The Star’s Sokyo first high-end restaurant to reopen after lockdown

The Star’s Sokyo has become the first high-end restaurant in Australia to open its doors since restrictions were eased today, with a star-studded special event.

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Award-winning Japanese restaurant Sokyo at The Star Sydney has become the first high-end restaurant in Australia to open its doors post the COVID-19 hospitality shut down.

NSW became the first State to relax restrictions on indoor dining overnight, with cafes and restaurants given the green light to resume operations – but serving no more than 10 customers – effective from 12.01am this morning (Friday).

Other States and Territories will follow – South Australia is currently allowing cafes and restaurants to operate outdoor dining for up to 10 people.

The Star's Sokyo was one of the first Australian restaurants to bring its operations out of lockdown. Picture: Supplied

But Sokyo was the first destination in NSW to return to regular restaurant service – albeit on a restricted basis – with an invitation only event to celebrate its return from isolation.

Guests for the ‘opening night’ at Sokyo – starting at 12.01am – included Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox, Sydney City Councillor Christine Forster and former NRL star and media personality, Beau Ryan.

The Star was forced to close on March 23 and CEO Matt Bekier says the Sokyo initiative heralds the symbolic start of a long road back for tourism, hospitality and the Australian economy in general.

Sokyo will open to the public for dinner from Friday night.

Sokyo is now open to the public on a limited basis as of this Friday night. Picture: Supplied

“Stage one of the relaxation in restrictions is a small but significant step forward for the tourism and hospitality sector,” said Mr Bekier.

“The industry has been decimated over the past couple of months and the pain will remain for some time to come.

Mr Bekier said that international tourism will be “off the radar for an indefinite period and tourism bodies will need to pivot with a concentration on the domestic market.”

“Opening Sokyo with a maximum of 10 guests is not a revenue-making decision.

“It’s a decision based on giving our customers the dining experiences they’ve been waiting so patiently to enjoy again.”

The Star’s CEO Max Bekier says the tourism sector will continue to suffer from the ongoing effects of lockdown. Picture: Supplied

The partial return to service is a way of gradually helping to reboot the economy.

“It’s also about standing people back up, getting some of them back to work, and preparing as a business for a full-scale reopening of all our properties when that opportunity arises,” said Mr Bekier.

“We had to stand down around 95 per ent of our workforce and we’ve worked hard to continue communicating with them and finding ways to help them through this crisis.

“The reopening of Sokyo is just the first step to resuming our broader operations.”