Bondi
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Shop-the-original-small-bar/216885221670147
78 Curlewis Street, Bondi
No matter what good or bad things are said about a small bar, the true test is longevity. Based on that, The Shop and Wine Bar (also called just 'The Shop') comes up trumps. In the seven years or so that it has been opened, over 100 new small bars have sprung up around Sydney and many have chosen Bondi beach as their home. The Shop continues on. It remains the local leader of the small bar: compact, relaxed and an alternative to the backpacker hangouts such as Beach Road or The Bondi Hotel. It can, however, feel a little bit too 'Bondi' at times where everyone seems to know everyone else but this is to be expected of most venues in the area.
As the full name suggests, wine is the primary drink on offer (and coffee throughout the day if you are wanting a hit) with a regularly changing menu that covers about two dozen wines. Daily specials can appear during happy hour, which are worth investigating if you are at The Shop and not down the beach having an evening swim.
For a quick bite, much of the fare is standard Italian bar pickings: antipasto, cheese, bread dips. However the menu offers some more substantial offerings of chicken skewers, crispy wings, frittata, burgers and salads.
Best things: A simple place to have a wine in an environment that is buzzing but not packed
Don't miss: Warm evenings on the street watching twilight descend over urban Bondi beach
Ideal for: Catch-ups with friends, dates, local hang-out
Date tip: Street-side when the weather is agreeable or a table near the wall inside
Gripes: Randomly closed for functions
Rating: 6/10
Last updated: August 2017
You are here: The Shop Bar & Wine Bar, Bondi review and address. After eight years, it remains the local leader of the small bar: compact, relaxed and an alternative to the backpacker hangouts.