Hawthorn’s wine bars scene is leafy, established, university suburb — 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. Happy hour (usually 5-7pm) knocks $3-5 off at most places.
Our Top Picks
1. Happy 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: The house lager on tap ($13-27/glass). When to go: Tuesday for trivia and half-price pots.
2. The Black Kitchen — 372 Auburn Road
Hours: Wed-Sun 5pm-12am Vibe: Hidden behind an unmarked door
The quiet achiever. The Black Kitchen 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. The cocktails are made with house-infused spirits.
Best night: Saturday arvo in the beer garden.
3. Rose’s Bistro — 375 Liddiard Street
Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-1am Vibe: Small, intimate, conversation-volume Drinks: $13-27/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 Happy 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 house negroni uses a local amaro. If you hit capacity, put your name down and walk around the block — turnover is quick.
Drink this: The house old fashioned ($13-27/glass). Pro tip: The back corner booth is the best seat.
4. Half Depot — 250 Church Street
Hours: Tue-Sun 5pm-11pm Vibe: Neighbourhood corner pub, proper and unpretentious Drinks: $13-27/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 wings have a proper chilli kick.
The drinks list complements the food — a cocktail list designed around the kitchen’s flavours. It’s the kind of place where you come for one beer and stay for dinner because you smell the kitchen.
Best combo: Share plates for two plus a bottle of wine, under $90. When to come: Thursday for the midweek special.
5. Commons — 226 Burwood Road
Hours: Wed-Sun 5pm-late Vibe: Laneway entrance, exposed brick, jazz on the stereo Drinks: $13-27/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 a small snack menu — olives, cheese, bread but you’re not here for the food.
Best for: Small group celebrations — book the corner section.
Comparison
| Venue | Best For | Drink Price | Kitchen | Live Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Social | Overall best | $13-27/glass | Yes | Weekends |
| The Black Kitchen | Quiet drink | $13-27/glass | Yes | Sun sessions |
| Rose’s Bistro | New & trendy | $13-27/glass | Snacks only | No |
| Half Depot | Food + drinks | $13-27/glass | Full menu | Yes |
| Commons | Atmosphere | $13-27/glass | Limited | No |
Practical Info
Happy hour: Most places run 5-7pm weekdays.
Getting there: Hawthorn/Glenferrie stations, tram 16. 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. Commons 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
- Kew Wine Bars
- Hawthorn Restaurants — eat before or after
- Hawthorn Things to Do
- All Hawthorn Guides
Last updated: March 2026
Keep Exploring
More in this area:
Nearby suburbs:
Useful tools:
Check venue websites for current menus and hours.
Best Wine Bars in Hawthorn
St-Germain Wine Bar
St-Germain brings a French-leaning wine bar mood to Glenferrie Road, with terrace seating, a cosy dining room and a list that suits both a quick glass and a longer meal. It is a strong pick for date night, after-work wine, or a polished catch-up that still feels local.
Vaporetto Bar & Eatery
Vaporetto is Hawthorn’s Venetian-style option, built around Italian wines, spritzes and cicchetti-style snacks. Time Out describes it as a Hawthorn wine bar with Venetian prosecco, Tuscan sangiovese and Mornington Peninsula pinot noir on the list, which makes it useful when the group wants both wine and proper food. Source: Time Out Melbourne
Motor
Motor works best when you want the comfort of a neighbourhood bistro with the drinking habits of a wine bar. Expect a more substantial food offering than a tiny snack-only bar, making it a good choice for birthdays, relaxed dinners or a bottle shared across a few courses.
Small Patch Wine Store & Bar
Small Patch is ideal for people who like browsing bottles as much as drinking them. It has the relaxed feel of a local wine shop with bar service, so it suits low-pressure weeknights, takeaway bottles, casual tastings and spontaneous “one glass” stops.
Bar Selecta
Bar Selecta leans cocktail-bar as much as wine bar, but it earns a place for later nights and groups with mixed drinking preferences. Choose it when some people want wine, others want cocktails, and the brief is more lively than quiet.
Local Tips
Hawthorn’s best wine drinking is clustered around Glenferrie Road, so you can usually plan a night without needing rideshares between venues. Start earlier if you want a calmer glass; the suburb shifts once students, office workers and dinner crowds all overlap.
For a proper wine-focused night, book St-Germain or Motor rather than assuming every venue is walk-in friendly. For something looser, Small Patch is the easy local move: browse, drink, ask for a recommendation, and leave with a bottle.
Vaporetto is the best choice when food matters as much as the wine. Its Italian direction makes it especially good for shared snacks, lighter reds and spritz drinkers who do not want a serious, hushed bar.
If you are meeting near Glenferrie Station, keep the plan simple. Pick one venue for the first glass, then move only if the mood changes; Hawthorn rewards relaxed pacing more than bar-hopping for its own sake.
FAQ
What is the best wine bar in Hawthorn for a date?
St-Germain is the safest date-night pick because it feels polished without being stiff. Motor is better if you want dinner built into the plan.
Where should I go for a casual glass of wine in Hawthorn?
Small Patch Wine Store & Bar is the easiest casual option. It is especially good if you want a relaxed drink and a bottle recommendation to take home.
Are there wine bars near Glenferrie Station?
Yes. Several of Hawthorn’s strongest options sit around the Glenferrie Road strip, including St-Germain, Small Patch, Motor and Vaporetto.
