The Wine Library

We've had the small bar revolution; now it's time for the wine bar revolution. Love Tilly Devine, a small wine bar-in-progress by the Best Cellars dudes, will soon open in East Sydney, but for now content yourself with the Wine Library - an entirely awesome wine bar from the folks who brought you Woollahra Italian restaurant Buzo (winner this year's Time Out Food Awards for Best Service).

Where do you begin with a bar this ace? Let's start with the service. Buzo's restaurant manager Traci Trinder is here, keeping things running smoothly on the floor. And it's a busy floor. People are crammed in any which way they can fit, lining the walls, propping up the zinc bar and filling the back room. In fact, short of sitting on the toilet with your glass of chardonnay, there's very little wriggle room in the 48-seat bar.  But that's okay. The look of the place, from the room-length bar to the glass meat cabinet and wall-to-wall wine and spirits display, are care of interior architect Bill MacMahon from PHI Design and Architecture, who also designed Fish Face and Rockpool.

The Wine Library is even open for breakfast at the moment. We're not sure how long that's going to last, given how busy they are every night, so get in for a bocadillo (Spanish baguette) and some eggs while you can. The evening menu is filled with little snacky things – salumi platters, toast rubbed with tomato Spanish style – and more substantial offerings such as macaroni cheese and meatballs in tomato sauce with crusty bread. Take a look at the private dining room out the back with its custom-built glass charcuterie case - you can ogle your meats before you buy them.  

There's also a bar very well stocked with more spirits than you can poke a muddling stick at, but they don't really do cocktails. The booze juice is there for sipping and shooting. That said, they'll make you a Martini or a Negroni. But for our dollars, we'd stick to the wine list, filled with exciting and inexpensive things by the glass. Try a 100ml glass of falanghina - Italian white di giorno - for $6. Or maybe an Austrian Gruner or Tasmanian chardonnay are more your speed. They are $6 and $7, respectively.

The Wine Library is good cheap fun. It gets really busy, really quickly, so get in early and bags a spot at the bar. Salute!