Review City Wine Shop - Melbourne

Fairly quiet for a Friday but staff were attentive and as usual chatty and polite. We took our 4&5yo for the first time, we’ve been many times and knew portion sizes were generous so one gnocchi main to share for the kids and 4-5 starters and a shared main for two adults was plenty of food. Wines on point as always.

An old favourite for me in Melbourne. European bistro style vibes. You get a cute well stocked wine shop with great wine options and amazing food whether you after some nibbles, main or dessert. The level of service is good and there is outdoor seating which means it's dog friendly 😊

Waiters with great wine knowledge - happytochat and share tips and suggestions. Great atmosphere.

I love this place and come often. The food, booze and vibe are great. But the service outside has been consistently bad. Takes ages to get seated, 15+ min to get served, staff being condescending to my less wine-inducted friends, etc. It's such low hanging fruit to be nicer to customers, please lift your game.

only came in for wine, very friendly and attentive service, extensive wine selection reasonably priced. will definitely come back

Awesome seasonal food with extensive wine list. One can expect quality, attentiveness and a good time at this joint. I have visited this place for the third time and will be back for more. Great ambience with old school charm and antique interior. The seating for City Wine Shop is combined with The European. Siglo and The Melbourne Supper Club are upstairs, which makes a great transition to lounge and chill out at night. You can also finish off with gelato next door at Spring Street Grocer. To me, these joints make an essential Melbourne experience. P.S. The ox tongue was particularly special and noteworthy. Also the cod roe crumpet!

Love this place to catch up with friends, business meetings or just yourself has everything you could want, staff are great and could tell you anything about the wines and food on offer and super friendly always get the polenta chips, it’s a must!

I should have started this earlier...befoe I started eating. I had the European Steak Tartare (which was excellent). Recommended.

Lovely shop with a good (albeit pricey) selection of wines and some spirits. I’ve never dined in but I’ve had good experiences when shopping. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable and the wines are great - especially if you’re into more traditional varieties.

I came by this morning for a takeaway coffee and realised I was a little early for my meeting. I took a seat outside to pass the time and the lady who served me came over to say I was not permitted to sit in their outdoor space with a coffee cup, might I add there were plenty of seats to sit at. Unbelievably rude!

One of my favourite spot in the city, love the atmosphere, seating outside in the nice weather have some lunch or dinner are the best, the menu changes frequently, great selection of wine.

One of my all time favourites!

Really nice atmosphere with good selection of wine. Interesting selection of bites. Would recommend the goat’s cheese as the honey was really fragrant, and it goes well with wine. The anchovies was a lil too salty but you could cut a smaller piece to go with the egg if u wish. Steak was brilliantly done (had mine medium rare) & I loved the sauce.

This was a bit of a hidden gem! I must've walked past this place a lot without even realizing it was there. Went here for dinner with some friends and the food was so hearty and felt like an amazing home-cooked meal. Loved the meatball pasta! Didn't try the wine (I know - what even), but am keen to do so next visit!

Food and wine are both delicious. Friendly service and we were seated inside. I love their daily specials on the black board. My Pinot Blanc was delicious as my tuna. It was nicely cooked.

This review marks my 450th! Whoo hoo Haha  If there was ever a review to celebrate than this is it!<br/><br/>I have been here once before many years ago, so when  I walked past yesterday I wanted to pay them another visit.<br/><br/>I LOOOOVE this place! It has a real European feel to it and outstanding wine list, very much on the pricey side but well worth it.<br/><br/>We ordered some divine French Chardonnay and enjoyed this with our buffalo mozzarella and peppers dish.  A lovely little wine bar where you can also buy bottles inside, I recommend a visit here.

Just came here for coffee. The staff are friendly and the coffee is good. Great location next to the Princess Theatre... good for people watching and relaxing. Whilst the tables were clean, there was a big pile of dirty dishes on the bench outside, which detracted a bit from the atmosphere.

Gorgeous food and wine! It was extremely loud in the small space for awhile when we dined unfortunately as there was a few big groups on the long table. Once it cleared out however it was really nice. Great service here.

4.5<br/><br/>We descended on City Wine Shop an hour before closing time (apologies for being THOSE customers), and were still greeted warmly by the staffs there.<br/><br/>As the kitchen had already closed, I couldn't continue on with my desserts, or even snacks, binge. Craving something sweet, I ordered the umeshu, and it was very enjoyable indeed - sticky, sweet and tart! Everyone else very much enjoyed their selection, Timinmelbourne somewhat less with his choice of Cleansing Ale.<br/><br/>A great spot for a tipple and nibble, regardless of whether you're sitting in the more intimate settings indoor, or smack bang in the middle of the hustle and bustle outside.<br/>

So good! An absolute go to for a balmy evening or any time really. Well priced, quality food offering and well priced take away bottles.<br/>Only problem is it seems staffing is transient (?many working holidays) so can sometimes be a bit inconsistent.

One of my go to dinner places in the city. Nice and cosy with quality wine and great food.<br/><br/>Got my usual of steak and it was on point as usual. The chips were great with that aioli. The Pinot was a great accompaniment.<br/><br/>The lemon tart was perfect to finish on.

Came here for brunch over the weekend with a cute puppy 🐶 We sat outside the waiter was very attentive :) the smoke salmon was very nice, house smoked :) Sadly their menu are very limited, but if you are into wine they got a great wine list :) good for pre theater drink :)

I came here on a beautiful sunny autumn day for lunch and sat outside soaking in all that is best about Melbourne.<br/><br/>The wine list, as you would expect, it exceptional, with some excellent choices available by the glass.<br/><br/>The menu is simple, and supported by a specials board, more than adequate for most.<br/><br/>My Spaghetti with meatballs was perfect for a lunchtime top-up, and the gnochhi had by a partner was raved about.<br/><br/>The service was friendly and attentive.<br/><br/>P.S. The coffee is good too!

Fabulous switched on staff, outstanding wine list, great food - mozzarella salad with prosciutto alongside spaghetti meatballs out of this world !

If you're a wine lover like me you just have to experience this place at least once. Amazing wines and the food is surprisingly crazy delicious. Come here when it's quiet though for good seats. I wish this place was my neighbour. *Sighs.

This place great to go for a drink with friends, which is exactly what I do! When the weather is good, I wonder down from work and have a glass of wine in the sun. The Authentic food and great wine really makes this restaurant a European gem.

Spaghetti with meatballs + truffle fries for two people~ the portion is quite decent for the spaghetti and pretty light as well. Pretty filling as well for 2 people. The spaghetti sauce is similar to bolognese. The fries is homemade, the truffle is nice as well! :)

We came here before a show and found a table under a shade for 5 and it had a distinctly Parisienne feel. Ordered drinks and had bruschetta with a difference- it had egg, rock melon and prosciutto and some greens, the bread crispy & soaked in extra virgin olive oil. The chips had skin on and a side of aoli. Some of us liked it and others didn't but we all found it relaxing and pleasant to sit outside and look across at Parliament House!

Full of flavour food with good portions and lots of choice. Meatballs are slightly cold but he huge in size. The gnocchi is tasteful. Cheese board comes with the same amount of sides regardless of the amount of cheese purchased. Also really annoying to have to pay a 15% surcharge as it's Sunday though the restaurant was so busy

Great wine list for wine lovers! Tiny shop in the middle of the city. The atmosphere is great! Good for a catch up with friends of a business meeting. Nice desserts too

We arrived on a cold rainy night to have a quick meal before the theatre. No space available but we were told we could drink near the bar and they'd have space within 30 mins. Rather than braving the elements outside we chose to stay. My friend had a glass of cab sav and I tried a sparkling rose. The chairs at the bar came available after we ordered olives and almonds to snack on. So we moved to the seating and drank a glass of brut champagne each with our meals. Tortellini with mozzarella and olives and my swordfish with potato and seafood broth. We felt warmed enough to head out into the chilly evening and watch the show after that!

After we had dinner in the city we were on the hunt for a great dessert place and got an insider tip to try the wine shop. Although it was quite packed one of the super friendly and attentive waiter warmly welcomed us and found a nice spot for the three of us. Unfortunately they didn't have their popular tiramisu on the menu anymore. However the available options all sounded no less amazing: hazelnut creme brulee, salted caramel mousse with gelato and chocolate fondant with hazelnut gelato. They all turned out to be awesome, great flavours and combinations, fondant nicely cooked.<br/>We absolutely enjoyed the cozy atmosphere in between all the wine bottles and boxes and the great service made it a very enjoyable finish for our night.

My favourite little wine bar to perch at for drinks. The wines are always delicious and the service is fast and efficient. Came here during the week for pre dinner merlot and savvy b, sat under the warm heater. My favourite way to unwind! I have also been here and enjoyed a few of their snacks, the polenta chips are yummy. Great place with lovely ambience and immaculate service.

Really lovely place for a date...super wine and food is pretty good too! $20 corkage fee on the bottles you buy there but still really good quality food and drink and lively atmosphere outside under the heaters. Great spot if you're looking for a small bite to eat and glass of wine

A personal fav, whether it's breakfast lunch or dinner. Pasta is some of the best in the city (those meatballs are incredible), a v impressive wine selection, all in a cosy environment that makes you feel like you're in a Parisian diner. Good coffee too.

Being half Italian, I rarely eat Italian outside of my Nonna's house (especially when it comes to pasta, which needs so many things to go right to be great, at least to me), so this visit was approached with some caution. I wanted gnocchi, but it had mushrooms (eww), so I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. The sauce was delicious - light/perfectly salted. The pasta wasn't as al dente as I like it (very few places outside of Italy do this right), and strangely enough the meatball to pasta ratio was too high. I've never said this before but I could have done with a little more pasta and maybe one less meatball. Overall, the dish was great. I hope the next gnocchi special is without mushrooms because they looked amazing (pan fried). I'll be back, and next time I'll pair my dish with some wine.

Is there a more laid back, oh so cool pre-theatre pit stop than CWS? I'm hard pressed to come up with one. And whilst the dishes and specials may be served pronto, the quality and execution cometh in spades. The risotto we had was perfectly cooked, the steak rustically brilliant and the ploughman platter's "spam" is definetly one you'd find at your supermarket Isle. Tease yourself with the floor to ceiling myriad of poison you can buy, or do as I did and let the knowledgeable staff arrange marriage the meal with your wine. A class act and worthy of being a Melbourne eating institution.

Hey fellas, the autumn is here and we are feeling Parisienne ;) this is the time you should visit this long standing and good natured establisment. You gotta come here for a glass of wine, but from then on? You gotta trust your waiter as in the complex world of old and new world wines you will do well to have an expert helper. I'll let them take it from here...<br/><br/>...ok, so that's about all I have to say. Drinks are good, wide variety and tasty meals at high-average price. Cest bein

Great food - fig and goats cheese bruschetta and salted fish croquettes. Fabulous wines - Shiraz Viognier and top tunes.... Isaac Hayes and Donald Byrd. And an incredible dessert - salted chocolate caramel. Lovely staff. Seriously go here. Now.

Another stellar evening here; this place can't really be faulted. Wine is sensational, if on the pricey side by the glass. I recommend going inside and buying a bottle off the shelf - you'll pay an extra $20 but it's a cheaper way to enjoy the ambiance of this institution. The polenta chips are flawless - crispy and well seasoned every time, with a delicious side of sour cream. I had the gnocchi for a main and it was absolutely divine. Crunchy hazelnuts, some kale and a whole bunch of goodness. My friend had the smoked salmon risotto and even though I'm not a seafood eater, I had to agree that it was sublime. It's really hard to not have a fantastic night here. One of my favourite places for a bit of a splurge.

Love this place! Tremendous selection of wine by the glass, chicken schnitzels and good coffee. It's never to early there for a cheeky Fernet Branca either...

Great food and service! Only problem is the teeny tiny restaurant size and lack of lighting. Staff did an excellent job of seating people asap and when that was impossible, seating them at the bar to have a drink and order their food. They were always friendly and helpful.<br/><br/>Food was delicious. Steak is also a safe bet, we have also had the rich spaghetti and meatballs and roast porchetta before which were lovely.

We have only just discovered the delights of the food and wine at The City Wine Shop.  We have been 5-6 times now for lunch and dinner and love it!  <br/><br/>We have tried the vitello tonnato (ask for some grilled bread) and it is delicious,  the tuna nicose is perfect as is the special steak on the menu at the moment.  Its not over the top expensive food wise and wine by the bottle is really interesting and half the fun of coming here is spending time inside selecting before dinner.  <br/><br/>The staff (Billie especially) are all gorgeous and so warm and welcoming it feels like our local and being just around the corner we will continue to visit on a very regular basis.

Love this place,dinner with interstate friends.<br/>I have been coming here for years, love the ambiance, the eclectic staff from all nations.<br/>A huge selection of wines, great food.<br/>Tonight was no exception I had blue eye with escabeche and salt cod mash,I was in heaven! A couple of glasses of a German sav blanc finished with an orange creme brûlée .<br/><br/>I have never had a bad meal here,my go to local .<br/>

Went here before heading to the theatre and what a pleasant surprise. The wines of course were excellent but the foods was so very good too. I am salivating thinking of that charcuterie. It's cosy and romantic with the staff delightful and helpful.

Great spot.  My only gripe is, that it is hard to get a seat.  Seems to be only about 20 seats available, and your feel like a bit of a nigel no mates if you are just standing in the bar drinking our wine.  Definitiley recommend.

Aug'17 update - went again after dinner at Pellegrinis and before a show. Shared a lovely bottle of wine with some friends. Unfortunately we didn't realise there was a corkage on bottle prices and of course we went on a Sunday ànd had to pay a fee on all card payments. That's how a $58 bottle became a $91 bottle. Which just doesn't feel right. Will leave my score the same.<br/><br/>Jan'17 - This place has been on the list for a while and a cheeky Tuesday night after work drink was the perfect moment to try it out. Three ofnus were seated on the bar until a table outside came available, which was very quick. Wines by the glass are quite expensive here, nothing under $11. The white that is $11 is $22 for a bottle in the shop. I don't think $22 for a bottle is a lot, but $11 a glass for the cheapest option I find quite expensive. However, places where you can get $9 wines, you might be drinking $9 a bottle wines... who knows. We all took a different glass of white, all were lovely. Had the ploughmans platter which was nice too and not crazy expensive. Read on the chalkboard that they have an extra charge on public holidays and SUNDAYS?! I understand they have to pay their staff more on Sundays, but still. Would definitely go again, but have to remember not to go on a Sunday!

Went to two rooftop bars nearby but was packed on a friday night, opted for this wine bar instead and wasnt dissapointed! Service was good too

Came here on a busy Friday night and the service was great. Staff were very attentive and made sure to offer us drinks as we stood waiting  and chatting amongst the wines. Charcuterie plate, polenta chips and spaghetti meatballs were all amazing. Can't wait to return!

One of my favourite spots in Melbourne hands down. Fantastic, friendly service, great atmosphere, top notch wines and some of the best meatballs in town!

Terrible terrible service, rude and unhelpful! We were told after paying for our expensive breakfast we could not drink our take-away coffees! Would not recommend and very dissapointed!

One of the truly great places to drink wine in Melbourne. Your Dear Luncher enjoys parking his portly frame on the outside tables and just sip wine, nibble food and watch people go by. A favourite to order is the ploughman's plate. This is always a great accompaniment to whatever you're slurping down. Not sure what to order? Ask them, they know. They know about wine and stuff.

<br/>The Wine Company is the perfect place in the city for a wine lover. Its also one of the best places for a quick unplanned celebration. The collection of wine is quite extensive with an option of picking your own bottle at market ratesand an in-house Wine specialist is also there to help you out. The decor and overall ambience truly lives upto your expectation. The food options are pretty decent that balances wines with small plates. Must Try- Carari Roti, an innovative but spicy starter to have with drinks

Dinner slick service. Wine selection is incredible. <br/>Food was great. Cheese was a highlight. Friendly staff. Great vibe. More places like this. 👊

Fantastic cheese & drink selection. Staff were very attentive & friendly. it's nice to sit out on a Sunday & stuff your face with all the cheese it has to offer. Will definitely be back here for more👍

Ive been coming here for years with the guys at work for lunch. We order the same thing every time - Chicken Schnitzel, polenta chips washed down with a cleansing beer and a bottle of wine. a good coffee to finish.<br/><br/>The chicken schnitzel is by far the best in Melbourne. A lightly crumbed breast with italian coleslaw. <br/>Sam is one of the best managers/waiters going around. Ask him for a recommendation on a bottle of wine.<br/><br/>Choose a wine at retail prices and they add $20 to drink it there.<br/><br/>All round good value. Very reliable and highly recmmended.

Love City Wine Shop! The coffee is excellent, fit out is excellent... We bought our beer & wine from here for our engagement party - all excellent. <br/>The City Wine Shop is part of the European group: Siglo, Melbourne Supper Club, Tea Room, Spring Street Grocer - all of which have an authentic old world European feel to them. I'm so impressed with the Wine Shop - this is my new morning coffee takeaway place.

5/5 for a wonderful nibble and drink! <br/><br/>Had a lovely waiter here and we sat out front of the doors moron the path but up the steps and it's super cozy, warm and inviting. <br/><br/>Lots of nice wines by the glass but we got the Jacquesson champagne and it's well priced and delicious. Teamed with olives and almonds, saganaki and the yummy polenta chips its a gorgeous spot in the Paris end of town.

I've been here twice now and each experience has left such a bitter taste left in my mouth about this store. The first time I went I had assumed it was because they were busy that the food tasted horrible, the service was worst, and the waiting pathetic.<br/><br/>My mother and I gave them a second chance since they were the most convenient dining close to the theatre. It took more than ten minutes for anyone to acknowledge we had seated ourselves and were waiting to be served. Finally we had been acknowledged and were given menus, the menu itself is very limited to what you can order. A lot of what they had to offer for that day wasn't appealing to my taste buds but fortunately for my mother she had found a dish she wanted to try. When acquiring about wines and asking for suggestions from the waitress she shrugged and barely answered my question but instead gave me attitude. How dare I ask such questions it seems. So I asked for coffee. The coffee itself took a while to come out. I'm not sure if they had left it sitting there but when we had received it it was unfortunately cold to drink.<br/><br/>I ordered a Chicken Schnitzel with Italian Coleslaw and my mother had ordered a special of theirs for the day which was 'Mozzarella with Bruschetta Bread and Grilled Vegtables' simple right? Obviously not for the chef which was on for the day. Apparently for him it was rocket science since we were left waiting an HOUR and 20 minutes!!!! Clearly by that point we were absolutely starving and completely disgusted at how the whole staff team had disregarded us. No one was attending to us to make sure we were okay. I was convinced we had be forgotten and was about to get up and pay for the coffees and leave. Luckily enough we had sat down to eat early because our show was almost about to start when FINALLY someone came out with our food and unapologetic. No explanation and no apologies for the dramatic wait for a simple piece of crumbed chicken and bread with sliced cheese.<br/><br/>If the wait wasn't horrible enough the food made it worst. My chicken was overcooked it was completely dry to the point I had to ask for drink to be able to get it down my throat. My plate was 10% chicken and the rest was overflowing with coleslaw which was overpowered with the dressing which made it unpleasant to eat. My mothers dish was two pieces of grilled eggplant, couple slices of the mozzerlla itself and three pieces of excessively stale Bruschetta that she couldn't get her teeth through it. What a disappointment. All of that came to a shockingly disgusting sixty dollars. Again, no apologies on behalf of the wait team whilst I was paying. In fact, what pushed me over the edge was when paying for the bill the eftpos asked if I'd like to leave a tip. I can't believe that they think they can even dare ask for a tip with the type of service they provide to their customers. <br/><br/>This place only gets two chances from me and never again.

I don’t have pasta a whole lot, so when I get a plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs with Parmesan ($22), it’s a big deal. And you know what? The combination of massive chunky meatballs and thick strands of al dente spaghetti, tossed in a rich tomato sugo with waxy shavings of parmesan on top, is just about the best thing in existence. It was the best bowl of comfort-pasta I’ve ever had – good enough even to rival the spaghetti of The Lady and the Tramp.

Lovely cute little venue where you sit at the bar for a nice plate of pasta. Only had the creme brûlée but would love to come back to have a main. It's mostly a place to relax and have wine. Staff were friendly and cheerful. Will return once back in melbs :)

Date of Experience: 05/06/2016<br/>Amazing & cozi atmosphere, exceptional menu and huge wine range!!! Very good prices and highly professional service.Well done guys!!!

I had the pleasure of visiting this little bar recently on a Sunday night. Brilliant wine list. Very different range of French and Italian wines available by the glass - as well as some local offerings. I had the fig and saganaki and then the pork belly main. Both were brilliant! I was also very excited when I found a bottle of red that I tried in Healesville recently. As if I was going to leave without buying a bottle of something brilliant for home! This is the perfect bar to sit solo or have a quiet catch up with a friend. Definitely a classy date place too 👌🏻. I will definitely be back soon!

I have been a regular at this place for years and reckon there is no better chicken schnitzel with Italian coleslaw anywhere; comparable with the schnitzel in the glory days of Cafe Scheherazade in Acland St. <br/>We usually buy a bottle of French red from their great selection with our meals.<br/>I like their wine food a lot as well like the polenta chips.

Disappointed! First time here with work friends & initial impression was good. But the place runs on total deception! Asked a bar waiter for a wine list & he took me to the wine selection wall. Asked how do you know the price and he pointed & touched the chalk price $43 under the bottle. Total shock when charged $63 when leaving. He then told me about the fine print of $20 corkage. He apologised saying he thought I was a regular. Rubbish! If I was a regular I would have already known about the wine wall & pricing. Borderline scam. I'm ok with corkage if made aware. But really 20 bucks to sit on a metal stool @ a share table - cmon really?

Sophisticated takes on classic dishes along with great wines (of course!). The chicken schnitzel and Italian coleslaw was a standout - chicken was thick and juicy with a crunchy golden crumb. Really satisfying to eat. Downside is there is not much space, so unless you want to sit outside it can be a bit cramped.

Coffee is pricey but the latte are very smooth. Good milk temperature and texture. Nice European feel to the restaurant. There is also a good extensive range of imported and local wines.

This is the place to go for a quiet drink. I love to sit here and people watch as the people walking past are so eclectic. The service here is friendly and efficient and the food comes from the European kitchen for a fraction of the price. I've been here a number of times over the years, and this is one of my favourite Melbourne institutions. The wine list is amazing, simple but with some great quality wines as you'd expect. And you can grab a bottle of wine or beer to take home, and best of all this place is open till late. One of the best ways to spend a lazy afternoon.

Still one of my favourite places in Melbourne. The food menu is small but perfectly formed and there's a great range of wine by the glass. Of course the wine bottles are where they shine and the staff are incredibly helpful in finding just the right bottle. They also make great coffee!

Was here Friday evening and I have been before a few times, great place, great service however two things I need to point out about the night.<br/>Firstly, when the waiter suggested a great red, he failed to tell us the price per glass. I think when the amount far exceeds the amount per glass on the wine list for wines, you need to let the customer know that it will be $21 per glass! That's almost double what was on the wine list. <br/>Secondly, when our food came, I had the gnocchi with olives, asparagus, pecorino and a few other things, the dish was extremely salty. When we left we realised all our dishes were salty as we discussed the meal.<br/>Honestly, I needed to have told the waiter I know, but didn't. thinking it was just me and not wanting to make a fuss.<br/>Sorry, but the chef needs to hold back in the salt, way too salty. <br/><br/><br/><br/> <br/>

Great food great wine however sitting next to a cigar smoker smoking throughout our meal spoilt the experience.... Fee like I just smoked a packet of cigarettes..... Told the waitress and her reply was not my fault...?

Quintessential Melbourne restaurant/bar offering a brilliant wine list and a delicious menu of tapas style dishes as well as a selection of quality mains and desserts. Perfect for an afternoon drink or a trendy dinner at night. Does tend to get incredibly busy however so consider yourself fortunate if you manage to score a table!

Good place for having wine, good wine selection, but the service is bad. Not the worst, but is no good. I sit there for so long, and no one came to ask for order.

Huge fan of this place. Have been coming for years. Always have a good wine selection, which is the main reason I visit. Food is always consistent. Best chicken in town. Service can be a bit patchy but the main staff keep it cool. Outside is great people watching territory but beware of the beggars. Do it

Never let me down with its spot-on flavours, European - leaning menu , exquisite wine offerings and bustling vibes. A gem in my stable of 'reliable, consistant but never boring joints'.

Great selection of wine to choose from! Realty good atmosphere, great for people watching!! The polenta chips are amazing too, a must try!!!

So... Good wine and people watching? Boom, I'm there. Every time I go to this place, I have a great time. I don't think I'd ever sit inside though, not with the people watching that can be done! (Kind of distracting, when really you should be having a conversation with your friends, oops?) No but seriously, the staff have great recommendations so I suggest asking them what's new in, it won't disappoint. The workman board, I think that's what its called? Sorry too many wines.. is a great food selection to peck at while having a glass here, it's delicious. I agree with most people, if you are constantly visiting Melbourne CBD, you will see yourself coming back here.

The staff was incredibly helpful and pleasant making our experience rich and delicious. The cheese here is a must do for any travellor, the wine is incredible and the staff pairs it beautifully.

I just love this simple non pretentious place. If you enjoy wine and you know what you like, then this is the place for you. If your like me you will never go to Melbourne again without visiting the place at least once. <br/><br/>The only drawback is limited seating. The place is small and quite popular so don't be surprised if you can't get a seat. Then that's hardly a problem they cause. <br/><br/>What makes them special ?? Style ... pure style. They just know how to do it. <br/><br/>Enjoy !

Love this place. Fantastic atmosphere, excellent food, and a seriously great selection of wines. Always experienced impeccable service. Would eat here every week if I could.

I love the simplicity and the idea of the place. Some great wine paired with a variety of cheese and well thought of food. The seating arrangement can be improved, but it does work when the weather is on your side.

I love so deeply this place...I had my best memories there...drink list is huge and the food is so good too..I love the atmosphere and the staff is so knowledgeable!I go often there just for a glass of wine and some nibbles!

So much love for the shop of wine. A wine wall for starters. Who doesn't love that. Fantastic food all day every day. Tuna Nicoise never disappoints. Oh the #yolkporn. More deets on the blog as I can't stop raving about the place. Perfect wine choices by the glass too. Mhhhhm.

Great wine and cheeses. Pick your selections which are all on full view. Gets very busy, but luckily outdoor is heated. Service is great when you finally get it, waiter appeared drunk which just added to the experience :)

I want to like it.... Ate here a few weeks ago and while the food was nice, the service wasn't the best. We felt ignored most of the time. Then last night, came here with a friend. She got there a minute before me and was seated by staff outside. When I went to sit down with her, I was questioned - and then told there was actually a wait list. We explained we had been given a table. The two waitresses spoke to each other and then came back to us and said there 2 as and wait list and we had to move - though we could sit inside. We agreed and thanked them an followed them inside where they both disappeared. Standing there awkwardly, ignored, waiting for any sort of acknowledgement... nothing. We felt really let down - it was plain rude. We left and honestly this reslly has made me change my mind about CWS. I want to love it... but I just can't. Disappointed.

Meeting a friend on Spring Street, we decided to go for a quick lunch at the City Wine Shop. The Wine Shop is owned by the same group that runs the Spring Street Grocer, European, Ciglo and a few other places in the vicinity. In keeping with its companion establishments it offers well made (if somewhat conservative) fare cooked using only the highest quality ingredients.

Located at the top end of Bourke Street, this bar, bistro, bottle shop offers an outstanding wine list, beautiful views of the Parliament building and a tasty menu. If you're on the run, grab a bottle from their wine wall, or if you have the time, take a seat and enjoy a glass or two from a well put together wine list. This isn't your fancy Melbourne bar, but they do know how to do 'simple/classic' quite well. There isn't anything complex about the menu or the layout, however owners Con Christopoulos and Joshua Brisbane seem to understand the clientele they have driven here. With more premium wines on the list, this is your chance to take a seat at that bar, try a glass of premium wine and if you love it, bring it home with you! However it's not hard to love their current list of fine European wines.  This place has won awards, and it's really no surprise. The space is small, cosy perfect for those looking to sit back, enjoy a glass of wine in good company.

Plus you are surrounded by liquid courage and sharing is caring at the City Wine Shop. If you grow weary of dessert franchises (by growing weary, I mean you have tasted everything), consider visiting restaurants or cellar bars such as the this one. The menu is often a rotating array of popular classic desserts, such as chocolate fondants, creme brûlées and parfaits. The accompanying gelatos are a stand-out, always refreshing and brimming with flavour. Plus, is there anything more romantic than sharing a decadent plate of dessert with your romantic interest? Yes, having the plate to yourself ;) . Poached Pear w/ Ricotta Vanilla Parfait  Creme Brûlée w/ Mandarin Gelato  Lemon Tart Chocolate Fondant w/ Hazelnut Gelato  Creme Brûlée 

This little bar offered exactly what we were looking for. It boasted an impressive wine list with lots to choose from by the glass and lots of great little bites to sink your teeth into. We each got a glass of wine (08 Delta Hatter Hill Pinot Noir and a 13 Wilson Watervale Riesling) and ordered a few tapas to get us th

When people ask it’s always top of my list of ‘Places to go in Melbourne’. I find excuses to drop in for a glass of wine whenever possible; with a regularly changing list by the glass there is always something interesting to discover. But other than an oyster here and there or an occasional serve of polenta chips (more on those later), I had never actually eaten there.

On last Friday’s unexpected balmy evening, there was really no other place I would pick for a nice glass of vino and a side plate or 7.

Couldn’t find a big breakfast option on the menu so had to settle for toasted sandwich and fruit toast. I want to come back to try the legendary chicken schnitzel and Italian coleslaw for lunch!

I loved how casual the place felt – toally transported to a provincial French wine shop.

this wonderfully understated wine bar exudes european character and charm - the rustic wooden doors belies the sophistication of the space beyond

I settled for a freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice that perfectly hit the spot. Definitely a great choice if you;'re not looking to drink. Also got myself the bittersweet chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream . At first, I thought it was vanilla ice cream, seeing how it's not the typical green ones.. only to realise tha

A rolled berry pavlova for Claire which looked beautiful and not like the wallpaper paste meringue that sometimes makes an appearance. I had a pang of food envy.

I met up with the guys from I eat I drink I work this afternoon for some drinks and nibbles at The City Wine Shop on Spring Street. I'd never been there before, but it is right next to the super-cool Supper Club, and owned by the same enterprising people.

I ordered the chicken schnitzel with Italian coleslaw ($26.50). Well, blow me away! This was one of the finest crumbed chicken dishes I’ve ever had and trust me,

I was pleasantly surprised by City Wine Shop. Here's a place that does casual dining right, in my opinion. Even places like Cumulus Inc., Andrew McConnell's erstwhile 'casual dining proposition', felt like it had too much of an attitude for my liking. Not so, the City Wine Shop.

Part of the reason why I end up there so often is because it’s so diverse in its offerings. Not in a trying-to-be-too-many-things sort of way, mind you. It’s like they said, “Hey, let’s open a boutique wine store in the city. Wouldn’t it be nice if there

Never fails. Always good. Well the food and wine selection are. After making this place a regular haunt, a series of terrible service experiences has stopped me from coming back, which is a shame. There's only so many times you can sit for 10 minutes while the staff finish their conversations and ignore you. Food's good though.

One of my favourite top-end spots. The City Wine Shop is a place I always go back to. It's simple, the food is magnificent - thanks, Mr Curly. The wine choice is wide and varied - you cannot go wrong. Staff knowledge is very good on the whole and although it is not a huge space, they will always do their best to seat you if that's what you want. It's intimate, it gets incredibly busy... but it's not for everyone. The title of the shop does give some indication of the types of patrons one could expect to frequent this place. Personally, I have times where I cannot go past without stopping by for a plate of the 'famous' polenta chips and a great bottle of wine.

Amazing Lunch. What a great find. This place is awesome. We had the Polenta chips, Ploughmans Lunch and Smoked Salmon with a couple of wonderfully cold glasses of wine. The food was terrific, the staff were friendly and you can buy the wine you drank from the bottle shop. Reasonably priced everything.

Always good. Homely rustic cooking and an amazing wine list

Fabulous food,wine and position but. Love the food, wine selection amazing, but the last three visits ,i have been ignored by the wait staff.....do I have to be a suit to get noticed!

Dragged to the City Wine Shop by my partner because the Polenta Chips "are the best". Don't tell her, but once again she was spot on. <br/>This place is a little beauty. Pulling up to the bar to enjoy a couple of drinks and delicious food here is something to savoured. The polenta chips were even better than she described them but everything was good. Pleasant and cheerful staff only enhanced the experience. Definitely on the do again list when back in Melbourne.

Great wine list (of course). Eating at rustic tables is not really my thing but the City Wine Shop has good inexpensive food when you don't want to linger over a meal, and they have an excellent selection of interesting European wines.

Spicy Zucchini and Prosciutto Tart. This tart had a deliciously spicy crumbly and tasty shell. I would love to have the recipe. Next time I visited Melbourne I will return to your wine shop.