A charming new wine bar and European-inspired restaurant from two star sommeliers has opened in Sydney

Darlinghurst's already buzzing Stanley Street has welcomed a newcomer: a wine bar and European-inspired restaurant called Claret Club. Housed in a charming two-storey, stained-glass-windowed terrace, complete with festoon lights strung between the trees and alfresco tables perfect for late-afternoon drinks, the new venue is brought to life by Sydney sommelier couple Bridget Raffal (from Marrickville’s Where’s Nick) and Harry Hunter, formerly of Rockpool, the Bentley Group and Dinner by Heston. Talk about a CV.

The duo have dipped into their own personal collections to create a wine list any oenophile would dream of – including a by-the-glass menu featuring 30 drops to choose from.

Downstairs it’s all about salty snacks (olives, gnocco fritto with anchovy, charcuterie) and cold aperitivos (beer, wine, Champagne, Martinis and spritzes) enjoyed at sun-dappled tables.

Head upstairs and you’ll find a warm and welcoming dining room, with a Euro-inspired menu led by head chef Andy Buchanan (ex-The Dry Dock). Menu highlights include golden, puffy gruyère gougères; grilled scallops with ’nduja butter; heirloom tomatoes with fromage blanc and fried shallots; pan-seared market fish with confit tomatoes and sauce vierge; and roast chicken with leek and mushrooms.

Choose a few snacks, share plates and a main, or go for the five-course set menu, great value at $100.

On the vino list, Raffal says guests can expect to find the likes of 2005 Château Pavie Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, or Grand Cru Burgundies such as the 2002 and 2005 Chambertin and Clos de la Roche from the late Nicolas Potel.

There’s a focus on claret – a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot – showcasing producers from Bordeaux in France, as well as the Macedon Ranges, Yarra Valley, Coonawarra and Margaret River here in Australia.

Wondering about the name? Raffal says it’s a nod to the members-only, Bordeaux-focused wine clubs that once threw luxurious parties with hefty price tags.

“We wanted to turn the idea of a stuffy, exclusive club upside down, creating a place where wine brings people together rather than keeping them out,” she explains.

What a beautiful space for exactly that. 

Find out more here.

Address: 77 Stanley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010