One thing we all enjoy when given the opportunity is to support and dine at our favourite restaurants and to get out and explore new dining experiences. Recommending and booking restaurants for dining, special occasions, celebrations and private dining is one of our most requested tasks from our clients.
Here is our guide to the new restaurant openings over the last 12 months and exciting new ventures to come in 2021. Bon Apetit!
MELBOURNE
Chancery Lane Bistro
430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Housed in the historic Normanby Chambers building, Scott Pickett and the team have re-imagined the former Bistro Vue site to become an instant classic. Returning to its most successful incarnation, Chancery Lane will return the space to a European-inspired bistro – albeit with an edge.
Gimlet
123 Collins Street, Melbourne
Step into a world of nostalgia and glamour at the Chicago-style Cavendish House, a heritage gem lavishly reimagined by Andrew McConnell and Acme & Co. It’s a space for all seasons and reasons, from casual catch-ups at the bar to intimate booths and an elegant dining stage above the city streets. The menu, like the space, suits any occasion, from oysters and snacks to shared mains of premium wood-fired meats and seafood. Even a caviar service, if the mood takes you. The bar is a haven of quality, serving classic cocktails and an extensive list of benchmark world wines.
Society
80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Including a grand dining room, the Lilian Terrace brassiere, sweeping open terraces, three private rooms and signature lounge bar serving some of the city’s most elegant curated cocktails. This new is a multi-faceted modern dining destination like no other, celebrating the magic of à la carte dining where no two visits need ever be the same.
Yakimono, CBD
80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Set to open right next door to Society by restaurant duo Chris Lucas and Martin Ben is Yakimono, a two-level charcoal-fired Japanese Diner. Yakimono, a contemporary high-energy, inner-city eating house with a completely open kitchen at heart, the sace is energetic and vibrant, designed as an all day, every day dining experience.
Offering a Japanese-style grill menu with a pared back, delicious and modernist take on Japanese inner city dining, combining adventurous and robust flavours. The menu will represent Martin and Chris’ shared love for Japan and heavily focus on cooking over charcoal, bringing Martin’s creative ingenuity to ingredients and techniques.
Farmer’s Daughters
80 Collins Street Precinct, Melbourne
A new culinary experience Farmer’s Daughters providing a ‘paddock to plate’ experience using local ingredients grown with passion and love all from the Gippsland region wherever absolutely possible, connecting customers to farmers, their stories and land. With three levels to explore, Farmer’s Daughters takes visitors on a seasonal journey from Melbourne city to the rolling hills, mountains, rivers and beaches of the region.
Hero at Acmi
Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne
Hero is an uncomplicated, anaffected place where ideas of film, food, art, music and people come together to create an energetic and exciting culture in one stunning designed space. The new venture with Melbourne chef Karen Martini at the helm brings a contemporary day-to-night food and wine bar experience. The resaurant reflects her classical, holistic approach to cookery, with a menu that championing the produce of local farmers and purveyors, organics and seasonality.
Luci
Bourke Street, Melbourne
Celebrating Melbourne’s history of Italian immigrants and is evolution into a cosmopolitan culinary city. Located down in the business end of the city, inside the new Hilton Hotel, the light-filled dining room brings together Australian and Italian culture to the cuisine. Luci offer an all-day dining menu breakfast, lunch and dinner.
SYDNEY
Alpha
238 Castlereagh Street, Sydney
Alpha Restaurant is synonymous with Greek generosity and hospitality. The menu, by acclaimed chef Peter Conistis, nods to both traditional and contemporary Greek cooking. Designed by DS17’s Paul Papadopoulos, Alpha’s new dining room nods to the Greek islands with whitewashed walls, earthy tones, lamps resembling fishing nets and a sandstone wall engraved with letters of the Greek alphabet.
Bistrot 916, Potts Point
22 Challis Avenue, Potts Point
This slice of Paris opened in February 2021, with Dan Pepperell from Restaurant Hubert, Micheal Clift from Rockpool Dining Group and Andy Tyson from Swillhouse Group at the helm. The elegant fit out, classic chairs and cloth-covered tables gives the restaurant timeless charm. The menu is rich with seafood and new takes on french bistro classics.
Lucky Kwong
2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh
The long-awaited new offering from chef Kylie Kwong. Finding her home in the historic Locomotive Workshop, Lucky Kwong is a casual, drop-in style cafeteria.
Esteban, CBD
1 Temperance Lane, Sydney
Tucked away in a hidden Sydney laneway is the trendy and cosy Esteban. Inspired by Mexican and South American flavours, this isn’t your everyday tacos and cocktails. Crafted by a creative team who have lived and travelled throughout South America, this is where you will find original dishes that hail from their homeland. Esteban is a two-storey powerhouse with moody dark timbers and warm lighting creating an opulent space for a night out in the city.
Seta, Sydney
11 Barrack Street, Sydney
Seta boasts one of the finest, most elegant interiors Sydney with the opoening of this upmarket Italian restaurant and bar. The restaurant is the vision of Veteran restauranteur Tonci Farac, who worked closely with the same designer behind Mr. Wong and Felix, Michael McCann to create a masterwork of Venetian-style dark timber Jarrah panelling and hand-cut marble floors. The magnificent interior is matched with equally sophisticated Italian menu overseen by Head Chef Giovanni Astolfoni and an impressive wine list of 500 strong Italian wine list.
Vini Divini, CBD
60 Carrington Street, Sydney
Nestled in the heart of the CBD, this picturesque small bar opened its doors in November 2020 bringing a taste of Mediterranean dining culture to Sydney. The inviting wine lab, open Monday to Friday, is the ideal spot to enjoy a slow lunch grazing on antipasto dishes of olives, salumi, cheeses and a glass of one of the many local and continental wines fro the 1000+ bottle wine wall.
Grana, Hinchcliff House, Sydney
5 – 7 Young Street, Ground Floor, Circular Quay
Grana is the Italian word for “grain”, which is at the heart of this all day dining precinct. Grains have been sourced from local NSW farms, with a preference for producers with smaller crops and less common heritage grains. The Grana team select grains such as spelt, emmer and khorsan based on their higher nutritional content, and then mill them on-site to produce their own flour which is then used in our in-house bakery, pasta room and pastry kitchen to produce fresh and delicious things to enjoy.
Grana’s menu is approachable and driven by fresh and high quality produce, and our drinks are simple, well made and tasty.
Lana, Hinchcliff House, Sydney
5 – 7 Young Street, Level 1, Circular Quay
Lana, a 100 seat luxe restaurant inspired by fresh Australian produce on the first floor of Hinchcliff House. An effortless dining experience with sharing, generosity & fun at its core. The tables are filled with plates for sharing – fresh, sustainable fish & seafood & vegetables with crisp, punchy flavours. The drinks list features Australian wines using Italian varietals & blends, as well as explosively colourful cocktails.
Shell House, CBD
2 Carrington Street, Sydney
Point Group is set to open the historic Shell House in Sydney’s CBD in late 2021 with a multi-storey venue, The Shell House. The renovation of the building will include a ground-floor bar, a dining room and a bar on level 9 and sky bar on level 10.
Shell House is historically significant as it is the only surviving interwar commercial palazzo-style building in Sydney clad with glazed terracotta faience blocks. Shell House’s facade is one of the tallest retained heritage facades in the world at 65.5m high. Prior to redevelopment, Shell House was home to the Menzies Hotel.
Dean And Nancy On 22, CBD
2 Hunter Street, Sydney
The brilliant team behind Maybe Sammy and Sammy Junior opened in May bringing to Sydney a slick 120 seater cocktail bar, in the new A by Adina hotel on Hunter Street. Maybe Sammy’s creative director Andrea Gualdi has crafted 15 new signature cocktails into a journey of a menu, including some high roller cocktails made with super-premium spirits and non-alcoholic cocktails. With a menu of delicious share plates and bistro classics crafted by executive chef Jane Strode and a sleek, Art Deco vibe, it’s the perfect place to watch the sun set over the city.
Beckett’s Bar and Dining, Glebe
134b Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Beckett’s is located in a historic site in Glebe, once home to Sydney’s farm-to-table pioneer and long time local favourite, Darling Mills. Jeff and Wendy are breathing life back into the space with a menu of revived bistro classics, a great wine list, and a cocktail bar designed by the world-famous drinks ambassador, Charlie Ainsbury.
Hickson House Distilling Co
68-84 George Street, The Rocks
Opening in late 2021, Hickson House Distillery developed by Mikey Enright and Julian Train from the Barber Shop and the Duke of Clarence housed in a heritage warehouse under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The converted glamorous New York style loft bar and distillery will be home to a functioning distillery run by Tim Stones, formerly of Manly Spirits. A visit to this hip space will have you learn about distillation with immersive, experiential tours and tastings, shop at the off-license spirits store or visit the mezzanine lounge bar for cocktails and botanical-inspired eats.
Margaret, Double Bay
Corner of Bay Street and Guilfoyle Avenue, Double Bay
Neil Perry’s new Double Bay restaurant Margaret was due to open on 26 June, bringing a luxe local eatery to the eastern suburbs neighbourhood. The restaurant is named after his late mother, Margaret. Margaret will serve a modern Australian menu with steaks, rotisserie chicken, porchetta over the fire, fresh seafood, lots of vegetables and salaks, as well as a burger, sandwiches and snacks. The restaurant is designed to be the place where you have the choice of a light or long lunch, a celebration with family and friends or a dinner with a client at the end of the day.
You can experience a taste of Margaret with Neil Perry at Home via Providoor, which launched in Sydney last week.
Roxy’s Double Bay
Pallas House, Double Bay (entrance off Guilfoyle Avenue)
Damien Monley has returned from the success of award-winning Grand Bistro to open Roxy’s Restaurant & Bar in Double Bay. The all-day and late-night venue named after Damien’s fun spirited daughter is set to bring a menu of middle eastern flavours and local ingredients. At Roxy’s, Damien cooks how he likes to eat at home. Having fun with flavour through punchy spices, house-made pickles, vibrant veggies and herbs galore.
If like us you can’t wait to dine at Roxy’s you can enjoy their food & booze packages, cooked and ready for pick up until they can officially welcome customers.
Fratelli Fresh, The Rocks
118 Harrington Street, The Rocks
Sydney Italian Fratelli Fresh will be expanding into the historical Rocks, taking up the Grosvenor Place site that once housed Rosetta. The split-level 250-seater features an expansive layout, including separate bar, mezzanine and alfresco terrace areas and views of Sydney’s cityscape. The menu of seafood-heavy riffs on Italian classics is helmed by head chef Mario Carella, while head pizzaiolo chef William Baffoni heads up the hand-crafted sourdough Neapolitan-style pizzas.
Nomad
16 Foster Street, Surry Hills
In 2019, a kitchen fire forced Sydney favourite Nomad to depart its Forster Street space and set up a temporary venue change. In November 202o, Nomad returned with new banquette seating, woodfired overn, charcoal grill and kitchen counter to enjoy the much loved menu of contemporary cuisine with middle eastern accents.
The Boathouse Rose Bay
594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay
Newest addition to the Boathouse Group in co-owner and creative director Pip Goldsmith’s signature nautical-inflected style. The restaurant offers Rose Bay locals and visitors a relaxed sophisticated dining room with a modern Australian menu with a focus on fresh seafood.
BRISBANE
Bianca
Ada Lane, 46 James Street, Fortitude Valley
This stunning new Italian restaurant just off James Street in Fortitude Valley. Taking over the venue almost right next to Same Same by The Calile Hotel, the Bianca food is focused on perfecting simple, classic italian dishes with a nod to the Australian climate and dining sphere, honouring fresh produce and seasonality.
Iris Rooftop
Hotel X Rooftop, 458 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Iris is Brisbane’s newest rooftop destination, inspired by the Mediterranean and designed to evoke the sensations of travel from Beirut to Barcelona. With a menu designed to nibble and share, indulge in the deliciously bold menus.
Manly Boathouse
4 Trafalgar Street, Manly
Perched on the eastern-most tip of Manly and with unrivalled wraparound views of Moreton Bay, the Manly Boathouse opened sit with us and enjoy a taste of seaside relaxation. With an exquisite wine list and only the finest locally-sourced produce the area has to offer, salty hair and sandy feet are welcome.
Bisou Bisou
458 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Brisbane’s newest French Restaurant, Bisou Bisou at Hotel X on Brunswick Street is bringing culinary delicacies of France to this cool in-house bistro. Bisou Bisou from the Ghanem Group, the team behind Donna Chang, Boom Boom Izakaya and Blackbird Bar & Grill. This luxe Parisian dining room with marble tables, floral lounges and art deco tiling is a vibrant space to enjoy brasserie-style French menu.
Otto Brisbane
Sidon Street, South Bank
OTTO Brisbane has opened the doors in a new riverfront location. Taking inspiration from the regions of Italy and incredible Australian ingredients, OTTO will continue to bring authenticity and vibrancy to the Queensland dining scene – modern Italian celebrating regional produce and an award-winning wine list.
SK Steakhouse & Oyster
The Calile Hotel, 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley
Founded by Simon Gloftis and Theo Kampolis of Hellenika, and Head Chef Kelvin Andrews, diners can expect something truly special at SK Steak & Oyster; from the service, cuisine and drinks, to space on the ground level of The Calile. It’s not a steak restaurant, it’s a classic grille. SK Steak and Oyster takes the best of every era in fine dining and brings it together in the one thoroughly modern yet classic space.
Agnes
22 Agnes Street, Fortitude Valley
Agnes Restaurant is a moody, sophisticated refurbished warehouse venue that combines sleek black furnishings and hanging pendant lights with exposed brick and polished concrete. The centrepiece of the venue is the open kitchen, where everything on the menu is cooked over coal, fire and smoke.
Maya
757 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Maya is the latest venture from The Coats Group, the team behind Brisbane’s Iconic Eleven Rooftop Bar. The newly refurbished restaurant transports guests to the balmy Mexico, while still celebrating the best of Queensland.
Step out of the elevator and into a striking, all-white palette blended with stone, marble and timber, fringed with lush greenery and desert cactus galore. The new design features an increased seating area and, depending on the mood, guests can enjoy a different dining experience across several key spaces – enjoy a cocktail in the newly renovated rooftop courtyard, relax in oversized lounges, or be tucked away in intimate semi-circular booths.
Southside Restaurant
Fish Lane Town Square, 63 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
The team behind the much loved Rick Shores have brought their experience to Brisbane in the form of Southside on Fish Lane. The urban oasis nestled underneath the monolithic train bridges of South Brisbane, Southside offers two levels for diners, with the bottom level compeletely open to the greenery outside, as well as tables out in the laneway for busy nights, a private dining room and a small bar upstairs.
Serving East-asian cuisine with a love of Chinese tradition, and pouring wines that share our appreciation of classic expressions from the great regions of the world alongside our favourite Australian producers.
Feature image: Hayley Kim Design
