The Iron Yampi — Restaurant in Wollongong City Council

If you’re looking for a degustation and wine tasting experience that truly delivers, look no further than The Iron Yampie in Port Kembla. We recently attended their maritime-inspired degustation, and it was nothing short of exceptional.

The evening was centered around six expertly chosen wines, all hailing from maritime Australian climates—think Margaret River, Tasmania, the Limestone Coast, and McLaren Vale. The sommelier was nothing short of brilliant, offering fascinating insights into how the coastal environment shapes the wines and why certain grape varieties thrive in these regions. It wasn’t just a tasting—it was an education, delivered with warmth, enthusiasm and very good humour.

Each wine was perfectly paired with custom-created dishes, all designed to complement the maritime influence without being overwhelmingly seafood-focused. The philosophy of “what grows together, goes together” was at the heart of every course, and it showed in the impeccable balance of flavors. The attention to detail in both the food and the storytelling behind it made for an immersive and indulgent experience.

Generosity was the theme of the night—not just in hospitality, but in the very generous pours. This is an event where you’ll want to book an Uber and take the next day off work—trust me on that one!

Special mention to Spencer, whose friends call him Bertie (sorry mate, I was rather jovial by that stage of the night).

The Iron Yampie has created something truly special with this degustation. If you appreciate fantastic food, exceptional wine, and a deep dive into the way climate shapes what’s in your glass, this is an experience you absolutely need to try. Support this fantastic local business—you...

The Iron Yanpi ticks all the boxes, it has great feels, and super friendly staff. Walking in felt like home but way cooler. The heritage features in this building and back story about the Iron Yampi ship gives a real local vibe straight from the get go. I highly recommend the food, it was without doubt the best feed I’ve had in a long time. The starters were on point and got me excited for what was to come next. The main I ordered was a slow cooked red wine beef cheek served on a bed of Gorgonzola mash with buttery beans. A symphony of flavour melting in my mouth - I wanted to lick the plate. It was total comfort food. We also ordered the crispy barramundi and it was perfectly cooked. My compliments to the chef and the kitchen staff - amazing ! The serving sizes were really generous and there was no long waits. All meals were very well priced and the drinks menu totally complimented the food. There is great variety of wines and local brewery IPAs on offer. The Iron Yampi is my new regular and a great win for the...

It might just be that the Iron Yampi is the best thought out bar in the Illawarra.

Inspired by the name of the first Ship to enter Port Kembla (SS Iron Yampi) the bar pays homage to Port both in name and in design.

When stepping into the bar, you are first struck by the cool art deco interior, however, it is the walls that are adorned with photos and trinkets from yesteryear that you really get lost in! (Bonus points are given for the inclusion of a number of trophies from the famous Billy Kart Derby.)

The drinks selection is fantastic. They provide a large range of cocktails followed by beer and wine with plenty of local offerings on show.

The food was tasty, served in good time despite a busy (first) Friday night. The staff were all friendly and owners, Ben and Justine are an absolute delight.

The atmosphere was electric, the place was full of locals all energised by Port’s newest nightlife spot.

Get yourself down to the Yampi, you won’t be...