Bear’s Wine Bar

Updated October 7, 2026,first published May 9, 2025

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You might expect a wine list of this calibre to be the draw at Bear’s. Instead, it bolsters a wider offering of clever snacking and wine-friendly feasting. The brainchild of Supernormal alumni Austin Kangket and Nathan Schofield (the one responsible for the wine), this beacon of warm light and red brick feels like a haven just off North Melbourne’s main strip.

Stracciatella and tomatoes reads like a Melbourne wine bar standby, but is handily reimagined with the earthy addition of zaatar. Tender barbecued cabbage sits under a bed of craggly, crisp tobacco onions, begging for a glass of mineral-driven txakolina.

The lamb ribs, proudly pink, would look right at home in a much finer diner. End on deep-fried Tim-Tams. They’re exactly how they sound and encapsulate what Bear’s does best: playful excellence.

Best for: A casual first date with an emphasis on good food.

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A welcome reminder that restraint can still delight.

Inviting local boozer doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but keeps it spinning smoothly.

Funk, fire and fantastic cocktails.