Paski Vineria Popolare Is the New Italian Restaurant and Wine Shop Opening on Oxford Street
Taking over the digs of spritz bar This Must Be The Place, Paski Vineria Popolare will host weekly wine tastings and food from a former Ragazzi and 10 William Street chef.
Three acclaimed Sydney hospitality mainstays are set to open an intimate new hospitality and retail space in Darlinghurst this November. Italian wine importers Giorgio De Maria (Giorgio De Maria Fun Wines), Mattia Dicati (Vino Mito Wine Imports) and chef Enrico Tomelleri (Ragazzi, Alberto's Lounge, 10 William Street) are opening Paski Vineria Popolare, a wine bar, restaurant and takeaway bottle shop on Oxford Street.
Paski Vineria Popolare is named after both De Maria's beloved dog and the Italian meaning of Popolare ("of the people"). The venue will open in the former building of the now-closed spritz bar This Must Be The Place and will be split into two distinct spaces, both designed in collaboration with architect Jad Silvester.
Expect dark green tiling, low pendant lighting and minimalistic shelving, designed to showcase the 400-strong artisan wine list.
Downstairs you'll find a 25-30 seat wine bar, with all wines available to enjoy on site or take home for a romantic evening in. Wine will be ordered by producer instead of style in order to spotlight the people behind these wines.
Accompanying the extensive selection of wine will be an array of pantry items and a reserved menu created by Tomelleri featuring charcuterie, cheeses, and small plates to enjoy with the wine of your choice.
This Must Be The Place is set to be transformed into Paski Vineria Popolare
Upstairs you'll find a more hearty menu with a focus on underrepresented Italian ingredients. Named Paski Sopra (translating to Paski Above), the 35-40 seat venue will overlook Oxford Street and will pair rare wines and highlights from downstairs with meals like tortellini, fresh carpaccio and seafood-heavy mains.
"We can't wait to have a physical place where everything is in one spot," says De Maria. "Where customers can learn about and buy something from the person who sourced the wines themselves, and who knows each producer well."
Each Wednesday, Paski Sopra will host events and wine tasting where De Maria and Dicati will take guests through the wines, with the duo hoping to connect Sydneysiders to some of their favourite Italian producers.
Paski Vineria Popolare will join a host of exciting venues that have arrived on north Oxford Street in recent years. Cafe Freda's and Dimitri's Pizza are close by, Fabbrica Pasta Shop's production space is a few doors down, and major projects including the new $60 million food and retail precinct and the mega-venue taking over the current Kinselas and Courthouse Hotel buildings are on their way. With this section of Oxford Street becoming increasingly bustling, De Maria and Dicati are already planning some exciting with collaborations Freda's, Dimitris and Fabbrica.
Paski Vineria Popolare will open at 239 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst on Monday, November 22.
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