Collingwood’s wine bars scene is industrial-cool, brewery district — 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 $12-14, cocktail $19-25. Happy hour (usually 5-7pm) knocks $3-5 off at most places.
Our Top Picks
1. Ivy Store — 281 Easey Street
Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-late Vibe: Rooftop terrace, sunset views Drinks: $17-23/glass
The wine bar the suburb rallies around. Ivy Store 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 upstairs level is the best spot — less crowded, better acoustics.
Drink this: Their signature negroni ($17-23/glass). When to go: Tuesday for trivia and half-price pots.
2. Rex Corner — 80 Wellington Street
Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-12am Vibe: Open-air, fairy lights, garden seats
The quiet achiever. Rex Corner doesn’t have a PR budget or an Instagram strategy — it has regulars who come three times a week. The front bar is the draw. Their natural wine selection is surprisingly deep.
Best night: Sunday sessions with live jazz.
3. Pearl Quarter — 337 Johnston Street
Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-late Vibe: Big, loud, dancing on weekends Drinks: $17-23/glass
Opened in 2025 and immediately became a regular spot for the under-35 crowd. The spirits selection includes hard-to-find local gins. The space is tighter than Ivy Store — 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 tap list rotates every two weeks with a Victorian-only policy. If you hit capacity, put your name down and walk around the block — turnover is quick.
Drink this: Their signature sour ($17-23/glass). Pro tip: Arrive before 7pm on Friday to avoid the wait.
4. Luna — 103 Wellington Street
Hours: Wed-Sun 5pm-11pm Vibe: Neighbourhood corner pub, proper and unpretentious Drinks: $17-23/glass
The one for when you want food with your drinks. The kitchen runs until 10:30pm and the pizza are genuinely good, not bar-food-as-afterthought. The charcuterie board feeds three.
The drinks list complements the food — craft beers on rotation with consistent quality. 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: Thursday for the midweek special.
5. Ruby — 168 Wellington Street
Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm-11pm Vibe: Laneway entrance, exposed brick, jazz on the stereo Drinks: $17-23/glass
The vibe pick. Not the best drinks on this list, but the candlelit basement 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 classic cocktails executed cleanly, no gimmicks. Food is limited to charcuterie and cheese boards only but you’re not here for the food.
Best for: Sunset drinks on warmer evenings — arrive by 6pm for the golden hour.
Comparison
| Venue | Best For | Drink Price | Kitchen | Live Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Store | Overall best | $17-23/glass | Yes | Fri-Sat |
| Rex Corner | Quiet drink | $17-23/glass | Yes | Occasionally |
| Pearl Quarter | New & trendy | $17-23/glass | Snacks only | No |
| Luna | Food + drinks | $17-23/glass | Full menu | No |
| Ruby | Atmosphere | $17-23/glass | Limited | No |
Practical Info
Happy hour: Most places run 5-7pm weekdays. Ivy Store does $8 house lagers and $15 cocktails during happy hour.
Getting there: Tram 86 on Smith St, Collingwood station. 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. Ruby 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
- Fitzroy Wine Bars
- Collingwood Restaurants — eat before or after
- Collingwood Things to Do
- All Collingwood Guides
Last updated: March 2026
Keep Exploring
More in this area:
- Best Pubs in Collingwood
- Best Bars in Collingwood
- Nightlife Guide in Collingwood
- Best Cocktail Bars in Collingwood
Nearby suburbs:
Useful tools:
Where to Drink
Hope St Radio
A natural fit for Collingwood Yards, Hope St Radio works because it feels part wine bar, part community broadcast booth, part casual pasta stop. Go for juicy lo-fi wines, a plate of pasta, and a room that suits both first dates and loose group catch-ups.
The Moon
The Moon is one of Collingwood’s most dependable neighbourhood wine bars, with a deep list that rewards browsing rather than rushing. It is best for drinkers who want thoughtful small plates, staff who can steer the glass choice, and a room that still feels relaxed.
Smithward
Smithward is tiny, intimate and proudly focused on Victorian wine, making it a strong pick if you want to drink close to home in every sense. Pair a glass with cheese or raclette and settle in for the kind of slow, unfussy evening Collingwood does well.
March
March is a moody, polished wine bar from the Ides orbit, better suited to a serious drink and a sharp snack than a loud pub-style session. Choose it when you want the Collingwood edge softened by excellent service, precise food and a more grown-up wine list.
Glou
Glou is a bar and bottle shop with a low-waste mindset, known for wine on tap and refillable bottles. It is especially good for a casual drink that can turn into take-home wine without making the night feel overplanned.
Broadsheet’s Collingwood guide backs up the suburb’s mix of warehouse energy, music venues, breweries and wine-focused bars, listing venues including Hope St Radio, The Moon, March, Smithward and Glou among local standouts: Broadsheet Collingwood.
Local Tips
Collingwood wine bars are rarely just about wine. The best nights usually combine a glass with something else: pasta at Hope St Radio, records and rooftop views around Collingwood Yards, cheese at Smithward, or a sharp snack at March.
Book ahead for smaller venues, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Collingwood has plenty of walk-in energy, but the best wine rooms can fill quickly because many are compact rather than sprawling.
If you are deciding between Fitzroy and Collingwood, choose Collingwood when you want something more industrial, less polished and more mixed in with breweries, live music and backstreet bars. Smith Street is useful as an anchor, but some of the better nights happen when you drift into the side streets.
For a quiet midweek drink, aim for early evening. You will get better staff attention, more space at the bar and a calmer read on the wine list before the post-work crowd arrives.
FAQ
What is the best wine bar in Collingwood for a date?
The Moon is a strong all-round choice because it has enough atmosphere to feel special without becoming too formal. Smithward also works well if you want something smaller, quieter and more wine-led.
Where should I go for natural wine in Collingwood?
Hope St Radio is one of the easiest recommendations for natural and lo-fi wine, especially if you also want food and a lively room. Glou is another good pick, particularly if you like the idea of wine on tap or taking a bottle home.
Are Collingwood wine bars good for groups?
Some are, but choose carefully. Hope St Radio and Glou are better for casual groups, while March and Smithward are more suited to pairs or smaller catch-ups because of their intimate feel.
