About

Australia’s only Riesling-focused wine bar and restaurant

Rizla was built to make wine feel more open, welcoming, and a lot less intimidating.

We saw a gap in the way people talked about wine and experienced it. Too often, wine was treated like something you had to already understand before you could enjoy it. We wanted to change that. At Rizla, our goal is to create a place where people at any point in their wine journey can feel included, comfortable, and curious enough to ask questions, try something new, and enjoy themselves.

Riesling sits at the heart of that idea. It is the variety we love most, and it is the lens through which we shape the whole experience. Grown and made to an exceptionally high standard in the Canberra District, Riesling is incredibly versatile with food and endlessly rewarding in the glass. 

How Rizla began

The idea for Rizla began in the summer of 2014/15, when owner Andy Day was working as Cellar Manager at Eightysix next door. At the time, the venue that would later become Rizla was a little takeaway spot, and the corner position on Lonsdale Street stood out immediately. From the staff meals outside Eightysix, it was obvious the space was underused and full of possibility.

It felt like the kind of corner that should be home to an outdoor wine bar.

Years later, after the tenancy had become toasted, Andy approached the owners, bought the business, and turned the space into what Rizla is today: a wine bar and restaurant with a clear point of view, a strong sense of place, and a genuine love of good hospitality.

What we stand for

Our mission is to make wine enjoyable and unpretentious.

That applies whether you are here for an easy-going local Riesling, a Grand Cru bottle from France or Germany, or something in between. We care less about impressing people and more about creating that small, satisfying moment when a wine tastes exactly right.

That is what we are always aiming for: the smile, the nod, and the simple feeling of “yum.”

Our team

Rizla is built on the people who bring it to life every day.

Andy grew up around wine near Orange, NSW, and after coming to Canberra for university, he quickly found himself drawn into restaurants, hospitality, and the rhythm of service. What started as a way to pay the bills became a career built on looking after guests like friends and finding the best wines people have not tried yet.

Tommy Taylor has been part of Rizla for more than four years and leads the front-of-house team. He knows the room, knows the locals, and brings the kind of energy that makes service feel effortless.

In the kitchen, Sulav Payani has been leading the team since 2023, introducing new dishes into our menu and keeping everything running with care and consistency.

Why Rizla is different

Rizla is Australia’s only single-variety focused wine bar, and that focus shapes everything we do.

Everything here at Rizla starts with the wine list.

Our food is built to sit alongside the list, with share-style dishes designed to complement what is in the glass rather than compete with it. The result is an experience that feels cohesive, thoughtful, and easy to enjoy, whether you are stopping in for one glass or settling in for the evening.

We want Rizla to be the kind of place where wine feels approachable without losing its depth. Serious enough to interest a wine lover, relaxed enough to welcome everyone else.

A Canberra place through and through

Canberra plays an important role in who we are.

This city has always been an underdog in the Australian wine story, but it consistently overdelivers. We are proud to champion Canberra producers, both long-standing names and newer voices, and to put local wine on the pedestal it deserves.

We work closely with local producers and love showing how much the Canberra District has to offer alongside the great wine regions of Australia and Europe.

Our story continues

Rizla opened in September 2019, and like everyone else, we have navigated plenty since then. Through it all, the idea has stayed the same: make wine feel welcoming, make the food work with the glass, and make the whole experience worth coming back for.

If you are looking for a Braddon wine bar with character, warmth, and a list that rewards curiosity, you will find it here.

Good wine starts at Rizla

From first-time Riesling drinkers to people who can talk vintage for an hour, everyone is welcome at our table. Come for a glass, stay for a meal, and see why Rizla has become a favourite for relaxed dinners, date nights, and thoughtful wine discovery in Canberra.