Brews & Bites

Inside Joburg’s Coolest Wine Secret: Winebar. Is Redefining the Way We Sip

Published

3 months ago

June 12, 2025

Chiraag

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A wine bar with zero pretence and a whole lot of personality

You’ll miss it if you’re not looking closely. Tucked inside Father Coffee in Kramerville – yes, that beautifully lit café on the edge of design district cool – you’ll find Winebar., probably the most casually confident wine bar Joburg’s ever seen.

Not a sprawling terrace. Not a glossy sommelier-in-a-suit operation. Just a few nice glasses, a well-worn counter, and a list of wines that sound more like indie rock bands than anything you’d find at Woolies. Welcome to Johannesburg’s most imaginatively named wine bar – and its most exciting.

Also read: Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival 2025 Johannesburg: A Celebration of South African Flavours

Where wine is weird, wonderful, and actually fun

Winebar. is the brainchild of folks who clearly care more about what’s inside the bottle than the size of the label. Their shelves and wine lists are filled with low-intervention, naturally made wines – which basically means no lab coats, no industrial chemicals, and no nonsense. These are wines with stories, flaws, character… and yes, sometimes a bit of funk.

The focus is always on provenance, quality, and taste, with bottles coming from passionate small producers around the world – think tiny-batch vineyards in the Swartland, wild ferment projects from Europe, and quirky finds you’ve probably never heard of (but won’t forget once you’ve had a sip).

One week it’s here. The next, it’s gone.

The wine list and bottle selection at Winebar. isn’t static – it’s constantly evolving, which is half the fun. You’ll never see the same lineup for long. That natty white you loved last week? Gone. That chilled red with the hand-drawn label? Better grab it.

They pour by the glass, which means you can try something completely new without committing to the bottle – and yes, the glasses are actually really nice. No cheap stemware here.

You’ll find the same rotating bottle collection at both the Kramerville and Rosebank Father Coffee locations, so whether you’re drinking in or taking home, there’s always something new to discover.

Small plates, big flavour

Winebar. isn’t just about wine. The food – more like bar plates made for drinking – is just as thoughtfully put together. It’s the kind of menu where every dish feels like it was designed to sit next to a funky white or an unfiltered rosé. Nothing heavy, nothing try-hard. Just good things, simply made.

Expect seasonal, snackable dishes with a touch of flair – perfect for grazing while you sip. It’s not a restaurant, and that’s kind of the point. This is wine bar culture done Joburg-style: effortless, welcoming, and refreshingly unpretentious.

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Image 1: Instagram/@w_i_n_e_b_a_r

What locals are saying

On Instagram, it’s all clinking glasses, sunset pours, and blurry smiles – exactly the vibe. One follower called it “the best date night spot if your person is into wine and conversation.” Another tagged it simply: “The only place in Joburg that makes wine feel fun again.”

Even better? Regulars have developed a fear of missing out. “Get the bottle or regret it forever” is pretty much the unspoken motto, because the wine you love today might be off the shelves next week.

More than just a wine bar

Winebar. is part of something bigger: a quiet revolution in how Joburg does wine. It’s pushing back against the snobbery, the sameness, and the overdone fine dining rituals. Instead, it’s giving us a space where wine is curious, informal, and alive. Where you can learn something or just enjoy a glass without a lecture.

It’s a vibe that fits right in with the Father Coffee philosophy – do things properly, but don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s design-forward without being intimidating. Cool without being cold.

If you go…

Find it inside Father Coffee Kramerville, with bottles also available at the Rosebank location
Wines by the glass (and the bottle) change regularly
Bar plates available – think small, smart, and shareable
Shop online or in person: www.winebar.shop
Best enjoyed midweek or early evening for prime wine energy