Knird — Restaurant in Sydney

Knird is the kind of wine bar that everyone wishes they had in their neighborhood.

The service is outstanding and makes you feel very welcomed. Very attentive and knowledgeable about the wines on their menu. If you are a repeat customer, they'll know your name and what your favorites are.

The small menu is deceptively amazing, because you see the tiny kitchen behind the bar and you assume that the dishes will be simple snacks to go with drinks, but many of them have deep flavours and beautifully presented. You cannot miss the anchovies on Japanese fried rice, which is addictive. Really everything there is worth trying. Scallops are a no brainer. What the chef is able to accomplish in such a tiny space is amazing.

The owner, Andrew, is well connected to the wine industry and frequently food and wine pairing events with the winemaker in attendance to talk about their wines.

Tables outside, inside and seats along the bar (my favorite so I can watch the chef in action). I'd drive across town to go to Knird, ecstatic to be able...

KNIRD, folks. KNIRD. Let that sink in for a moment. Yeah, it's "drink" backwards. I spent a good five minutes trying to figure it out, convinced it was some ancient Norse word for "really good cocktails." I'm pretty sure you'd need to be standing on your head, looking at a mirror, after a solid night of, well, "knirding" to get that one. Or, you could just ask the owner, like I did. Much less acrobatic.

But let's get to the important stuff: this place is fantastic. Great vibe, great drinks, great food. It's like they bottled good times and sprinkled them over everything. The cocktails? Top-notch. The food? Delicious. The general atmosphere? So good, you'll forget you're not actually in a secret speakeasy.

Seriously, if you're in St Leonards and you're looking for a place to unwind, have a laugh, and enjoy some seriously good drinks and food, KNIRD is your spot. Just maybe try to figure out the name before you've had too many of their excellent cocktails. Unless you're into headstands and mirror...

Sydney via Barcelona (or somewhere equally cool & European like Lisbon), KNIRD is your oh-so-chic, lively & friendly neighbourhood wine bar. Celebrating the best of Australian produce and wines with a Euro influence, we’ve been going since 2020 and can attest to an ever evolving, refined & extensive wine list to appease any palate. Wait staff front as sommeliers that can also provision a fabulous cocktail, but it’s chief Knird (& owner) Andrew that will intuitively recommend a spectacular glass or bottle for your tastes. Small plates make for delicious snacks or accumulate as a complete meal. Fresh shucked appellation oysters, creamy Burrata, sourdough, crispy curry puffs, inventive vegetables and unctuous cheeses, satisfying patatas bravas and moorish wagyu meatballs. The laneway location lends to the neighbourhood feel and the decor throws slick warm industrial vibes. Arrive a KNIRD as a customer but leave...