The Recreation
Updated ,first published
The Recreation Bistro & Bottleshop
European$$
Virtuoso pub bistro combines classic kitchen technique with relaxed, polished service.
Wine fiends, be warned. The cellar at this reimagined corner hotel, with its exposed brick walls and cosy wine-bar entry, is stocked with gems and curiosities. If you venture beyond the intriguing single-page “short list” (hello, Patagonian pinot noir), a “little grower” champagne or a Suze-spiked Americano may be needed to keep thirst at bay while browsing the full tome.
Happily, a co-owner is typically at hand to pour wine at the table or decant a big-ticket Barolo. Stonking wedges of terrine – a mix of quail, turkey and pork – make a robust lunch or entree; a main of crackle-skinned barramundi fillet is lapped by herby buttermilk-caper sauce.
Juicy half-chicken, lightly smoky from the wood grill, might come slicked with sherry glaze and vivid romesco. Cheese or dessert? Sumptuous whipped Brillat-Savarin “cheesecake” with poached quince has you covered both ways while you interrogate the dessert wines.
Good to know: Loved what you drank? The Rec bottle shop is here for you.
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Last visited: April 2026
More:
- Fitzroy North
- The Recreation Bistro & Bottleshop
- Melbourne
- European
- Outdoor dining
- Accepts bookings
- Separate bar
- BYO
- Family-friendly
- Good for business lunch
- Good for groups
- Licensed
- Vegetarian-friendly
- Wheelchair access
- Private dining room
- Pet-friendly
- Good for a first date
- Community hub
- Long lunch
- Restaurant
- Bottle shop
- Reviews
- Good Food Guide
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