Restaurant in Fitzroy, Australia
Low-key wine bar, serious list.
Marion Wine on Gertrude Street is Fitzroy's most accessible serious wine bar — easy to book, World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accredited, and genuinely good late into the evening. It sits next to Cutler & Co. but operates in a more relaxed register, making it the right call when you want depth in the glass without the formality of a full restaurant booking.
Getting a spot at Marion Wine is easier than you might expect for a bar with this level of recognition — booking is rated easy, which is a genuine advantage on Gertrude Street. That accessibility matters, because Marion earns its reputation. As the laidback neighbour to Cutler & Co., it occupies a different register entirely: no tasting menus, no formal service choreography, just a well-curated wine list and the kind of room where you can arrive at 10 PM and feel entirely welcome. If you want a serious wine bar in Fitzroy that doesn't require two weeks of planning, this is the one to book.
Marion Wine has built its identity around the wine list rather than the kitchen, and the approach pays off. The selection spans small producers alongside bottles from around the world, with a rotating list that rewards repeat visits. The venue holds a World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation — a verifiable credential that places it among a small group of bars globally recognised for wine program quality. For a wine-focused traveller or a local who takes the list seriously, that signal matters. This is not a restaurant with wine; it is a wine bar that happens to feed you well.
The connection to Andrew McConnell's wider group (Cutler & Co. is next door) means Marion benefits from the sourcing relationships and operational standards of one of Melbourne's most respected hospitality operations. That context shapes everything from the glass pours to the food that accompanies them. If you have eaten at Attica in Melbourne or Brae in Birregurra and want to continue that level of thoughtfulness in a lower-key format, Marion fits that brief.
Marion's real strength surfaces after standard dinner hours. Where much of Fitzroy winds down or shifts into louder territory, Marion holds its tone , the kind of place where conversation is still possible and the wine list doesn't shorten at 9 PM. For solo diners, pairs, or small groups who want to extend an evening without surrendering quality, this is the most reliable option on Gertrude Street at that hour. The laidback format means there is no pressure to turn over your table, and the rotating list gives regulars a reason to return rather than treating each visit as a one-time event. Compare that to Carlton Wine Rooms in Carlton, which offers a similar wine-first proposition but skews slightly more formal , Marion wins on atmosphere for late arrivals.
For travellers building an itinerary around wine, Marion sits comfortably alongside venues like 2KW Bar & Restaurant in Adelaide as a destination that takes the glass as seriously as the food. It is also worth noting that Gertrude Street's density of good options , see our full Fitzroy bars guide , makes Marion easy to combine with a broader evening rather than treating it as a standalone commitment.
Address: 53 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065. Reservations: Easy to book , walk-ins are plausible, but booking ahead removes the risk, particularly on weekends. Dress: No formal code; Fitzroy casual is the standard. Budget: Price range not published, but the wine-bar format and Fitzroy positioning suggest mid-range spend , expect to pay for the quality of the list rather than a cover charge. Group size: The bar format suits pairs and small groups most naturally; larger parties should confirm capacity in advance. Nearby: Explore our full Fitzroy restaurants guide and our full Fitzroy experiences guide to plan the rest of your visit.
Marion is a wine-bar-first venue, not a restaurant with a wine list. The 2-Star World of Fine Wine Accreditation tells you the list is serious. Come expecting small producers, rotating selections, and food that supports the drinking rather than the other way around. It is more relaxed than its neighbour Cutler & Co. and easier to book , a good entry point into the McConnell group's Fitzroy presence.
Booking difficulty is rated easy, which means you do not need to plan weeks out. For a Friday or Saturday evening, a few days' notice should be sufficient. For a spontaneous weeknight visit, walk-ins are plausible. Still, booking ahead is worth the two minutes it takes , there is no upside to arriving and finding the bar full.
The wine list is the main event. Focus on the rotating selections and small-producer bottles , these are the choices that reflect what the bar does well and what distinguishes it from a standard by-the-glass list. The food menu supports the drinking, so let the wine drive the order rather than the reverse. Specific current dishes and vintages are not published, so ask the staff for what is pouring well that evening.
Yes, with the right expectations. Marion suits occasions where the wine and conversation are the celebration rather than a formal tasting menu or table service production. Anniversaries, low-key milestones, or a birthday where the guest of honour cares about the glass , all good fits. For a more structured special-occasion dinner, Cutler & Co. next door is the more appropriate choice.
No formal dress code. Fitzroy casual is the register , smart enough to feel comfortable, relaxed enough that you do not need to plan around it. The bar's laidback positioning means you will not feel underdressed in jeans, and you will not feel overdressed if you arrive from a work dinner.
Yes. The wine-bar format is well-suited to solo visitors , a seat at the bar gives you access to the list and natural interaction with staff without requiring a companion. Marion's laidback tone makes solo visits feel intentional rather than awkward. It is one of the stronger solo options on Gertrude Street, particularly late in the evening when the format relaxes further.
Small groups of two to four are the natural fit for a bar of this type. Larger groups should contact the venue directly to confirm capacity and any private area options , the bar format has limits that a restaurant dining room does not. For a group that wants a shared dinner format rather than a wine-bar experience, Builders Arms Hotel is a more practical choice for six or more.
For wine-focused drinking, Carlton Wine Rooms in Carlton is the closest peer in terms of list seriousness, though it skews slightly more formal. For a full dinner in the same neighbourhood, Cutler & Co. is the obvious step up. For something more casual and food-led, Builders Arms Hotel covers that ground. See our full Fitzroy restaurants guide for a broader set of options.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Wine | Marion is a treasured Fitzroy wine bar, the laidback neighbour to Cutler & Co. Inspired by Andrew’s adventures in convivial bars and bistros across the world, Marion is a place to pause for a moment or to settle in for an indulgent session of eating and drinking. Our selection contains the bottles we love to drink sourced locally and from around the globe. The list features small producers and exciting blends covering the breadth and depth of the winemaking world. Marion Wine Bar has a rotating; {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "marion-wine", "page_type": "star_accreditation", "category_slug": "2-star-accreditation", "award_result": "Accredited", "is_global_winner": "False"}, "scraped_details": {"hero_image": "", "page_title": "2-Star Accreditation", "page_url": ""}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Marion Wine"}} | Easy | — | ||
| Cutler & Co. | Australian Modern | Unknown | — | ||
| Builders Arms Hotel | Unknown | — | |||
| Casa Iberica Deli | Unknown | — |
A quick look at how Marion Wine measures up.
Marion works well for small groups of 2-4, where the bar-counter format and shared wine list format make the most sense. Larger groups should book ahead and confirm capacity, as the Gertrude Street space is compact by design. For a seated group dinner with more room to move, Cutler & Co next door is the better fit.
The wine list is the main event here, not the food. Marion holds a 2-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation, so the selection is taken seriously — expect small producers and bottles chosen for how they drink, not how they sell. Come with time to linger; this is not a quick-drink venue.
Cutler & Co, which shares the same ownership, is the move if you want a full kitchen and a more formal dining structure alongside your wine. Builders Arms Hotel is a reliable fallback for a broader crowd and a pub-style setting. Casa Iberica Deli is a different format entirely — daytime-focused and food-led — but worth knowing about on the same strip.
The wine list is the reason to come, built around small producers sourced locally and internationally with a 2-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation behind it. Ask the floor staff what is pouring well by the glass — that is the fastest route to something worth drinking. Specific dish recommendations are not available in our current data.
Yes, if the occasion calls for a low-key, wine-forward evening rather than a grand set-piece dinner. Marion's 2-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation gives the list credibility, and the Gertrude Street address in Fitzroy adds some occasion on its own. For a milestone with a full tasting menu and more ceremony, Cutler & Co is a stronger call.
Booking is rated easy relative to comparable accredited venues, so 1-2 weeks ahead is generally sufficient. Walk-ins are plausible, though weekend evenings carry more risk. Booking ahead on a Friday or Saturday removes that variable without much effort.
Marion reads as a neighbourhood wine bar rather than a formal dining room, so relaxed but considered dress fits the room. There is no documented dress code, and the Fitzroy crowd tends toward casual-cool rather than formal. Overdressing would feel out of place.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
