The Walrus

First things first: yes, The Walrus is named for the Beatles song. This breezy hideaway is the work of business and life partners Marty Webster (Toorak Cellars, Milton Wine Shop, The Moon, Trader House) and Amy McGouldrick (The Alps). Here, they serve oysters, bar snacks and lesser-known wines to dedicated regulars and travellers alike.

Webster, who’s also a chef, keeps the food menu snacky. You might expect rotating pintxos scrawled on a mirror, like gildas, a range of oysters, tinned seafood, tuna tartare and a dainty crust-free lobster and prawn sando.

The bottle list is no less accessible than the by-the-glass offering. Webster regularly seeks out lesser-known grapes from lesser-known regions, like vinho verde from Minho in Portugal.

Weekend wine sessions here are complemented by the couple’s eclectic record collection. The venue is bright, with a warm and extremely yellow colour scheme thanks to yellow walls, curtains, art and glasses filled with golden muscadet. It’s a laid-back, homey sort of vibe that Webster and McGouldrick took particular care to create.