The Best Multi-Venue Hospitality Hubs in Sydney

Originally designed by Bruce Dellit, the same architectural visionary behind Hyde Park’s striking War Memorial, this 1930s-built heritage-listed former bank in the CBD is regarded as one of Australia’s finest examples of the Egyptian art deco style. In the impressive foyer, which boasts wow-worthy 14-metre-high ceilings, the same travertine-clad walls, marble floors and huge glass light pendants that were present when this O’Connell Street address first opened are still in their proper place. However, as much as certain elements have remained untouched, it’s doubtful Dellit ever imagined his elegant bank would one day be home to a buzzy cocktail lounge, a rock-n-roll dive bar and a pumping nightclub and cabaret space.

With stunning interiors by ​​Sydney-based architecture firm Steel and Stitch, visitors can step through time by ascending the venue’s three levels. When you enter, you are immediately greeted by the deco dream of the aptly named Main Bar, where smart bartenders in Gatsby-coded garb shake and stir a menu of classic and signature cocktails curated by Nathan Alan Jones from Drinks By Design. One floor up, laidback drinking den The Hutch pushes the vibe a few decades forward, channelling a more 1990s rock energy, complete with a retro hi-fi system. On the third level, the 21st-century nightclub space, also named Arcade, is a flexible after-dark playground, hosting comedy gigs one night and DJ sets with exclusive VIP bottle service the next.

What was formerly humble CBD boozer The Bristol Arms Hotel is now unrecognisable following a no-expense-spared renovation that has transformed the 126-year-old corner pub into a five-level, six-venue nightlife hotspot. On the ground floor, a smart yet laidback bar and brewery still caters to the casual pub crowd while a state-of-the-art sports bar one floor down, replete with massive screens ensuring there isn’t a duff seat in the house, offers the perfect spot to watch a match. Also on the ground floor is Ela Ela, a refined Greek diner from ex-Alpha chef Peter Conistis, who has conceived dining options for every space in The Bristol.

Calypso, a classy nightclub complete with 200 disco balls, a next-gen sound system and cutting-edge soundproofing to keep the doof-doofs from invading other floors, takes over the first level. Above this is Midtown, an opulent cocktail lounge and jazz bar with one of the most luxurious fitouts of any new venue to open in Sydney this year. Finally, the jewel in The Bristol’s crown is The Rooftop, a sunny, Mediterranean-styled bar with a menu of Greek street eats, three leafy al fresco terraces and a pretty pastel interior that wouldn’t look out of place on the shores of Saint Tropez.

Channelling the cultural and creative breadth of Japan’s 47 prefectures, this six-venue hub, opening on October 11, contains four restaurants, a patisserie and a whiskey bar by the award-winning team behind Sydney institution Maybe Sammy.

The flagship venue, Garaku, offers a traditional kaiseki experience — Japan’s answer to the degustation. Ex-Tetsuya Executive Chef Derek Kim has crafted an exquisite and theatrical concept, with each dish offering an elegant interpretation of the four seasons. Meanwhile, next door, Ibushi is a lively robata restaurant serving up smoke, skewers and sake while summoning shades of the bustling streets of Tokyo.

The most exclusive venue on the site is Omakase, an intimate eight-seat diner aiming to set a new gold standard for the classic Japanese chef’s table experience. Master of omakase sushi, Akira Horikawa and Tomoyuki Matsuya from Hatted restaurant Kame House, will be feeding the lucky few who manage to bag a seat at their coveted bar. There are also plans in the works for a rotation of celebrated Japanese sushi masters to visit as guest chefs. Exploring the ways Japanese cuisine has influenced dining cultures around the world is FIVE, featuring a modern European menu reimagined with Japanese flourishes conceived by Head Chef Hiroshi Manaka, formerly of Charlotte Bar & Bistro. The name is inspired by the five core fundamental elements expressed in the menu: taste, colour, cooking, moderation and the senses.

The latest venture from Maybe Group is Whisky Thief, a bar for both seasoned whisky enthusiasts and newcomers to the amber dram. Expect an impressive list of aged drops alongside the kind of creative cocktails the Maybe Sammy team is famed for. Finally, Dear Florence, a charming patisserie fusing French and Japanese flavours, is serving up delectable sweet treats and refined desserts under the expert eye of Executive Pastry Chef Aoife Noonan.

Located a stone’s throw from the new Victoria Cross Metro station, this trendy four-venue hospo hub has added yet another reason for Sydney’s foodies to venture north of the harbour. Guests can start their day at Sol Bread + Wine, a bakery and cafe by day and an intimate wine bar by night that channels an Iberian spirit with design cues from Italy and Spain. A palette of earth tones is accented with geometric tiles and warm timber furniture, creating a space that effortlessly transitions from a breakfast bakery to a laidback cicchetteria serving top drops and sophisticated snacks.

Ascending a bold red spiral staircase delivers diners to Soluna. Open from lunch through to dinner, this 110-seat restaurant, with a 60-seat bar and 30-seat, armchair-filled lounge, is another flexible concept that is as much a place for intimate catch-ups with friends over a glass of wine as it is a go-to for larger parties celebrating a major occasion.

Changing gears, lively Japanese diner Genzo boasts a temperature-controlled sake room, a selection of expertly balanced, Japanese-inspired cocktails and a menu focused on raw dishes and kushiyaki prepared over a traditional robata grill. Finally, swish providore Una stocks gourmet produce, artisanal goods and pantry essentials as well as house-made pastas and other take-home gourmet meals. A considered edit of local and imported ingredients, from cheeses and charcuterie to boutique wines and spirits, makes this luxury grocer a boon for any North Sydney gastronomes hoping to wow at their next dinner party.

One of Sydney’s OG hospitality hubs blazed a trail when it first opened in late 2021. With four distinctive venues, this heritage-listed building, originally constructed in the 1930s (the only surviving interwar commercial palazzo-style building left in Sydney today), provided operators Point Group with plenty of inspiration for the art deco and Bauhaus-inflected interiors guests can enjoy today.

On the ground floor, there’s smart upmarket bistro Menzies, which is a firm favourite with the white-collar business lunch crowd. After work, however, the only way is up. On the eighth floor, the Dining Room and Terrace, overseen by lauded chef Brad Guest (ex-Sepia, Rockpool and Sixpenny) is a serene spot for a fine dining experience. One floor up is the Sky Bar, boasting incredible views of the Sydney skyline and a beautiful fitout that exemplifies the building’s melding of period and modern finishes, as well as the intimate Clocktower Bar, ideal for private parties and small soirees.

At the foot of architect Harry Seidler’s striking heptagonal skyscraper in the heart of the CBD, this most recent incarnation of the former MLC centre has aimed high with its collection of venues. At its heart are four popular restaurants — Aalia, an outstanding Middle Eastern fine diner from the Nour team; Kazan, a modern Japanese fusion eatery; Cabana Bar, where resort vibes and Central Sydney’s largest outdoor terrace have made it a favourite with the after-work set; and L’uva Pasta and Wine Bar, a boutique Italian restaurant with an all-Australian wine list. Add to this its extensive subterranean food court, The Theatre Royal, and the CBD outpost of Gelato Messina, and it’s easy to see why 25 Martin Place has quickly become a trusted hotspot both during the working day and after dark.

Cementing that reputation, Point Group (who also operate Shell House) have plans to transform the three-level former digs of the now-closed Botswana Butchery into a hospitality hub within a hospitality hub. Called The International, it will showcase a range of world cuisines via a wine bar, restaurant and rooftop bar, with November as the loosely slated opening date.

The beating heart of Quay Quarter, a mere stone’s throw from the iconic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, has been a fixture of this waterfront enclave for more than 160 years. Today, five venues reside inside: Two Italian eateries, an underground cocktail bar, a private hospitality space and an attached bakery. And while the wooly wares that were once stored within its sandstone walls are long gone, much of the period charm of the building has been painstakingly preserved. 

At Grana, the exposed stone walls are accompanied by wooden beams and large grain and wheat bundles that are placed around the restaurant. The space ties your dining experience to the history of the building, while the food is made using pasta and bread produced in the building’s combi-mill. Then there’s Lana, the degustation dining hero at Hinchcliff House that serves up mercurial seafood tasting menu. Set within the heritage building’s loft, you can either grab a table beneath the rafters or pull up a pew at the spectacular pink marble bar while sipping on Italian tipples. Downstairs at the small yet perfectly formed The Godfather-inspired cocktail lounge Apollonia, the lights are low, and soft beige tones are traded for dark reds and leather seating. Here the cocktails are king, with the negronis holding a special place in the bar staff’s hearts.

Rising from the rubble of the infamous “Murder Mall”, perched on the border of Redfern and Waterloo, Surry Hills Village is a sprawling new development that includes hundreds of luxury apartments, a plush boutique hotel The Eve, a plethora of retail outlets and an impressive hospitality offering. Wunderlich Lane is the epicentre of this new dining destination — however, there are plenty of epicurean adventures to be discovered throughout the development.

For example, Liquid & Larder, the hospitality legends behind top CBD establishments Bistecca and The Gidley, have created three new venues for The Eve, which is operated by TFE, the same hotel group as the multi-award-winning The Callie in Brisbane. These include a poolside bar on the roof, a classic hotel lobby cocktail lounge and a refined a la carte restaurant.

The most ambitious venue on Wunderlich Lane is the 200-seat garden restaurant Olympus from the team behind the popular Potts Point Greek The Apollo. Another major draw card comes from the LuMi crew. Regina La Pizzeria is a classic Neapolitan pizza joint helmed by Matteo Ernandes, formerly of Bondi’s Da Orazio and Matteo in Double Bay.

House Made Hospitality, who operate Hinchcliff House, are adding two more venues to their portfolio at Wunderlich Lane: Island Radio, a pan-Asian concept showcasing the flavours of Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, led by chef Andrianto Wirya (ex-Queen Chow and Mr. Wong), and The Baptist Street Rec Club, a cocktail and wine bar with a retro 80s vibe. Japanese chef Raita Noda’s second Sydney venue, R by Raita, is another highlight, offering a laidback izakaya experience by day and a more exclusive omakase offering after dark.

Wunderlich Lane venues will begin opening to the public throughout October.