Our friends Marty and Joyce live in the neighbouring suburb.
We’ve known each other since we were eighteen years old (we lived together for three years), and our children are now older than we were when we first met. We have that easy, comfortable relationship that only comes from a lifetime of shared experiences. Marty and I MC’d each other’s weddings – he’s passionate, highly intelligent, and completely bonkers. I love him to bits. So when he said he was opening a wine bar in nearby Summer Hill, we had to go and check it out.
Obviously this isn’t an unbiased review – our old friend has a new establishment and I’m keen to tell everyone about it. But I have to say, for a man who nearly demolished his bathroom trying to install a shower rail, he’s done a magnificent job.
The gloriously named Temperance Society Wine Bar offers a wide range of top shelf spirits, craft beers, wines by the glass and a limited selection of cocktails (for now – hopefully the list will grow with time). Everything on offer is unusual, interesting and carefully chosen.
Our friend Will raved about the two boutique beers he tried – an Indian Pale Ale (IPA) and a Rye-O-Rye Red. Sullivans Cove Whisky from Tasmania – recently voted the finest single malt in the world – is available by the glass. Here are a few photos from their second night of trading (they only opened on Monday).
The bar is run by the charming Alex and his smiling team…
My cocktail of the night – a Lackey Street Lush (Zubrowska vodka, cloudy apple and lemon juice). It was deliciously refreshing and not overly sweet…
The whole place oozes ambiance – the ground level has an easy, laid back feel with high tables and chairs. There’s a courtyard out the back which closes at 9pm (council regulations). We walked upstairs and I let out a deep, contented sigh…the room was filled with comfortable burgundy Chesterfields, books and quirky artwork…
I could imagine myself losing a few quiet evenings in this little corner…
The food was simple, tasty and generous, a testament to Joyce’s deft touch with all things edible. The large wedge of Black Forest Smokehouse rabbit and quail terrine ($9) was accompanied by green tomatoes, a small pot of relish and sourdough…
The mixed meat plate ($18) came with a wedge of cheese (brie or cheddar), olives, two meats, preserves and bread…
Their primary focus is on beverages, so only a limited selection of cold platters are available (at the moment). This is the perfect place to pop in for a drink, but don’t count on having dinner there.
Are we a bit excited at having a new wine bar within walking distance of home? Oh yeah. Are we über excited that it’s Marty’s newest project? Absolutely. I’m torn between hoping it’s a roaring success and wanting it to stay just a wee bit quiet so that I can always grab a Chesterfield on the top floor. I strongly suspect it’s going to be the former.
. . . . .
The Temperance Society Wine Bar
122 Smith Street
Summer Hill NSW 2130
Open 4pm – 11pm Mon – Thurs
12pm – 12am Fri, Sat
12pm – 10pm Sun
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What a cozy place, Celia. I don’t think anything that special can remain a secret for long. You choose clever friends!
Maureen, I wish I could take credit for choosing! I seriously blessed to have wonderful friends!
It’s early in the day but I could eat more than a bit of that rabbit and quail terrine. I wish Marty & Joyce all the best for success, no doubt the place will be packed as all the good places are… maybe they could reserve a Celia’s corner for you :)
ED, you and the GO need to make a weekday trek to Marrickville to Black Forest Smokehouse. The rabbit and quail terrine is very reasonable at Marty’s, but you can buy it by weight from the factory, and it’s to die for! :)
Seriously – what’s not to love about a boozer called the Temperance Society Wine Bar!?
Hehehe…yes, that’s true. It’s a very soothing environment too!
Those chesterfields look so comfortable!! Your pics on IG were great too. I wanted to be there when I saw them :)
I could honestly settle in for the night on one of those Chesterfields!
Looks fantastic – Im adding it to the list
Vita, hope you enjoy it!
How lovely that your friendship goes back so many years and that you all still stay in touch and live geographically close. I do love the look of the wine bar and as the cooler weather sets in, those chesterfield lounges look like a wonderfully cosy place to be xx
Charlie, there’s a large group of us – about a dozen or so – who’ve all been close since uni. It’s been a joy to go through adulthood together – most of us now have kids in the later part of school or at uni!
Brilliant name! I wish I had a Temperance Society Wine Bar around the corner from me serving vodka and cloudy apple juice. That has my name all over it.
Nance, you and I would find a little corner there, and we’d never leave. The boys would have to come back and pick us up later. :)
What a great looking place, I think you are right it will take off for sure.
I hope so, Vicki! :)
Fabulous name – I would sign up – and supply my own tambourine! The upstairs rooms look wonderful.
Hahaha…they’re not allowed to have live music yet, Jan! :)
I also live within walking distance of this new establishment! Thanks for the personal recommendation. I look forward to trying it out.
Hope you like it! Marty is the goatee’d very tall blond 50 year old triathlete – he’s hard to miss. Say hi! :)
I will!
It looks wonderful. I wish it were closer🍸😭.
I wish you were too! :)
I would never leave the room upstairs!
I’m toying with the idea of going with a blankie and my kindle… :)
What a fabulous place – like a cosy club! The food looks great too and I love the sound of that cocktail you had :) My best friend and I go back almost 40 years – friendships like that are incredible, so many shared experiences in common, they are like family. Mind you, new friendships across the miles are wonderful too :)
So true darling one! Hope you’re back in Spain soon!
What a wonderful name for a wine bar. Are patrons allowed to wear their slippers in the upstairs room? ;-) Honestly that room looks so comfy and cosy, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are people who want to take up permanent residence.
Sherri, as I said to Rose above, I’m toying with the idea of sneaking in with a blanket and my Kindle! :)
looks great – love the name and those platters are fab!
Jan, the cocktail and beers were very good too! :)
I want to be there. Please tell your friends to open a similar establishment in Perth.
Hahaha…I’ll let both you and Glenda know when they do!
That place looks so cool. I wish your friend all the success in the world.
Thanks G! Fingers crossed for them!
What a fantastic looking place! Too bad it’s on the other side of the world for me.
Gretchen, it opens at 4pm for all the desperate mummies who need fortification before the 5pm witching hour! :D
Ah, the witching hour. Or perhaps hours is more accurate!!
What a special friendship and the wine bar looks heavenly. I love chesterfield loungers but alas don’t have any.
Here’s to your friends going from strength to strength.
Have a beautiful day Celia.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, we have old Chesterfields – absolutely love them, although 16 years of boys bouncing on them has taken its toll! :)
Now that looks like a great place and as you mentioned, someplace you’d feel comfortable sitting down with friends. How exciting to be friends with the owner – surely you could work out some kind of arrangement to reserve one couch when you need it :)
You have such wonderful and interesting friends Celia.
Diane, I’ll have to chat to Marty and see what he can arrange! :) And yes, we have the best friends in the world! x
Coming up with a name like that indicates they must be nice! Very clever.
They’re certainly very clever. I wouldn’t call Marty nice for fear of him getting a big head. :)
ooh, how nice to have a friend with a wine bar! And I so love the name of the Rye-O-Rye Red beer. I would try that for sure :)
Tandy, I didn’t taste it, bit it actually DID look red! :)
Looks like a great place. !!!!!!
I post an IMK post in my blog.
http://ale-ligeradeequipaje.blogspot.com.ar/
Regards!
Ale, thank you! :)
Looks like a great place to be with friends.
Minnie, I think you’re absolutely right – we could have sat there and chatted all night!
One day when we come to visit, we’ll have to go here.
Yes, let’s! Come soon! :)
We have wonderful friends we’ve know forever like that as well – how clever to have yours open a bar for you too ;)
Oh if I had a place like that just down the road… it would be way too dangerous :) Liz xx
[…] there is a new wine bar in the area, and the word from the Fig Jam and Lime Cordial (also locals) said “go, check it […]
How exciting Celia. Lets go one night!!!!