It looks like it’s been there forever, but Talisman Group’s new wine bar, South City has been given a patina of age through a thoughtfully curated collection of lived-in and vintage pieces.

“We wanted to create that classic old school wine bar,” says co-owner Vincent Lombino. “We’ve both travelled extensively in Europe and love those comfortable old wine bars there where you sit down and just have a glass of wine or you might end up having the best meal you’ve ever had.” 

This is the fourth venue in the new South City Square complex in Woolloongabba for Thibault and business partner Vincent Lombino, who also own the perennially popular Sasso Italiano, Casa Chow, and the freshly opened Purple Palm. 

Slated for March next year is their fifth and sixth; brewpub The Wright House and the “Mad Men”-influenced American steakhouse “The Office.”

Seating 70, South City’s fit-out is sultry and date-night romantic, with emerald-green marble tabletops, timber panelling, oil paintings, brass lamps and an antique chandelier. There’s also a central share table that encourages conversation with new friends.

“We wanted it to look like a typical European local wine bar, so we’ve gone with booths and classic white plates, old school steak knives and waitstaff wearing black and white uniforms,” Thibault says.

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The menu, under Amalfi-born chef Gabriele Di Landri takes its cues from the much-loved classics of the past; escargots à la Bourguignonne, chicken liver parfait, steak frites, even the good old maraschino cherry makes a triumphant return in a crème brulee.

Constructed by self-confessed oenophile Thibault, with consultation by former Bennelong sommelier Michael Phipps, the wine list is wide-roaming, with everything from Austrian Gruner Veltliner to Chateau Musar from Lebanon, plus a few of Thibauts’s own personal favourites; big oaky Californian chardonnays and chenin blanc from South Africa. There are 23 by the glass, with another 3 to 4 rotating Coravin wines as well as an extensive list of Champagne and classic French cocktails.

From next year, once the liquor license attached to The Wright House is attained, guests will also be able to purchase bottles to take away, turning South City Wine bar into a true European style “enoteca.”

South City Wine Bar
Shop 5/148 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
Tues-Sat 4pm-9pm
southcitywinebar.com.au

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