Hobart pint-sized wine bar rates in Australia’s top 100 for vino virtuosos

Tasmanians won’t line up for many things. But they will for Sonny, the pint-sized Hobart wine bar with the super-sized fan club ranked in Australia’s top 100 food experiences.

Sonny chef and co-owner chef Matt Breen with Alister Robertson at the bar in Hobart. Photo Bobby K

Walk down Hobart’s Elizabeth Street mid-town precinct any night of the week, and you’ll inevitably come across a line of people snaking around the block. Not a common sight in a town like Hobart, the queue is for Sonny, a hole-in-the-wall wine and small plates bar, helmed by Alister Robertson, who occasionally pops his head out to the street to offer charismatic wait-time updates. Al – as he is affectionately known to locals – is the ultimate host, the kind who is waiting at the door when you finally gain entry, with a splash of something he knows you might like ready to pour into your glass.

Sonny wine bar in Hobart

Sonny’s record player spins with whatever Al has chosen from his collection that day (anything from Fairuz to the S.O.S. Band) and a plate of gouda soldiers, a dish that regularly graces the otherwise ever-changing menu, is promptly offered. Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, Al has that innate ability to make everyone feel instantly welcome and at ease, and Sonny’s convivial personality is reflected in the patrons that it attracts, with the clientele not limited to a particular age demographic, but rather adored by Gen Zs and 60-somethings alike.

A wine producer in his own right, Al’s carefully curated wine list is a mix of Tasmanian, mainland and European varieties. On any given visit, a few magnums might be on the pour, and the gamut from natural-leaning drops to more traditional styles promises to suit a wide range of palates. Of late, some lesser-known wines on offer hail from Lebanon, Japan and small Sicilian islands.

***EMBARGOED TILL SEPTEMBER 27TH 2021*** Sonny wine bar in Hobart. Finalists for Gourmet Traveller 2022 Restaurant Awards in the category 'best wine bar'. Picture: supplied

The food menu follows a perfected formula – three or four snacks, a pasta dish, cheese, and a few sweet treats (think a spoonful of tiramisu, or handmade chocolate truffles from local chocolatier, Kenyak). At the end of the bar, chefs chat as they work the two cooktops that service all 20 seats. The wine bar has also hosted a number of chef mates, including Tom Sarafian and Rosheen Kaul, for special pop-ups over the past few years.

The majority of seating is centred around the bar where patrons sit shoulder to shoulder, chinking glasses and sharing stories.

“We want Sonny to be the kind of place where you can pop in for a quick post-work wine, or settle in for a long juicy catch-up with friends with a great bottle and marinate in the music,” says Al. “We love hosting visiting chefs occasionally, but our menu formula and ethos remain the same – host a proper house party every night with the best simple pleasures. That’s where the magic happens!”

Hobart's new wine bar, Sonny. Picture: PATRICK GEE

On the regular menu, you’ll find ideal wine accompaniments that might include Tas Oyster Co oysters (delivered from them & shucked to order), prosciutto toast, Tongola goat’s cheese with Tassie honey, and a seasonal pasta dish like Huonville Valley eggplant rigatoni. Combined with flawless tunes thanks to the locally-made Pitt and Giblin speakers, 8pm can quickly become 1am – such is the Sonny effect. At Hobart’s original queue-for-it wine bar, you’ll arrive with a friend, and leave with 20 new ones.

Sonny is just one of the many Tasmanian small businesses that star in delicious. 100 — the ultimate foodie bucket list featuring 100 of the most delicious food experiences in Australia.

See the full list at delicious100.com.au

Originally published as Hobart pint-sized wine bar rates in Australia’s top 100 for vino virtuosos