List: Top new Sydney restaurants, bars to visit in 2023
Exciting times are ahead for Sydney’s hospitality scene with a string of new bars, restaurants and hotels set to open this year.
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Exciting times are ahead for Sydney’s hospitality scene with a string of new bars, restaurants and hotels set to open this year.
After three years of Covid-19 restrictions, the hospitality sector is showing signs of shrugging off the downturn in the sector as new venues prepare to open their doors across all corners of the city.
The list of venues includes new bistros, small bars, function centres and a restaurant that can only be accessed by boat.
We take a look at some of the standout venues set to make their mark this year.
BUDDY’S BAR – NEWTOWN
The former home of Newtown institution Lentil as Anything has been transformed into the suburb’s newest late-night bar.
Jimmy Roe and Duncan McGeoch are the owners of the new two-storey Buddy’s Bar that opened to customers last week.
Located on King St, the venue offers a unique “self-serve” boozery system with 33 taps stocked with craft beer, natural wine, house made cocktails, and non-alcoholic options.
The self-serve system works by customers using a Buddy’s venue card, which can be topped up by cash or card, before helping themselves to the glassware and selecting which drink to pour.
Mr McGeoch said he was excited to be taking over the prominent King St site.
“We saw it as an opportunity to take over an incredible site and build a space that continues to create long lasting memories and a connection with the community,” he said.
“Duncan and I signed the lease back in May and spent every day of the following eight months building the space with the help of friends and family lending a hand when they could.
“We sourced a majority of the fit-out through repurposing the local second-hand market as sustainability has been front of mind for us.
“We want to offer an experience without the wastage that can be traditionally generated at hospitality venues.”
The venue’s food menu includes chicken ribs, nachos, flatbread, corn ribs, Italian pizzas, metre long bruschettas, and options for vegans.
DJ’s will perform at the venue every Friday and Saturday night.
The launch of the bar comes almost one year after long-running institution Lentil As Anything, which occupied the site for the previous 10 years, closed its doors.
Lentil as Anything was known for providing meals to the community under a “pay-what-you-feel” model.
ST SIANDRA – MOSMAN
Sunsets and seafood will be on the menu at a new restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour.
The Middle Harbour Yacht Club is set to be transformed with a two-storey hospitality venue set to open this month.
The restaurant will be called St Siandra – drawing its name from the first Middle Harbour Yacht Club boat to win the Sydney to Hobart boat race.
Mark Maybury, chief executive of the yacht club, said the restaurant was partly aimed at enticing new visitors to the club.
“We’re interested in showcasing the beautiful spot we’re in and we think it will be a great addition to the club,” he said.
“People often think the yacht club is a ‘members only’ place but we’re open to all and encourage people to come down and enjoy the facility.”
St Siandra is described as “a place to cheers to the good things in life” while appreciating “water views, great food, memorable drinks and permanent vacation vibes.”
Head chef Sam McCallum – who has previously worked at venues including Nomad – has been appointed to oversee the menu that will feature locally-sourced seafood, seasonal produce and flavours of the Mediterranean.
The restaurant will open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday, and dinner Thursday to Sunday as well as offering breakfast on weekends.
LA VOUTE – PARRAMATTA
Parramatta is set to welcome a new late night bar in the heart of the rapidly growing town centre.
Plans have been approved for a new venue called La Voûte, described as a “high-class whisky and cigar establishment”.
Plans to Parramatta Council show the bar would be located in the first floor of the heritage listed former Commonwealth Bank building at 215 Church St, directly next to the Heritage Lounge.
The venue would accommodate up to 120 people at a time and operate from 12pm to 2am, seven days a week.
Plans state the venue would meet demand for new hospitality services driven by rapid population growth in Parramatta.
“The development will assist with activating the CBD and provide an exciting venue in an iconic building to cater for the rapidly growing younger population of Parramatta in proximity to the vibrant ‘eat street’ precinct,” the plans state.
THE STAR HOTEL – SEVEN HILLS
A major hotel, function centre and sporting hub is set to open in Seven Hills early this year.
Plans have been approved to turn the former Lily’s Restaurant Bar at 160 Prospect Hwy into a new venue called The Star Hotel and Function Centre.
The venue will be managed and operated by Memento Hospitality which is also upgrading the nearby stadium that will become home to Blacktown City FC.
Marcello Colosimo, chief executive of Memento Hospitality, said the venue would cater for families, tradies, sports fanatics, and those looking to celebrate occasions such as weddings, birthdays and gala events.
“We are excited to revamp both the function centre and stadium, and with Blacktown City FC we have an ideal partner to profile both organisations,” he said.
“The pub offers something for everyone with entertainment every day of the week with a focus on bringing live music back to the area.”
The venue will include a restaurant focusing on Italian cuisine, two function rooms, a kids games room and a playground.
Other features include a dedicated meat dry-ager room, a large-scale bar serving signature cocktails and craft beers, and a sports bar.
The venue will also host community events such as food festivals, fairs, night markets and live music shows.
Despite the challenges facing the hospitality sector, Mr Colosimo said 2023 was a good time to be opening the venue.
“Anytime is a great time to open a new pub, especially in the best city – Sydney,” he said.
“People are looking for new experiences when dining out, watching sports games and celebrating special moments with loved ones.”
The Demons Sports Club Ltd, formerly the home of the Blacktown City Football Club, previously operated a registered club at the site from 1975 to 2010 until the club went into liquidation.
The Star Hotel is expected to open in early March.
PARC PAVILION – CRONULLA
A major new pub and bistro catering for more than 800 people is set to open in Cronulla in 2023.
Parc Pavilion will include new dining and eating options under plans approved by Sutherland Shire Council.
Located on Cronulla St, the venue will overlook the popular Monro Park and will be operated by Feros Group – the same company that runs nearby venues including Taren Point Hotel and The Prince Kirrawee.
Feros Group described the hotel as a “perfect location” for lunch or dinner, a stop off after a day at the beach or a place for a quick meal after work.
“Parc Pavilion will feature various experiences that range from a ground floor bistro and cafe, takeaway food offer that connects with the park, a first-floor terrace bistro and cocktail bar, first floor restaurant and private dining areas,” the company said.
Plans show the venue will include a gaming room with up to 20 poker machines, and will operate from 10am to midnight on Monday to Saturday and to 10pm on Sundays.
The development was approved despite objections from residents and NSW Police who raised concerns over noise and fears the development would operate as a “nightclub’.
Plans state the “hotel will operate pursuant to a stringent and approved plan of management that has successfully mitigated the risk of alcohol related violence and anti-social behaviour at (Feros Group’s) other hotels”.
PC BAR – NEWTOWN
The hospitality company behind the Oxford Tavern and the Duke of Enmore is set to open the doors to a new late night bar and live music venue in the heart of Newtown.
Plans have been approved to create a new bar in the basement level of 304-308 King St, catering for a crowd of up to 120 people.
The new nightspot – called PC Bar – would trade as late as 4am and will be run by Odd Culture Group.
The venue is described as a New Orleans-influenced jazz bar focused on “high-quality cocktails with a refined, bespoke influence offering a range of entertainment”.
Odd Culture chief executive James Thorpe said its 4am licence was the first granted to a bar in the area for more than 100 years.
“It’s is a huge win in our efforts to diversify Sydney’s late night entertainment offering,” he said.
“We want this venue to be a milestone in our city’s way to becoming a true 24-hour cultural destination, a place where you can come seven days a week at all hours and experience something special.”
Odd Culture Group, in its plans, state the development would “reinvigorate” the north King Street’s night-time economy after three years of Covid-19 related disruptions.
“Even before Covid-19, Sydneysiders had a very low perception of their city’s vitality when it came to night-time experiences,” the plans stated.
“While the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic took a toll on local businesses in Newtown, particularly restaurants and bars, the area is now rebounding and looking to recapture the bustling nature of the ‘eat street’ culture.”
An opening date for the venue has yet to be confirmed.
FORT DENISON DINING
Fine dining is set to make a return to Fort Denison under bold plans for a late night restaurant, bar and new visitor experience on the historic island.
Point Group – the hospitality group behind Bondi Beach Public Bar – has taken on the lease to run a new dining venture on the Sydney Harbour fortification, marking the latest chapter in the island’s history.
The new venue, called Fort Denison Dining, will cater for up to 400 guests at a time and feature revamped outdoor dining areas, a bar, a wine room and exhibition areas
Point Group chief executive Brett Robinson said the venue had been two years in the making and was due to open by the end of this year.
“We want to make the world take notice – it’s not just the Opera House and Harbour Bridge that are landmarks in Sydney Harbour, we want to recognise that Fort Denison is a key part of a trilogy of iconic landmarks,” he said.
Acclaimed chef Joel Bickford – who was executive chef at Aria Sydney for four years – will serve as the culinary director for the venue
Point Group said the restaurant and bar will provide a “unique visitor experience that “enables all visitors to better understand the island, its significance and place in history”.
FORTRESS SYDNEY
One of the southern hemisphere’s largest Esports and video gaming venues is set to open in Sydney this year.
Two stories of Broadway’s Central Park Mall will be turned into an epic gaming facility and game-themed pub called Fortress Sydney in a move designed to cater for the booming Esports and gaming markets.
The $5.6 million development will include a gaming screen and arena with 210 seats, along with streaming pods, console gaming suites, a fantasy-themed tavern and a sci-fi inspired bar.
The company last month launched a recruitment drive to fill 100 jobs at the venue including hospitality positions, to roles unique to Esports and gaming, along with tournament administration.
Fortress Esports, the applicant behind the plans, said the venue would become the first of its kind in Sydney.
“There are no other similar venues within Sydney and it will provide a variety of entertainment from board games to computer games appealing to the growing gaming culture,” the company said.
“This is a unique offering for Sydney as it’s significantly different from traditional pubs where entertainment is typically live music with a DJ.
“It will provide a safe and fun place for patrons to bond over food and drinks while enjoying their favourite games.”
Plans for the new venue show smaller scale events are also planned at the site including free movie screenings, board game nights, weekly dungeons and dragons groups and local gaming competitions.
The venue is due to open early this year.
171 – DARLINGHURST
A former retail store on Sydney’s bustling Oxford St is set to be transformed into a new bar.
Plans have been approved to turn 171 Oxford St into the new hospitality venue that will cater for up to 100 people from 12pm to 2am Monday to Sunday.
The building has remained unoccupied since former retail Fraser & Hughes closed at the site in 2018.
Stasia Holidays – the company behind the new venue – state the development would cater for residents, workers and visitors to the area.
“The proposed change of use to a ‘small bar’ will continue to align with the characteristics of the locality, being a regionally significant retail and entertainment street,” the plans state.
Development plans for the bar include demolishing the majority of the mezzanine floor.
The venue would have a capacity for 60 seated patrons and 40 standing.
The City of Sydney Council has approved the bar on conditions including not installing any speakers outside to “safeguard the amenity of the surrounding neighbourhood”.
PETERMAN, ST LEONARDS
Prominent chef Josh Niland and his wife Julie are set to open their next Sydney restaurant on the lower north shore.
Australian seafood and vegetables will be on the menu when the new venue called ‘Peterman’ opens in St Leonards on February 23.
The venue at Chandos St is described as “championing the growers and producers that seek to elevate the standard and change the culture of how we consume food”.
The menu includes a range of entrees, charcoal grill items and shared mains including yellowfin tuna, coral trout and John Dory.
Petermen is the fourth restaurant owned by the Nilands, who also operate Saint Peter, Fish Butchery and Charcoal Fish.
BLACK MARKET CAFE AND BAR – CABRAMATTA
A former fire station in Sydney’s southwest is set to be turned into a new restaurant, bar and hotel.
Plans have been released for the new 120-patron venue called Black Market Bar at 259 Cabramatta Road West.
The venue will be located at the former home of Cabramatta Fire Station and will operate for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Plans state it would “operate as an up-market, stylish bar and cafe” that would provide a new dining venue in Cabramatta which “is fast becoming a ‘destination’ shopping precinct”.
“The venue will contribute to the vibrancy and activity within the Cabramatta Town Centre (and) will serve visitors, tourists and wider community.”
The venue will be operated by director Phana Srey, who runs the nearby Cabramatta Bottler. The restaurant includes bar areas, lounges, a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, catering for up to 120 people at a time.
The plans are under assessment by Fairfield Council and if approved would operate as late as midnight from Monday to Sunday and 10pm on Sunday.
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