Bench Wine Bar

I’ve been here a few times and its cool as a local meeting spot, but I have mixed feelings about the place.
I hear the wine list is good, not that I am some wine connosiuer, but the company I keep usually is, lol. This is probably why I always find myself drinking wine but never learning a thing about it, I just rely on everyone else’s seemingly infinite wine expertise.
So anyway, the wines are good, the service is a bit wierd and spotty in my opinion. I’m not that into the décor. Yup. If I ever find myself back there again and the service is stellar, I’ll give them another star.

We had walked passed Bench Wine Bar for some months now wondering what was going on with the space as it had been the restaurant area for the pizza place next door.
So this time, because we were umm-​ing and ahh-​ing about where to have an impromptu date night, we though why not.
My initial thoughts were, bit of a tinny space to fill with a bar — but yeah, it worked (and being an ex-​restuarantuer I could see one person could work this easily).
What did surprise me (so much, as we like the idea for our home) is a wine rack area on the back wall made out of, what looked like, large plastic plumbing pipe with the all the wines inside.
The lights are hung low which gives the feeling or either snug or a little caged in, but ti was working as the music was not intrusive.
We knock down a couple of Bellinis and a small dish of trio of olives which was great.
I would sum Bench Wine Bar up as a great place to meet friends for some drinks or pre-​dinner drinks. And of course a heap of little snacks.
Even though it is small space, the owners have been clever and places tables, chairs and a big bench which sort of forces everyone to sit down. So no fellow patrons standing, getting tipsy and animated around you whilst you are sitting enjoying your space.

Bench is a relatively new wine bar in Newtown. It’s a good addition, since there are already plenty of beer-​filled pubs and cocktail bars here.
It’s mostly about the wines, and they’ve got a well-​chosen selection of both Australian and overseas (mostly European). Many are by the glass and these are listed together up front for easy selection, but also repeated further back with full and excellent descriptions of each.
Their food menu is relatively small and tapas-​like, but everything I’ve had from it is very good. The lamb pizza was surprisingly so, with marinated strips of lamb, perfectly-​cooked potato, a slice of red onion, and feta cheese. Most items have wine suggestions to accompany them.
They’ve got regular wine events, a regular business card draw, and a good mailing list.
The folks that run the place are super nice. They’re already starting to recognise me. Service has always been very friendly and patient.
It’s funky, cool, small, with jazzy music. There are indeed a couple of high benches to sit at, but also some tables for two, including a couple outside on the sidewalk.
It’s a little bit nice but not pretentious. It’s perfect for when you’re not super hungry but just want a bite or two, and fancy a different glass of wine with each.