Overview
Lottie, a buzzy new rooftop Mexican-leaning restaurant and mezcaleria, is set to open in early 2025 at The EVE. It will be the second venue at the luxury boutique stay created by hospitality mavens Liquid & Larder, the dining group behind top Sydney haunts Bistecca, The Gidley and The Rover, and the hotel's exclusive food and beverage partner.
Located next to the leafy rooftop pool, Lottie is a lush urban oasis designed by George Livissianis with landscaping by Daniel Baffsky. The striking decor blends textured terracotta terrazzo, pink travertine, plush banquettes and colourful planting to create a lush retreat worthy of a tropical resort, despite being just a stone's throw from the CBD.
The 107-seat dining terrace includes an eye-catching marble bar (with 27 seats for walk-ins), an open kitchen and a semi-private dining area for up to 28 guests. Overlooking the suburban streets of Surry Hills and Redfern, this al fresco dining space also features a retractable roof for year-round dining, rain or shine.
On the plate, Lottie offers a fusion of culinary finesse with the rustic charm of Mexican street food, including house-made tortillas prepared on an imported tortilla press, alongside more refined main dishes and stellar signature cocktails.
Executive Chef Pip Pratt and Group Bars Manager Ben Ingall have crafted a menu with dishes reaching gourmet heights far beyond those of your local high-street burrito joint. Expect delicate flavours like raw scallop with celery and apple, prawn aguachile, and a murray cod pibil baked in banana leaves. There are also some intriguing riffs on international dishes with a Mexican tilt, such as a classic beef tartare prepared as a tostada with sea urchin and a dry-aged beef chop served with burnt pepper and salsa picante.
Behind the bar, the drinks menu, curated by Sommelier Kyle Poole, spotlights a rare selection of agave spirits, including tequilas, mezcal, sotol and raicilla. Guests can also enjoy seasonal cocktails and, unsurprisingly, three styles of margarita, perfect for a refreshing sip and dip by the pool or a sundowner before dinner, complemented by a thoughtfully curated wine list.
Liquid & Larder co-founder, James Bradey, said of The EVE's new rooftop diner: "With only a small number of elevated Mexican restaurants in Australia, we have taken on the task of creating something exceptional at Lottie. Having recently spent time in Los Angeles, we were inspired by how LA approaches Mexican cuisine in a modern way and realised it was time to champion a cuisine that is commonly misrepresented in Australia.
"We are excited to show Sydney what contemporary Mexican looks like to us in an unparalleled setting where you can escape the world below, soak up the heady scent of white copal mayan incense floating through the breeze, and transport yourself to where you'd rather be."
Lottie opens at The EVE on Saturday, January 20 2025. Visit the Lottie website to make a booking.