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Restaurant

Bar Spontana

4 Saxon St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia

Recommended by 27 people

Updated

Find Bar Spontana

4 Saxon St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia

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HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 10:30 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 10:30 PM Friday: 5:00 – 11:30 PM Saturday: 1:00 – 11:30 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Bar Spontana

Tucked just off Sydney Road, Bar Spontana pairs fiery regional Thai street plates with funky house ferments and natural wines. Diners settle into the dim, relaxed front bar for the Feed Me tasting—anchored by charred pork jowl skewers, spicy baby octopus, and northern-style raw beef tossed with toasted sticky rice. The kitchen skips watered-down sweetness in favor of sharp chili heat, cut through by an upstairs fermentation program that shapes everything from Esan pork sausage to signature cocktails. Grab a stool, order a glass of Austrian Zweigelt, and watch the grill work through late-night orders of hat-yai fried chicken.

  • Uncompromising regional spice: Fiery skewers, northern raw beef, and crispy chicken built around real regional heat rather than sweet curry pastes.
  • In-house fermentation program: An upstairs R&D lab powers custom microbial ferments showcased across house sausages, snacks, and cocktails.
  • Feed Me tasting & drinks list: A multi-course tasting menu paired with natural wines, global pours, and seasonal low-intervention drinks.
RestaurantWine Bar

What's On at Bar Spontana

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Bar Spontana

Discover why diners choose Bar Spontana for regional spice, house ferments, and lively gatherings.

  • Fiery Regional Thai Flavours

    The kitchen focuses on unapologetic regional profiles and lively chili heat rather than predictable, sweetened standards.

    And they don't hold back on the spice, which was fantastic!

    Kelvin Low

  • In-House Fermentation & Creative Drinks

    Guests can explore an integrated upstairs fermentation program that informs house-cured sausages and distinctive drink creations.

    the drinks menu is a lot of fun to explore, between the house ferments, inventive cocktails and a really good selection of wines by the glass.

    Fiona Smith

  • Effortless Feed Me Tasting Menus

    Curated tasting spreads and varied small plates make dining simple, satisfying, and easy to navigate for pairs and friends.

    Came with some friends and we got the Feed Me menu which was amazing value and so yum.

    Eloise C

  • Thoughtful Dietary Flexibility

    The kitchen and front-of-house readily accommodate special dietary requirements like gluten-free dining with care.

    We were well looked after and our gluten free dietary needs we also happily managed.

    Nesim Baba

  • Welcoming Group Celebrations

    Thoughtful booth setups and communal tables provide the space needed to host milestone celebrations and group drinks seamlessly.

    The communal table towards the middle and a couple of the booths were reserved for us, and it fit about 30 guests perfectly.

    Amy Franks

  • Atmospheric Date Night Setting

    A lively, candlelit vibe and thoughtful wine recommendations establish an ideal setting for casual dates and relaxed catch-ups.

    Great date spot. Really vibey, great and knowledgeable staff.

    Jenna Hall

Regional Thai specialties and shared plates that define Bar Spontana

  • Feed Me menu

    Came with some friends and we got the Feed Me menu which was amazing value and so yum.

    Eloise C

  • Pork jowl skewers

    Omg the pork jowl skewers were PERFECT.

    Kiran Cunningham

  • House-fermented Esan pork sausage

    To finish, we had the house-fermented Esan pork sausage, which was our top pick of the night. Packed with flavours of garlic, fermented glass noodle, and coriander root, it was a unique and delightful combination of texture and taste.

    Forkin’ Opinions

  • Beef penang curry

    The highlight was the beef penang curry with watermelon dried crackers, and the gai yang was perfect.

    Garden Reflexxx

Beyond the menu

Distinct hospitality gestures and thoughtful extras that elevate dining at Bar Spontana

  • Upstairs Fermentation Lab Tours

    Guests exploring the beverage and fermentation program have been invited upstairs to tour the venue's active fermentation R&D laboratory space.

  • Spontaneous Wedding & Bridal Party Welcomes

    Front-of-house staff proactively accommodate spontaneous bridal parties and milestone drinks with seamless, flexible hosting and photo support.

  • Dedicated Dietary & Gluten-Free Accommodations

    Kitchen and floor staff actively manage strict gluten-free requirements while delivering full-flavor multi-course tasting menus without compromise.

  • Knowledgeable Dish & Ferment Walkthroughs

    Servers take the time to offer in-depth, knowledgeable breakdowns of regional spice profiles, fermentations, and dish compositions at the table.

Before you head over

Practical dining tips on heat levels, ordering formats, and timing your visit to Bar Spontana.

  • Prepare for serious spice levels

    Expect genuine chili heat across the menu, including dishes like the scallops and dipping sauces that pack an unwarned punch, so calibrate your tolerance before asking for extra spice.

  • Opt for the tasting menu

    If you want to sample widely without balancing individual skewer pricing, order the Feed Me or tasting menu, which offers great value across key dishes and house ferments.

  • Time your visit to suit the vibe

    Early weekday evenings are quiet and intimate for chatting with staff, but weekend services get busy, loud, and can see initial beverage service delays.

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