Emilia reviews a cosy wine bar with plenty of polish and atmosphere!

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Lenny’s Wine Room

327 Lennox St, Richmond 

This finals series I’ve been making my way through footballer-owned venues all across Victoria, and with the AFL Grand Final finally here, it felt fitting to land at Lenny’s Wine Room in the heart of Richmond- minutes from the ‘G.

Owned by Angus Brayshaw alongside (hospo veteran) Kirra Pemberton and Jack Munro and Danielle Frawley. 

From the moment you step inside, Lenny’s feels like a neighbourhood bar with polish.

The front section is small and intimate-seating clustered around a sleek bar framed by green tiles-while murals by local artist Cool Hand Luke brighten the walls with colour and energy.

Head out the back and there’s a courtyard that fits about 25 people, perfect when the sun’s out and the footy is on everyone’s lips. It’s cosy, with just the right hint of atmosphere that makes you want to linger over another glass rather than rush away.

This is firstly and fore mostly a wine bar, and the selection reflects the varied tastes of the owners. There are more than 130 bottles on offer, with plenty available by the glass.

There’s also a takeaway element – you can grab a bottle to go at a discounted price, which feels like a nod to its community-minded DNA.

Food here plays like a reliable defender who doesn’t overcomplicate the game.

On the menu there’s Greek olives from Pappou’s, cheese plates that allow the wines to shine, and thick-cut focaccia from Ned’s Bake served with hummus.

I went with the mortadella, straciatella, pistachio and honey and another dish of prosciutto, pear and goat’s cheese with Chappy chips on the side.

And here’s the smart bit: when you feel like something more filling, you don’t have to leave. You can order pizza straight from Homeslice next door, delivered into Lenny’s without fuss or added cost.

When I asked what was the best pizza on the menu he told me “they’re all good, that’s why they’re on the menu” touché. I stayed safe and got a cappriciossa. 

On Grand Final week, the bar feels like exactly the kind of inner-city bolthole you want. Quiet enough to hear your mates dissect every big moment of September (and maybe argue over Norm Smith predictions), but buzzing with the sense that everyone inside is part of something bigger happening just across Punt Road at the ‘G.

Angus Brayshaw’s name might be on the license, but what makes Lenny’s tick is that it feels like it belongs to both the footy faithful and the wine faithful. 

Now I promised I’d tell you the BEST footballer owned venues to eat at after eating all over. 

One stood out above the rest: Mt Macedon Winery by Dylan Grimes.

It wasn’t just the food or wine (though both were exceptional), but the sense of care and persistence woven into every detail-from the transformation of a tractor shed into a polished restaurant to the paddock-to-plate cooking paired thoughtfully with estate wines.

It felt like more than a venue; it was a story, an extension of Grimes’ grit on the field, and it delivered a dining experience with genuine heart.

Close behind was Max Gawn’s Motor in Hawthorn, a slick and modern spot that nailed big-city dining without losing its playful energy- it’s easy to imagine Gawn holding court in the corner with a glass in hand.

The rest of the field put in gallant showings across the finals tour.

Marcus Bontempelli’s Arthur in Kew impressed with polish and an eye for detail that mirrored the Bulldogs captain’s playing style, while Angus Brayshaw’s Lenny’s Wine Room became my Richmond week go-to for easy drinking and linger-all-night atmosphere.

Ange Cristou’s North Fish and Chips stripped things back to basics with reliable comfort food, the sort that hits best after a long day, even if it’s not chasing fine dining accolades.

And Paul Dimattina’s Il Gambero deserves credit for keeping a Carlton stalwart alive and buzzing- more about tradition and community than reinvention.

Taken together, each venue had its charm, but Grimes’ winery showed what happens when a footballer’s off-field venture becomes something truly lasting.

Images: Supplied