From the team behind Canberra venues Terra and Recess, a new Braddon local has arrived and it’s here for the vibes. Opening its doors last week, Bar Outro is a wine bar and listening lounge that is all about atmosphere. Found in the same spot where Rye Café used to sit on Lonsdale Street, the venue is the latest project from hospitality duo Anthony Iannelli and Sungyeol “Sunga” Son, offering a space where vinyl, minimal-intervention wines, playful cocktails and a considered food menu take place.
The name “Outro” nods to the building’s future as it’s set for redevelopment in the coming years, this venue is the “final chapter” for the space – a last song, of sorts.
“We didn’t want to go overboard with the transient nature of the space,” says Iannelli. “We’ve softened the edges of the original space, upgraded the sound and put together a menu of everything we feel like eating right now. The idea is simple – come in for a drink and a feed and stick around for the music.”
Inside, the vibe is warm and a music lovers dream, with vintage JBL 4344 studio monitors, a McIntosh amplifier, Technics 1200 MKII turntables and an Omnitronics rotary mixer. Thousands of vinyl records line the back bar, while empty wine bottles crown acoustic panels overhead for a detail that’s both a decorative and deliberate sound-optimising choice.
The food offering is snack-led but substantial, giving guests the freedom to graze or stay for a full meal. Executive Chef Sunga Son, alongside Head Chef Dave, have created a menu that loosely draws inspiration from European wine bars. Think house-made flatbread with duck liver parfait and hazelnut praline, charred prawns with prawn bisque, and sugarloaf cabbage with hot English mustard hummus.
For something more, there’s wagyu bavette with smoked fat vinaigrette, ricotta scarpinocc with brown butter, truffle and pecorino, and chicken ballotine with pomme purée and tarragon jus.
The drinks list leans natural, highlighting wines made with care from producers like Gut Oggau, Radikon, Alain Castex, Ochota Barrels and Momento Mori. The cocktail list is small but clever, featuring drinks like the Whisky Apple Highball with earl grey and granny smith soda, a Strawberry Gimlet with tomato water & saltbush, and the crowd-pleasing Jaffa Old Fashioned with rum, coffee, Campari and spice.
“If you’ve had a wine at Terra, you’ll recognise the vibe,”says Iannelli.“We like to serve things that are made with intention. Some bottles are fun and easy, some are a bit more serious – but none of them are boring.”
The opening also marks the official launch of The Good Life – a new hospitality group founded by Iannelli in collaboration with partners Son and Scott Brewer. The group now operates Terra, Recess, and Outro, with more venues in the pipeline.
Outro is open for dinner Wednesday to Monday, with lunch service Thursday to Sunday. And for the night owls, there’s a supper menu from 10pm to midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – featuring what might just become the street’s most sought-after late-night dry-aged cheeseburger.
Whether you’re after a quick glass of wine, a long dinner with friends, or a night of cocktails and music that rolls past midnight, Bar Outro is ready to set the tone.
