Bear’s Wine Bar

13.5/20Updated October 7, 2026,first published May 9, 2025Bear’s Wine BarContemporary$$Polished wine bar where serious cooking meets unpretentious charm.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. Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.Sign upLast visited: April 2026More:North MelbourneBear’s Wine BarMelbourneContemporaryAccepts bookingsLicensedOutdoor diningDate nightVegetarian-friendlySeparate barGood for solo dinersGood for a first dateWine barReviewsGood Food GuideFrom our partners