Milquetoast

You may wonder why a wine bar in the city is called Milquetoast – another word for feeble, insipid, or bland – but owners George Curtis and James Horsfall know exactly what they’re doing. In fact, they’re trying to be anything but.

Their place is stuffed inside a former CBD car garage; the industrial fit-out offset by homey mismatched vintage furniture, warm wooden surfaces and wine bottles lining the walls. An open kitchen and bar on one side the space lets punters in on the action.

To find it, head down a laneway off Elizabeth Street, past the bright neon lights of late-night bourbon bar, Alice. The two venues side-by-side effectively create a late-night hub in the CBD.

The British-leaning menu is inspired by the owners’ shared English heritage, with opening highlights including devilled eggs, mushrooms on toast and Cumberland sausages with puy lentils and gremolata.

The wine list spotlights smaller, mostly lo-fi producers from around the world, and there’s intention to keep things approachable in flavour and price. You can also expect several Martinis, low-alc cocktails and plenty of amaro.