Ach Wine Bar & Bistro

Four hospo up-and-comers added a jolt of energy to Hamilton’s dining scene in late 2023, when Middle Eastern-inspired wine bar and bistro Ach opened on the fringe of the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area. The brainchild of Marty Coard, Noam Lissner, Mia Nguyen and Mat Drummond, the 50-seat haunt showcases the diverse cuisine of the Middle East – from Morocco, Libya and Egypt to Israel, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, and out to Afghanistan and Iran – as well as wine sourced from the region’s fertile growing areas. Delivering traditional flavours with modern techniques, the Ach kitchen team is cooking majority of the menu over fire in a custom-built hearth.

In April 2025, Ach swapped a la carte dining in favour of two tasting menus – a shorter option of approximately nine courses, and a premium choice featuring upwards of 15 courses. Both options start with a glass of cardamon and orange tea, as well as Ach’s signature house-baked challah, which is orbited by a selection of salatim, otherwise known as mezze. The rest of the menu is fluid and will change regularly based on what ingredients the team can get its hands on. That said, previously menus have included malawach squares with dry-aged topside nayyeh, keshk, chickpeas and black garlic; Moreton Bay bug with chicken garum, spicy silan, shorbat adas (lentil soup) and prawn oil; latkes with midye dolma, paprika mussel cream, smoked red-pepper broth and Alepp rice cracker; and Moroccan tagine with sous vide short rib, grilled skirt, Jerusalem artichoke and pomegranate jus. 

Ach’s lunch menu will remain approachable, sandwiches, pita pockets, persian rice, chicken shawarmas, hummus bowls. Post 4:00 pm, Ach will run a wine-bar menu for walk-ins featuring a selection of small snacks.