and the truffle quesadilla. My boyfriend had the meat plate. Both were delicious :)
The truffle quesadilla was perfectly cooked, not too much cheese, and had a rich truffle flavor. The meat tray had three heaping portions of meat, a small hunk of cheese, and three pieces do bread with a delicious tomato spread.
Definitely interested in going back for dinner someday. My only suggestion was that they would have a cheese and meat tray, since it was really only one or the other.

The Wine Library is a cosy small wine bar with an extensive international wine list selected by the owners — not one forced on them by their alcohol supplier. The food is small modern European plates which are exquisitely crafted — but with a tasty modern twist in each case.
Even on a Tuesday night it was jam-​packed full of couples staring into each others eyes and working out whether they wanted to go home with each other (one of my single mates uses it consistently as his «first-​date bar» as it makes such an impression on impressionable Sydney girls) and buzzing.
We were a group of four and lucky to get a place, when we did we tried a bottle of the Cote du Rhone and then several bottles of the R11 VDF Rouge. We sampled cheeses and meats and fish and all the food was excellent!
Service was efficient and attentive. Will definitely take my wife back for a romantic tete a tete!

Been meaning to go for ages. I always drive past and its packed, and I love its sibling Buzo around the corner, so thought they might be up to some good things. And boy was I right ! Went with friends friday night… the professional staff squeezed us onto the bar and served us up delicious food and wine, all night. This exceptional, bustling little wine bar lived up to its reputation — delicious reasonably priced small dishes, not served all up at once by friendly and knowledgeable staff… and an amazing selection of wine especially by the glass… what better place to be on a winters night… and on Oxford street ! Places like this make Sydney great. Thankyou.

Being a lover of wine I was drawn to this restaurant by its name. I’ve been about 4 times now and every time I’ve had a great experience. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu– I’m allergic to everything so this is very important to me! The ambiance is great too. It’s always bustling, but never too loud. I’d recommend checking this place out!

The service in Sydney/​Australia hasn’t been the best, so when you come to a place with friendly wait staff, its always great.
Came here to celebrate a friend’s engagement. The place is a bit small but has a nice cozy intimate feel.
We ordered the cheapest bottle of champagne, which was $ 58 and it was tasty. My friend is gluten intolerant and can’t have dairy, so our waitress went through the menu bit by bit and told her what she could and could not have.
We ordered the sweet potato chips, the chickpea and chorizo salad, the king fish, the meatballs and some proscuitto and cheese. Everything was delicious and they did a good job staggering the tapas so our table wasn’t too full.
In the end it was $ 42 each, not too shabby.

This is my another surprise discovery. One day I was on my way to Victor Churchill, I noticed this low-​key, slick, mysterious (?) looking place. Out of curiosity, I opened the door to look inside. A very friendly staff member greeted and welcomed in.
She explained it’s been only a week or so, but the place has attracted lots of customers already. She showed me around and explained this place used to be a boutique for women’s clothes. I liked the coziness and how they have converted to a cool wine bar.
This is another wine bar with chairs which I love. There are a couple of small tables in the bar area, more tables in the backside, then a small courtyard section.
They have tapas style dishes — cold, hot, more of meal dishes. I enjoy a bacon and egg roll with a glass of wine as Sunday branch. If I am there in the afternoon, a nice cheese plate goes well with wine…
Staff members are very friendly and help you decide what wine you would like to have if you are not sure. They have great selection of wines and I am sure they can pick one for you!

The Wine Library has to be one of the most innovative and interesting wine bars in town.
Located at the Woolahra end of Oxford Street, this place has excellent food and wine in a comfortable setting, with gorgeous décor and a constant hum of conversation.
Relax in the front bar area, which is complete with lots of lovely little touches, including hooks on the bar counter for your bag, or sit back and enjoy the laid-​back atmosphere of courtyard.
The cellar is wonderfully extensive, with local and international options, with a good number of these available by the glass. Wines by the glass from $ 6, and most bottles are under $ 100, many around the $ 50 mark.
The range of food for lunch and dinner is as incredible as the wine selections. My pick is the pork and veal meat balls, or the Charcuterie (meat) plate, and the ‘pan con tomato’ served with it (which a delicious Spanish snack of grilled breads rubbed with tomato).

There are no books, just wine (and some great food). The warm spaces inside the wine library are perfect for meeting up with a couple of friends to share a intimate conversation over a glass of wine paired with a soft, warm quesadilla of truffle and creamy stracchino. The bar is open and the leads to a small back room and narrow patio section. This place feels and is grown up. The wine selection is superb and the tapas menu completes the ambiance. We usually sit at a table in the back section which is much quieter than the bar. the staff is very friendly and manage the place with great efficiency and style even when it gets busy. Highly recommended if you want grown up drink in a grown up bar.

A thick Italian accent pervades this slick New York style get up in uptown Woollahra. A wine catalogue spanning over 350 vinos is a long term commitment for dedicated quaffers. The bar is always buzzing so that’s where you’ll find me. Rita’s eggplant parmigiana is creamy, rich and deeeelish beneath a thick cheesy crust. Pair it with the witlof, gorgonzola and walnut salad. Black truffle and stracchino quesadilla oozes cheesy goodness and the shaved truffle seems wonderfully indulgent. Charcuterie plate with manchego and crusty Italian bread smashed with fresh tomatoes goes to show the simple things really are the best. Lashings of fresh grated cheese lavish virtually everything that emerges from the oven. What to wash it all down with… dining solo? Go the temperanillo by the glass, or the ultimate — Torbreck — which lives up to every cent of its $ 22 a glass price tag. Ideally, bring a companion and share a bottle or two, which literally opens up a world of choice. Ultra efficient and friendly staff will happily guide your selection. If it’s busy, mosey down to the Light Brigade for a quick one and they’ll buzz you when you’re up. Tip: watch your head in the front bathroom — I almost knocked myself out once on the low sloping ceiling. Yes I had been drinking, but it was definitely the ceiling’s fault. Head injuries aside, this cheesy wine fest is my kinda library. See you at the bar.

It’s been a long time coming but I finally managed to visit The Wine Library at the Paddington end of Oxford Street. With a spring in my step, I entered and within thirty seconds was back out on the footpath.
It’s not all bad though. Upon entry I was greeted by a friendly staff member who informed my companion and I that there would be a twenty minute wait for a spot, so he took my number and we went to a near by establishment to have what can only be described as a ‘pre dinner settler’. Nearing the end of that ‘twenty minute wait’ we received a call telling us our name was up and for the second time that night, we entered The Wine Library. A cool small bar split into two parts. A small (er) bar at the front and another small seating area at the back. And by small, I mean it probably fits 50 people at once.
We were lead to our seats which happened to be at the bar and given our waiter for the night. The seats at the bar were great, our new waiter was not as friendly as the previous chap. It was nothing to get worked up about but clearly it hadn’t been a good night for him. We were handed our food and drinks menu.
Resting the food menu aside for the time being we browsed the drinks menu which coincidentally was full of wines. I’m sure there were other options on there but to be honest I can’t fully recall. I will be sure to double check next time round. For a couple of novice wine drinkers there was plenty to choose from and we settled on a glass of Italian Pinot Grigio each.
It was now time for the food menu and upon perusal stumbled across some great little items, primarily to share. An array of panini, morsels and charcuterie plates mixed with hot foods, fresh seafood, salads, desserts and cheeses. A couple of fresh oysters, a plate of scallops, cured trout and lamb gozleme won out on the day. And all were great. Even better as they were washed down with a second glass of the Pinot Grigio.
Quite content with what we had, we skipped the dolci and fromages although there were several options to be had of each. Maybe next time!
Sitting at the bar, you see it all happen in front of you and if you can, it’s highly recommended but I’m sure nothing will be lost sitting elsewhere. It’s a place that is buzzing, once you finally get in.
All in all and for around $ 70 for two, it was worth the wait. Hopefully it won’t be as long till the next visit.

I’m not really supposed to be drinking wine since it aggravates my acid reflux (too much information?), but I will cave in for an exceptional wine bar. The Wine Library was the exception this week. More than just a wine bar, this sultry restaurant oozes sophistication with an older clientele and professional (though not as friendly as I would have liked) staff. It is dimly lit with bookshelves stocked to the brim with wines of all types, each displaying their bold silhouettes through an orange glow. The place was packed with professionals looking to work their way through the custom-​made catalogue of international wines. Although it was crowded, I felt very comfortable and had plenty of space to fling around my wine glass during enthusiastic conversation.
The tapas style menu is filled with divine made-​to-​order specials, some of which are made right in front of you if you’re sitting at the bar. While there’s definitely a Mediterranean theme, there are also hints of French and even American Southern cuisine showing up. I chuckled at the ridiculous price of the grits, which any Southerner will tell you is usually the cheapest thing around. While the food being cooked and plated in front of me looked scrumptious, I decided to go straight for the tiramisu. Didn’t regret it one bit.