A community-spirited cafe-wine bar, Sleepys is a neighbourhood joint where the tight drinks list include cult yet approachable wines and the Chinese-inspired snacks are comfort on a plate.
The fit-out at Sleepys has all the components of your classic Melbourne cafe-wine bar: exposed brick with splashes of forest green throughout, timber tabletops, a well-lit bar laden with artisan coffee beans, wines and spirits. But take another look and it becomes clear the space has its own unique charm. Whether it’s Common or Sault playing from the speakers, the vintage Chinese cookbooks alongside the rogue assortment of Penguin Modern Classics, or the prints by local artists, the venue signals an endearingly idiosyncratic personality that matches the eclectic character of its local residents.
As a neighbourhood joint, everything is super well-priced, meaning you can happily order cocktails as well as a bottle of wine. The staff will take the time to learn what you’re into and why you’re there, unpretentiously guiding you through their food and drinks so you get the experience you want. It’s a place for all occasions and the ever-changing menu makes return visits worthwhile.
The drinks list at Sleepys is tight and approachable so you’ll never feel as though you’ve ordered the wrong thing. The wines are natural-leaning, meaning the grapes are farmed using sustainable practices and little has been done to them in the winemaking process. Here, they’re chosen with an element of fun. You’ll find local culty bottles like the Tom Shobbrook Poolside rosé from South Australia or the Chateau Acid Chardonnay from New South Wales poured by the glass.
Ask the staff what they’re liking, and they’ll recommend something along with tasting notes like “radicchio salad” or “swinging from a chandelier and not singing the song by Sia” for a glass of Commune of Buttons Syrah, say. That said, we’d start with a Wakeys, a deliciously bitter cocktail of Raspberry Candy (an espresso blend by ONA Coffee), Mr Black coffee liqueur, and Italy’s bittersweet liqueurs Cynar and Campari to get you in the mood before getting into some slurpy fermented grapes.
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