Motor

Motor is a neighbourhood wine bar and bistro in Hawthorn, set inside a former motor garage built in 1912. The long, narrow brick building has been reworked into a dining space centred on wood-fire cooking, wine and seasonal produce. It is designed to work across different occasions, with intimate booths, a bar for more casual seating and a private dining room for groups.

The menu brings together small plates, snacks and more substantial dishes, with cooking that suits a wine-focused meal. Current offerings include oysters with mignonette, crab and prawn toast, woodfired scallop with blackberry habanero butter, steak tartare with potato cakes and cured yolk, and octopus with chorizo, kipfler, harissa and goat’s yoghurt. There are also vegetarian choices such as mushroom fritters, stracciatella with winter vegetables and risotto with confit garlic, spinach, ricotta and lemon. For something more filling, the menu includes half roast chicken and a Southern Ranges grass-fed striploin.

The setting gives diners a choice of mood without changing the venue’s central character. A booth offers a more intimate meal, while the bar suits a solo visit or a drink-led evening. The private room can accommodate up to 12 guests and operates with a $90-per-person Feed Me menu. There is no room hire fee or minimum spend, although beverages are charged separately. That makes it a practical option for a small celebration or a shared dinner where the group wants a dedicated space.

Motor’s food is built around local and seasonal ingredients rather than a narrow dietary or regional theme, with a diverse wine list intended to complement the cooking. The menu also includes familiar options such as Brad’s burger, triple-cooked chat potatoes and desserts including woodfired cookie with strawberries and cream ice cream, and apple crumble with vanilla custard. With its mix of seating, flexible format and bistro-style menu, Motor suits intimate meals, small groups and diners looking for a relaxed wine bar experience in Hawthorn.