CANCEL Gloria's

Nick Foley has been a Camberwell local for 12 years, so he knows how long the area has needed a wine bar (and shop) like Gloria’s. In 2021, an end to dry-zone rules gave Foley and co-owner Andrew Savvas the green light on their newest venture, on Burke Road. The focal point of the 70-seater bar is its 180-strong wine wall, and its overseeing sommelier Norman Houghton will help you wade through all your options. The cocktail list is short and sharp. Foley’s stand-out is the Gloria’s Spritz, which uses local distillery Three Foxes’ Sunny Arvo Aperitivo for a very sessionable result. Food-wise, it’s suitably snacky. Build a plate from a selection of soft and hard cheeses and cured meats, all served with Ned’s bread. The smoked-paprika hummus, which is made by Savvas’s mum, comes swimming in chilli oil and topped with crunchy shallots. But for something more substantial, go for a pizza or the Greek-taverna-inspired pickled octopus. Occupying a former antiques-restoration store, Gloria’s has a lived-in charm. It’s intimate and warm, with deep red walls, cream travertine floors and a golden chandelier that bathes the bar in a buttery glow, while the toasty backroom is lit with a pint-sized fireplace. But mostly, the homey feeling is thanks to the service; it feels like your friendly neighbourhood local, even if you’re not from the area. And it’s growing – by Christmas you’ll be able to soak up the sun in a courtyard, with spit-roasted meats on Sundays.