Sam's Wine Bar

SAM'S WINE BAR HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN 2021.

The historic Sandgate billiard saloon (circa 1922) has been transformed into Sam's Wine Bar, a stunning wine bar and restaurant with alfresco courtyard.

Inside the high ceilinged space has been stripped back to create a gorgeous light-filled pavilion, where industrial chic meets old world glamour. Featuring original beams and exposed handmade bricks, VJ-ed ceiling and Georgian windows, along one wall there's a striking mosaic-fronted bar lit by strings of exposed bulbs and on the other a stencil art portrait of jazz great Ella Fitzgerald. 

Patrons can drop by for breakfast, lunch, an afternoon drink and tapas or dinner, accompanied by smooth jazz tunes after 5pm. The chic ambient space is divided cleverly into intimate drinking and dining nooks: within the front bay windows you'll find lounge chairs on once side and barrels with bar stools on the other. Opposite the bar are clusters of blue velvet vintage chairs and in the centre are cane dining suites, with more seating available out back in the courtyard.

Food here is as good as the setting, with everything sourced locally and made from scratch where possible. On the breakfast menu (available until 11.30am) you'll find light offerings like banana bread and avocado toast as well as deluxe bacon and egg roll with house made onion relish, Eggs Benedict or spinach and mushroom stack. For lunch (from 11.45am) you can choose from a range of burgers (beef, chicken, pulled pork or spinach & mushroom), fish and chips, and either grilled chicken Caesar or prawn and mango salad.

Tapas, also served from 11.45am, include an artisan cheese and meat platter, smoked salmon or prawns with a twist, Texan soy chicken wings, canape plate, warm assorted mushrooms or a prawn cocktail. These are also available as dinner entrees.

Dinner, served from 5pm until closing, includes hand made meat balls in rich tomato and basil sauce with crusty bread, local caught Mooloolaba prawns and squid sauteed in garlic butter, atop a green salad, grilled local caught snapper fillet with white wine sauce  or spinach and mushroom pesto tagliatelle. And for dessert there's a choice of chocolate lave cake, creme brulee or a cheese platter.

For drinks, Sam's offers a wide and impressive range of Australian and international boutique wines, Newstead Brewing Co beers on tap and a selection of international beers.

In a nutshell - The perfect all-ages place for a date night, special occasion or catch-up for everything from breakfast to supper or a casual drink with friends with a side of jazz music after 5pm.

Good to know - Children are welcome here too, with a small dedicated kids menu for breakfast or lunch.

Need to know - Street parking is available outside and in surrounding streets and Sandgate train station is a 5 minute walk away.