Last updated July 2025
What does it take to get on this list? A Vino Cammino Mailing List member (sign up here if you're not already a member!) must have recommended it to us...
We're excited to take a look at some of the suggestions from the Vino Cammino community that we haven't tried before. Before we get to the list, we have three tips for doing BYO right.
- Call ahead to check before taking wine if you haven't been recently. We aim to confirm (via websites and phone calls) the details listed here at least every 6 months, but BYO policies can change!
- Match the corkage with the quality of your bottle. We find the corkage (the restaurant charge per bottle for BYO) increases as the food, service and glassware quality increases. If you bring something special, you'll get extra brownie points if you save a taste for your server.
- If you have a large group, mix it up a bit and grab something from the restaurant wine list as well as your own bottle(s). The restaurant will appreciate it, and you won't have to lug an esky in the front door :)
Our personal favourite BYO: Porcine (Paddington) - book well in advance for the stunning Canard à la Presse experience
On with the list, in Geographic / Alphabetic order, starting over the Bridge:
1. Chiosco (Spit Bridge) - $18 corkage. All seatings. Book here. Ormeggio's sister restaurant. "barefoot friendly" in case you're stepping off a yacht. Take some of Tregole's Chicchero (White Sangiovese).
2. Tago-an (Miller's Point) - $20 corkage. Dinner seatings only. Call 0422 055 440 to book. Japanese? Yes please! Take a great Riesling from Kuentz-Bas.
In the Inner West, a pair from Enmore:
3. Emma's Snack Bar (Enmore) - $6 corkage. All seatings. Book here. Despite owning one of their t-shirts, we've never been to this popular casual Lebanese eatery. We reckon a Demi-sec Vouvray from Domaine de La Fontainerie will be versatile enough to handle anything on the menu here.
4. Russo & Russo (Enmore) - $20 corkage. Not on Friday, Saturday or public holidays. Book here. In their own words "styled on the classic Italian trattorias of the 1970s, but serves intricate share plates... and doesn't play Andrea Bocceli." I think they deserve a Barolo; a Terlo cru from Cagliero feels right.
A couple of great options South of the city
5. Attenzione (Redfern) - $50 corkage. All seatings. Book Here. Attenzione is our most visited restaurant on this list. Didn't know Attenzione did BYO? Neither did we until we started working on this page - so we're claiming this as a Vino Cammino scoop. You could call them a Nebbiolo first restaurant, with an extensive list of excellent fine wines. Many of the dishes would be a great match for a Barbaresco from Cecilia Monte.
6. La Coppola (Redfern) - $9 corkage. All seatings. Walk-ins (or takeaway) only. Wood fired pizza... we've got a pack for that.
And then there's our home turf - with plenty of suggestions coming in for the Eastern Suburbs.
7. Bar Reggio (Darlinghurst) - $4 corkage per person. All seatings. Book here. an inner-city institution with no frills and no fuss Italian. The Langhe Rosso from Cagliero is just the right level of bold to match the vibe.
8. Bibo Wine Bar (Double Bay) - $35 corkage. Saturday lunch only. Book here. Feast on classy Portuguese inspired cuisine at this wine bar, where you might even get to add to their BYO cork board of fame. We'll go gastronomic with a Grand Cru Riesling from Kuentz-Bas or an Etna Rosso (Nerello Mascalese) from Monteleone.
9. Cafe Nino (Woollahra) - This favourite for Italian seafood is closed based on a phone message when we called - we hope temporarily!
10. Cipri (Paddington) - $35 corkage. Mon-Thurs Dinner and Friday Lunch. Book here. Traditional, old school Italian. Better take an epic Brunello.
11. MacLeay St Bistro (Potts Point) - $14 corkage all seatings except Sunday, when it's free. Book here. Order some red meat and open a top end Chianti Classico Gran Selezione from Sophie Conte at Tregole (who says Italians can't get along with the French?).
12. Malabar (Darlinghurst) - $5 corkage. All seatings. Book here. This is great South Indian cuisine in a fine dining setting. Take a low tannin red or something with a bit of sweetness like the Moscato d'Asti from Cagliero to beat back the spice.
13. Osteria Riva (Bondi Junction) - $20 corkage. Sun-Wed only. Book here. Casual but put together Italian... Langhe Nebbiolo from Cecilia Monte would be pretty versatile with this classic Italian menu!
14. Porcine (Paddington) - $35 corkage every seating. Book here. Our favourite French spot, we usually take Godin et Filles Champagne to start and something sweet, like the Pinot Gris Vendandge Tardive from Kuentz-Bas, to have with their delicious Île Flottante. If you book the Canard à la Presse, take a nice Pinot from Domaine Sohler.
15. Sean's (Bondi) - $35 corkage. Every seating. Book here. This was the most commonly recommended BYO from our mailing list members. They have a great, all Australian wine list, but with all the shells decorating the dining room, we couldn't rock up here without a bottle of Chablis. The Vosgros Premier Cru from Domaine des Trois V will go well with the seafood and poultry dishes (and oysters of course).
16. Table Manners (Bronte) - $40 corkage. All lunch seatings. Book here. It's hard not to just order everything on the menu at Table Manners. Delicious food! Take a Rosé Champagne from Godin et Filles? Or aged sec Vouvray from Domaine de La Fontainerie? Then get something from their amazing wine list.
17. Thai Riffic (Randwick) - $3 corkage. All dinner seatings. Book here. Great Thai, nothing fancy. We're glad someone suggested a Thai place because it gives us a chance to remind you that on the 7th day, in addition to resting, God created Gewürztraminer to pair with Thai food. Grab a Grand Cru version from Kuent-Bas.
18. Vacanza (Waverley) - $14 corkage. All seatings. Book here. you can never have enough BYO pizza options. Check out our pizza pack.