Overview
News just in that Chef Gayan Pieris will open Agnii Eatery Bar in Windsor in August 2026. Pieris' renowned Red Hill restaurant, Many Little Bar & Dining, has been instrumental in shaping the way Australians experience Sri Lankan cuisine, and with his next venture, he will continue to showcase contemporary Sri Lankan cooking.
At its core will be the concept of 'kussiya', meaning kitchen in Sinhala. The open kitchen, the heart of the venue, will traverse techniques ranging from fermenting to drying, smoking to preserving, and everything in between. "I want my guests to feel as though they've been welcomed into my home, where they're warm, cared for and part of a shared table," says Pieris.
Pieris' philosophy towards cooking, namely, "Flavoursome, wholesome and honest food that reflects my heritage and is easily approachable for everyone," will be showcased through an always-evolving menu including both set menu options and à la carte. There will be specialty Sri Lankan snacks, hoppers, curries, and regional dishes that many diners may never have encountered.
While spices will be sourced directly from Sri Lanka, vegetables and seafood may come from growers on the Mornington Peninsula; this duality is reflective of Pieris' experience, being born in a farming village near Kandy, yet spending much of his life in Melbourne.
Agnii has been designed by Craig Gorman of Mills Gorman (responsible for the award-winning design of Maison Bâtard), with handmade elements such as wood-carved plates and terracotta tones, adding to the feeling of warmth, rawness, and earthiness.
Images: Supplied. Images of Many Little by Katherine and Camera.
Agnii is slated to open at 105 Chapel Street, Windsor, in August 2026. In the meantime, check out the best restaurants in Melbourne.
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