So nice, they're doing it twice. After hinting at a move into the city last year, Odd Culture Group has confirmed it will make its CBD debut with two new venues: an underground daiquiri bar and discotheque, plus a neighbourhood osteria, both set to land on York Street in early 2026. The openings mark the group's first foray into the CBD, following years spent building a loyal following across the Inner West and Inner East. Since the group's inception in the thick of the 2020 lockdowns, Odd Culture has carved out a reputation for community-driven — and tightly conceptualised — venues, including its eponymous Newtown wine bar Odd Culture, Bistro Grenier, Pleasure Club, The Duke of Enmore and The Old Fitz, the latter two among the best pubs in Sydney. Now, under newly appointed CEO Rebecca Lines (pictured below), the group is taking that neighbourhood-minded ethos into a part of town better known for power lunches and after-work drinks. For Lines, that contrast is exactly the point. "The biggest challenge in the Sydney CBD district is that it can feel transient, plus there is intense competition, rising costs, and a guest base that's often time-poor and choice-rich," says Lines. "You need to earn loyalty quickly, and I believe that's also the opportunity of this district — the CBD has huge energy, diversity, and frequency of trade if you get it right." [caption id="attachment_1077335" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ethan Smart[/caption] While specifics remain under wraps, the two York Street spaces will lean into experience as much as hospitality. One will descend underground into daiquiris and late-night dancing, while the other will take a more relaxed approach. Both aim to inject warmth and personality in a district that can often skew transactional. "Our 'neighbourhood charm' has never just been about the postcode but rather how people are welcomed, remembered, and looked after," says Lines. "For us, the opportunity is to bring warmth, personality, and genuine hospitality into a part of the city that's often more transactional. Our goal is for the venues to be a moment of respite from the corporate world, with a bit of neighbourhood charm where people feel known, welcomed, and want to return to." It's a calculated move at a time when the CBD continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery and cost-of-living pressures. The numbers are trending in the right direction, though: a City of Sydney October 2025 Economic Insights Report recorded a 7.2 percent increase in overall CBD consumer spend in September 2025 compared to 2024, while the 2025 SevenRooms Hospitality Report found diners are increasingly seeking out "experience-led dining", with 82 percent more likely to book venues that offer something extra to justify the spend. It seems the times just may suit a group that has long blended food, drinks and entertainment. [caption id="attachment_1077337" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ethan Smart[/caption] Odd Culture's two CBD venues are set to open on York Street in early 2026. For more information, head to the group's website.