The Temperance Society Wine Bar

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The Temperance Society Wine Bar

May 7, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

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

Posted in Food & Friends | 56 Comments

56 Responses

on May 7, 2015 at 8:52 am Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

What a cozy place, Celia. I don’t think anything that special can remain a secret for long. You choose clever friends!
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:32 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Maureen, I wish I could take credit for choosing! I seriously blessed to have wonderful friends!
on May 7, 2015 at 9:50 am EllaDee

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 :)
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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! :)
on May 7, 2015 at 10:37 am lambsearsandhoney

Seriously – what’s not to love about a boozer called the Temperance Society Wine Bar!?
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hehehe…yes, that’s true. It’s a very soothing environment too!
on May 7, 2015 at 10:45 am Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

Those chesterfields look so comfortable!! Your pics on IG were great too. I wanted to be there when I saw them :)
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:34 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I could honestly settle in for the night on one of those Chesterfields!
on May 7, 2015 at 12:07 pm Vita

Looks fantastic – Im adding it to the list
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:34 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Vita, hope you enjoy it!
on May 7, 2015 at 12:36 pm hotlyspiced

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
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:35 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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!
on May 7, 2015 at 1:03 pm Nancy |Plus Ate Six

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.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:35 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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. :)
on May 7, 2015 at 2:16 pm Vicki @ Boiled Eggs and Soldiers

What a great looking place, I think you are right it will take off for sure.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:35 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I hope so, Vicki! :)
on May 7, 2015 at 4:21 pm Jan

Fabulous name – I would sign up – and supply my own tambourine! The upstairs rooms look wonderful.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hahaha…they’re not allowed to have live music yet, Jan! :)
on May 7, 2015 at 4:25 pm shazzameena

I also live within walking distance of this new establishment! Thanks for the personal recommendation. I look forward to trying it out.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hope you like it! Marty is the goatee’d very tall blond 50 year old triathlete – he’s hard to miss. Say hi! :)
  - on May 12, 2015 at 9:31 am shazzameena
    
    I will!
on May 7, 2015 at 5:16 pm themateriallady

It looks wonderful. I wish it were closer🍸😭.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:37 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I wish you were too! :)
on May 7, 2015 at 6:16 pm Rose

I would never leave the room upstairs!
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:37 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I’m toying with the idea of going with a blankie and my kindle… :)
on May 7, 2015 at 6:48 pm Chica Andaluza

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 :)
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:37 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  So true darling one! Hope you’re back in Spain soon!
on May 7, 2015 at 7:04 pm Sherri

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.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:38 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sherri, as I said to Rose above, I’m toying with the idea of sneaking in with a blanket and my Kindle! :)
on May 7, 2015 at 7:42 pm Jan (A gluttonous wife)

looks great – love the name and those platters are fab!
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:38 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jan, the cocktail and beers were very good too! :)
on May 7, 2015 at 10:04 pm Madge

I want to be there. Please tell your friends to open a similar establishment in Perth.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:38 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hahaha…I’ll let both you and Glenda know when they do!
on May 8, 2015 at 1:08 am Glenda

That place looks so cool. I wish your friend all the success in the world.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:39 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks G! Fingers crossed for them!
on May 8, 2015 at 1:36 am MamaD1xx4xy

What a fantastic looking place! Too bad it’s on the other side of the world for me.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:39 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Gretchen, it opens at 4pm for all the desperate mummies who need fortification before the 5pm witching hour! :D
  - on May 12, 2015 at 1:09 am MamaD1xx4xy
    
    Ah, the witching hour. Or perhaps hours is more accurate!!
on May 8, 2015 at 1:39 am thecompletebook

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
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:40 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Mandy, we have old Chesterfields – absolutely love them, although 16 years of boys bouncing on them has taken its toll! :)
on May 8, 2015 at 2:29 am dianeskitchentable

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.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:40 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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
on May 8, 2015 at 6:25 am fergie51

Coming up with a name like that indicates they must be nice! Very clever.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:41 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  They’re certainly very clever. I wouldn’t call Marty nice for fear of him getting a big head. :)
on May 8, 2015 at 5:45 pm Tandy | Lavender and Lime

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 :)
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:41 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tandy, I didn’t taste it, bit it actually DID look red! :)
on May 9, 2015 at 2:52 am ale

Looks like a great place. !!!!!!
I post an IMK post in my blog.
http://ale-ligeradeequipaje.blogspot.com.ar/
Regards!
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:41 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Ale, thank you! :)
on May 9, 2015 at 11:58 am Minnie@thelady8home

Looks like a great place to be with friends.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:42 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Minnie, I think you’re absolutely right – we could have sat there and chatted all night!
on May 10, 2015 at 8:44 pm The Life of Clare

One day when we come to visit, we’ll have to go here.
- on May 11, 2015 at 8:42 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Yes, let’s! Come soon! :)
on May 13, 2015 at 8:23 pm Beck @ Goldenpudding

We have wonderful friends we’ve know forever like that as well – how clever to have yours open a bar for you too ;)
on May 18, 2015 at 3:55 pm Elizabeth

Oh if I had a place like that just down the road… it would be way too dangerous :) Liz xx
on May 21, 2015 at 12:24 pm The Temperance Society | Ms.Viks Photography

[…] 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 […]
on May 24, 2015 at 11:55 pm Tania|My Kitchen Stories.com.au

How exciting Celia. Lets go one night!!!!