Best Wine Bars in Box Hill — 2026 Guide

Box Hill’s wine bars scene is residential, friendly, growing — and the wine bars reflect it. Whether you want a quiet midweek drink or a full Friday night, there are options that don’t require leaving the suburb.

Standard prices: pint $11-13, cocktail $17-23. Happy hour (usually 5-7pm) knocks $3-5 off at most places.

Our Top Picks

1. The Sunny Social — 151 Lygon Grove

Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-late Vibe: Warm, busy, neighbourhood local Drinks: $16-23/glass

The wine bar the suburb rallies around. The Sunny Social gets the fundamentals right — good drinks, comfortable room, staff who know the menu. The spirits selection rotates monthly, which keeps regulars from getting bored. The back room is the best spot — less crowded, better acoustics.

Drink this: Their signature negroni ($16-23/glass). When to go: Thursday is the sweet spot — good crowd, no queue.

2. Sol — 189 Bell Parade

Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-12am Vibe: Hidden behind an unmarked door

The quiet achiever. Sol doesn’t have a PR budget or an Instagram strategy — it has regulars who come three times a week. The beer garden is the draw. Their natural wine selection is surprisingly deep.

Best night: Wednesday trivia (free entry).

3. River — 308 Anderson Drive

Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-late Vibe: Small, intimate, conversation-volume Drinks: $16-23/glass

Opened in 2025 and immediately became a regular spot for the under-35 crowd. The cocktail list references classic recipes with local twists. The space is tighter than The Sunny Social — maybe 50 people before it feels packed — but that’s part of the appeal.

What makes it work is the attention to detail. The glassware is considered, the ice is proper, and the bartenders actually taste what they make before serving. The non-alcoholic cocktail list is genuinely creative, not an afterthought. If you hit capacity, put your name down and walk around the block — turnover is quick.

Drink this: A glass of the pet-nat ($16-23/glass). Pro tip: Tuesday is the quietest night and the bartender has more time to chat.

4. Ava Corner — 111 Park Road

Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-1am Vibe: Neighbourhood corner pub, proper and unpretentious Drinks: $16-23/glass

The one for when you want food with your drinks. The kitchen runs until 10pm and the share plates are genuinely good, not bar-food-as-afterthought. The steak sandwich is the sleeper hit.

The drinks list complements the food — local pale ales and lagers that pair with the menu. It’s the kind of place where you come for one beer and stay for dinner because you smell the kitchen.

Best combo: The cheese board with a glass of the house red, $35 total. When to come: Saturday from 5pm — it fills up by 7pm.

5. White Larder — 368 Lygon Grove

Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-12am Vibe: Candlelit basement, moody and intimate Drinks: $16-23/glass

The vibe pick. Not the best drinks on this list, but the garden setting creates an atmosphere the others can’t match. It’s the place to bring someone you’re trying to impress, or to photograph, or both.

The drinks list is designed around the aesthetic — photogenic serves that actually taste good. Food is limited to charcuterie and cheese boards only but you’re not here for the food.

Best for: Small group celebrations — book the corner section.

Comparison

Practical Info

Happy hour: Most places run 5-7pm weekdays. The Sunny Social does $8 house lagers and $15 cocktails during happy hour.

Getting there: Public transport options in Box Hill. Don’t drive on Friday/Saturday nights — parking is scarce after 6pm.

Dress code: None of these are bottle-service-and-bouncers. Clean casual everywhere. White Larder skews slightly smarter but won’t turn away anyone in jeans.

Age check: All venues are 18+. Bring ID if you look under 25 — they will ask.

Nearby

• Blackburn Wine Bars
• Box Hill Restaurants — eat before or after
• Box Hill Things to Do
• All Box Hill Guides

Last updated: March 2026

Keep Exploring

More in this area:

• Best Pubs in Box Hill
• Best Bars in Box Hill
• Nightlife Guide in Box Hill
• Best Cocktail Bars in Box Hill

Useful tools:

• Melbourne Nightlife Guide
• Melbourne Rent Comparison Tool
• Explore Box Hill