Want to bring your own bottle to a standout venue? We know just the place.
Here in Australia, we’ve had the luxury of being able to bring our own wine to certain restaurants for almost 60 years. Back then, the BYO licence was cheaper than a full liquor licence, so it sparked a bit of a BYO boom. Restaurateurs didn’t have to outlay for the more expensive permit, or worry about maintaining a wine list, while diners could enjoy their go-to bottle with a restaurant meal. No wonder BYO is still one of our favourite ways to dine out.
These days, the most common BYOs might be your local Indian or dumpling house, and long may that last. But if you’re looking to large it and take a special bottle to a fancier venue, there are some surprising restaurants that allow BYO. These are the kind of places that have award-winning service, benchmark food, dedicated sommeliers, serious wine lists and A-plus drinks offerings across the board. The works.
To help you find the right venue, we’ve rounded up some of the best BYO restaurants around the country where they will treat your bottle like it’s their own. Just remember the decent thing to do is order something else off their drinks list – and tip nicely, too. It will all help to keep BYO going for another 60 years.
This classy spot has a wine list that’s 700 bottles strong and can scratch just about every fine-wine itch there is. But turn up at the Brasserie for lunch or dinner on a Monday, and you can bring in your own special bottle. Their sommeliers will even help you choose the best dishes to go with your wine, so that $35 corkage per bottle is worth every penny.
Maydanoz, CBD
With its velvet, brass and marble fit-out, Maydanoz (pictured) puts a slick twist on the Turkish dining experience. With a flavourful, vegetable-heavy share-style menu, Turkish cuisine is on show here at its contemporary best. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Maydanoz offers BYO with a $30 corkage fee, but if you order their $79 set menu (and you should), they’ll waive the corkage entirely. Winning!
Otto, South Bank
With its absolute riverfront position and modern Italian leanings, Otto is one of the city’s special dining destinations. But that’s no big surprise given they’re part of the Fink Group – they of Sydney’s Bennelong, Quay and Gildas, to name just three. What is a little surprising is they recently introduced BYO on Mondays and Tuesdays, set at one bottle per person and $35 corkage a head. That view never looked so good.
Golden Pig, Newstead
This Modern Asian restaurant is just one of those places that’s always good. But you know what’s even better? On Thursday nights, you can turn up with a wine under your arm – for $20 corkage per bottle – and savour it over a meal here, where the flavour is dialled right up. You might kick off with caramelised pork belly bao and beef rendang curry puffs, before moving on to a duck leg pineapple curry, baked barra and some roti to mop it all up. We reckon a quality rosé is just the thing.
Scopri, Carlton
With its swag of awards, this Italian institution in Carlton keeps its hordes of loyal regulars coming back time and again. Classically Italian, and with all the bells and whistles of a super smart dining experience, their wine list is a thing of beauty. So, it may be a surprise to learn that BYO is A-okay here. For just $25 a bottle for corkage, you can team a meal here with one of your favourite wines. With or without BYO, this is a Melbourne must.
The Recreation, Fitzroy North
No one seems to use the term ‘gastro pub’ anymore, but if they did, it would at least go some way to describing The Recreation (pictured). This neighbourhood gem is a true surprise package, with a five-star menu that leans Euro and an impressive wine list to match. So, the fact you can rock up with a bottle of your own wine and have them serve it to you as if they cellared it themselves is an incredible treat – all for $25 corkage per bottle.
Templo, CBD
When we say Templo is small, we mean 25-seats small. Tucked away in a Hobart back street, this wine bar puts the focus on local drops and minimal-intervention winemaking. They are fully licensed, but also do BYO at $30 corkage per bottle. It’s a brilliant option if you’ve been touring southern Tassie and come back to town with a bottle of something special to enjoy – their six-course set menu is the perfect meal to pair it with.
Rin, Hobart
For truly authentic Japanese dishes, hightail it over to Rin. This little neighbourhood favourite has been serving lucky in-the-know locals for years now, and it continues to turn out simple but refined Japanese classics. If your idea of a good time is a table full of the likes of tempura, udon noodle soup, nigiri and sashimi, then be sure to grab a bottle of Tassie chardy or pinot on your way over (that’s $5 corkage per person), and settle in for this standout dining experience.
Longplay, CBD
Relative newcomer Longplay (pictured) brings together the best of French and Italian dining, throws in great wines and service, and tops it off with a carefully considered vinyl collection. It’s from the team behind Clever Little Tailor and Pink Moon Saloon, after all. The cocktails are amazing, and even though you have 300-odd wines to choose from, they still also offer BYO, which is $35 corkage per bottle.
Bar Lune, Beulah Park
You might not expect an intimate wine bar to let you BYO, but Bar Lune goes a little against the grain. This buzzy venue serves up handpicked wines, clever cocktails and delicious share plates made for snacking – pork shoulder skewers and grilled squid included. If you have a special bottle for an occasion at Bar Lune, you’re welcome to bring it along. They cap you at one bottle (never fear – their list is incredible) and corkage is $30.
Besk, Leederville
Okay, so you can’t actually bring a bottle into Besk from outside, but you can take your time choosing a wine from their ever-evolving quality selections in stock. Home to a bottle shop, bar and dining room, Besk ensures you’re bound to find a bottle you might not have otherwise considered. Choose your wine and take it into the dining room for the full restaurant experience – maybe a smashed cucumber salad followed by a bowl of gnocchi – and they’ll add $20 corkage to the bill.
Rym Tarng, Canning
Not just any old local Thai joint, Rym Tarng is the place for next-level dishes that showcase everything that’s great about this distinctively aromatic and spicy cuisine. Inspired by the street food of Thailand, this tiny spot (we’re talking 16 seats) dishes up outrageously good versions of tom kha, papaya salad and their signature pork jowl, among many others, so be sure to pick up a riesling on your way over to work with all that spice – it’s just $3 corkage per person.
?$dans-daily-web-image$&wid=800)
