Sydney’s Bill and Toni’s restaurant building in Darlinghurst sells

Bill and Toni’s is a Sydney dining institution. But the two-storey Stanley Street building it calls home has been sold. What does it mean for the famed Italian restaurant?

Bill and Toni’s has been on the same spot on Stanley Street in Darlinghurst for over 50 years.

The building that is home to one of Sydney’s most famed restaurants, Bill and Toni’s, has been sold.

Mercer Property have sold the two-storey location for what’s believed to be in excess of $4m.

However the sale doesn’t impact the restaurant, which has become a celebrity hotspot.

“We are the tenants here and we have a long lease. The sale doesn’t mean anything at all to us. We aren’t going anywhere,” Restaurant General Manager Claude Tropea said.

The restaurant has been on the same spot on Stanley St, Darlinghurst for more than half a century. Downstairs is a cafe, while upstairs is the restaurant.

The restaurant’s humble menu hasn’t changed since Bill and Toni’s opened in 1965: right down to the jugs of orange cordial which accompany the old-style fare.

Bill and Toni’s has been on the same spot on Stanley Street in Darlinghurst for over 50 years.

Russell Crowe at Bill and Toni’s

The venue has hosted a myriad of celebrities from Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe to Home And Away stars like Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor.

It’s also regularly frequented by sports teams and icons like Tim Cahill and Tim Tszyu.

Home And Away's Sophie Dillman and Patrick O'Connor at Bill and Toni's Darlinghurst

Tim Cahill at Bill and Toni’s in Darlinghurst.

Home And Away's Kawakawa Fox-Reo at Bill and Toni's Darlinghurst

Payne Haas at Bill and Toni’s in Darlinghurst.

Mel Gibson at Bill and Toni’s

The menu at Bill and Toni’s hasn’t changed since 1965.

Tropea, who started out as a customer of the restaurant, said the venue was back in fine form after the challenges of Covid lockdowns.

“The last couple of months have been good. And now we are starting to see the Christmas party bookings and office party bookings come in,” he said.

“There is a lot more activity heading into the end of the year than last year. We just hope Covid stays away.”

The current owners of Bill and Toni’s are two years into a seven year lease with options to extend.

The restaurant was started by Bill Chiappini, who after his boss lost his cafe in a poker game, decided to open up his own coffee shop.

Then in the 1970s, Toni de Santis came on board to open the restaurant.