Overview
This November, the unique Sydney harbourside is set to welcome a new addition: a little bit of Ibiza in the form of a new arm of the Café del Mar franchise. Famous for its stunning beach setting and chill-out compilations, Café del Mar is one of Ibiza's most sought-after destinations — and now aims to be one of Sydney's.
Rather than simply transplant one beach to another, the brand spanking Café del Mar will add a touch of Sydney flavour, with more of a focus on food than its European brethren. Chef Ben Fitton (Macleay St Bistro, Coast) has designed the menu to emphasise a distinctly Australian inflection, while Spanish-Australian celebrity chef Miguel Maestre (Network Ten's The Living Room) will blend the two cultures together.
Set in an as yet undisclosed location on the CBD waterfront, the new digs are designed by Sibella Court — fitting, considering her new book, Nomad, is all about bringing travel experience into design. Plus, there's the fact that her experience extends to design work for hotel group Merivale.
The most renowned aspect of the Spanish stalwart — the bangin' tunes — will be maintained, with the Ibiza location's resident DJ Shane SoS regularly spinning the vinyl at the new Sydney joint.
Considering Sydney's gradual shift towards the stripped-bare approach to dining and the artisanal attitude to bars, the new Café del Mar will ask a lot of questions of Sydneysiders. Still, we're always up for something new, and soon we'll be able to soak up the Ibiza sunset, all from the comfort of our hometown.