Spice Alley
Chippendale · Pan-Asian hawker-style (Singaporean, Thai, Malaysian, Cantonese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Southeast Asian)
ESCA Hospitality Group has launched AALIA Wine Room, an intimate wine-first extension of their acclaimed two-hatted Middle Eastern restaurant in Martin Place.
This marks ESCA's first dedicated wine bar, and it's built around discovery.
Sommelier Sarah O'Dwyer has curated a 235-label wine list featuring emerging and established producers, with 31 available by the glass. Expect limited releases like the exclusively held Henschke Julius Riesling 2007 and producers new to Australia. The signature Discovery Hour experience delivers a sommelier-selected wine revealed tableside with a personalised tasting note.
Sydney Morning Herald's 2025 Good Food Guide Chef of the Year Paul Farag has created a refined menu of Middle Eastern snacks designed to complement the wine program. Think basturma with pickled chilli and quail egg gilda, and beef nayyeh with rhubarb and freekeh crisp. There's also a relaxed lunch offering Tuesday to Friday featuring Murray Cod shawarma and steak frites with café de Cairo butter.
The 42-seat venue is walk-ins only.
Quick Sips
Quick Bites
EAT: Basturma with pickled chilli and quail egg gilda, beef nayyeh with rhubarb and freekeh crisp, Murray Cod shawarma with toum and pickles, steak frites with café de Cairo butter, beef cheeseburger on milk bun
DRINK: 235-label wine list with 31 by the glass, including Henschke Julius Riesling 2007 and international producers new to Australia. Try the signature Discovery Hour for sommelier-selected wines
VIBE CHECK: Intimate 42-seat wine-first venue built for discovery and exploration, walk-ins only
