Gloria's Wine

Gloria’s is a lived-in 70-seater neighbourhood wine bar and shop on Burke Road in Camberwell. In 2021, an end to dry-zone rules gave co-owners Nick Foley (a long-time Camberwell local) and Andrew Savvas the green light on the cosy wine bar.

The focal point of the bar is its 180-strong wine wall, and its overseeing sommelier Norman Houghton will help you wade through all your options. Houghton’s goal is to provide drops that take you out of your comfort zone – like the fizzy and fun Happy Nat pét-nat and chilled Tropo Little Red.

The cocktail list is short and sharp. Foley’s stand-out is the Gloria’s Spritz, which uses local distillery Three Foxes’ Sunny Arvo Aperitivo for a very sessionable result.

Food-wise, it’s suitably snacky. You might build a plate from a selection of soft and hard cheeses and cured meats, all served with Ned’s bread. Or you might try to the smoked-paprika hummus, made by Savvas’s mum, which comes swimming in chilli oil and topped with crunchy shallots. But for something more substantial, go for a pizza or the Greek-taverna-inspired pickled octopus.

As well as wine to go, Gloria’s offers charcuterie hampers. Just stop in, grab a basket and fill it with your choice of deli snacks and wine. The bar is conveniently located just a few minutes’ drive from Anderson Park, which Foley reckons has the best view of Melbourne’s skyline.

Occupying a former antiques-restoration store, Gloria’s has a lived-in charm. It’s intimate and warm, with deep red walls, cream travertine floors and a golden chandelier that bathes the bar in a buttery glow, while the toasty backroom is lit with a pint-sized fireplace.

But mostly, the homey feeling is thanks to the service; it feels like your friendly neighbourhood local, even if you’re not from the area.