Providing a touch of "oo la la" in Albert Park, this is where would-be Frenchies go to sip fine wine and nibble food in true Gallic style.
If you're a French patriot or a wannabe Parisian looking for somewhere to knock back a few fine wines on Bastille Day, Lina's Bistro A Vin should probably be your first choice of drinking destination. This Albert Park wine bar proudly hosts an annual ode to the historical event with wine and food specials.
Thanks to the well-stocked kitchen, tasty bar snacks abound. Nibbles such as French cheeses served with quince paste; baked parmesan-crusted olives with vodka aioli; and duck liver pate are ideal for soaking up any excess consumption from the extensive wine list. The hefty list of vino features more than 120 drops from France, New Zealand and all over Australia, including fine Champagnes, pinots, merlots, rieslings, chardonnays, ports and sticky-sweet dessert wines.
Cocktail lovers might be disappointed by the lack of an official menu of boozy mixes but, if wine doesn't suit, they can suck on a bottle of beer, such as Kronenberg, Stella Artois or Boags.
Sunny afternoons make the courtyard the most popular corner of the place for a cooling sauvignon blanc, while the upstairs lounge offers a cosier space with quaint rococo lamps and a comfy couch.
Maya Linden
