Coming Soon: The Golden Age of Mid-Century Manhattan Dining Is Headed to Sydney, with Vito's Opening in the Burns Philp Building
Sydney is set to channel old New York elegance, as this Italian-American restaurant revives the ritual and romance of mid-century Manhattan dining.
You may have been born too late to experience the heyday of Manhattan-style brasseries. However, you're right on time for its Sydney revival, as Vito's is set to open in the heritage-listed Burns Philp Building in August 2026. Taking inspiration from the golden days of NYC dining, this new venue will seek to reimagine the abundant cuisine, the elevated mood and the instinctive hospitality that made this era so special.
Leading the throwback venture is Sunday Co., guided by industry veterans Brett Sergeant, James Wicks and Iris Kleimann, which is also behind Morrison's Oyster Bar & Grill and Whalebridge. While the restaurant's landmark venue is now secured, the team viewed more than 20 sites before deciding the Burns Philp Building offered the ideal combination of sophistication, scale and character befitting what the team hopes to achieve with Vito's.
Seating 170 guests across a central dining floor, this impressive space is flanked by raised alcoves and grand booths, with an estimated 80 linear metres of banquette seating available. Meanwhile, on the mezzanine level, guests can survey the scene, perhaps channelling just a hint of Frank Sinatra or Audrey Hepburn.
To strike Vito's see-and-be-seen backdrop, Sunday Co. commissioned renowned interior designer Craig Madgwick. Every element has been custom-made by mostly Australian artisans, whether sliding martinis over the marble bar, settling into a banquette or gazing up at the lighting. Nostalgic yet with a lived-in luxury feel, the textures and details will evoke mid-century Manhattan — think burgundy leather, brass detailing, and dramatic chandeliers.
"The best dining rooms in the world weren't built overnight, they accumulate craft and detail over time," says Sergeant. "We've worked with Craig Madgwick to create that same sense of permanence at Vito's. From hand-painted crockery from Southern Italy to chandeliers recreated from scratch, everything has been designed to feel like it's been here for decades."
In the kitchen, award-winning head chef Michael Fox completes the experience with a big-city menu that recalls old-school elegance, such as orecchiette crab, prawn and scallop agnolotti, and Black Onyx porterhouse steak cooked on a custom grill. "Vito's celebrates Italian-American food at its highest level," says Fox. "With deep roots in New York's immigrant communities, this is a style of food that has fed neighbourhoods for decades."
Vito's is expected to open in August 2026 at the Burns Philp Building, 11 Bridge Street, Sydney, operating daily from midday–late. Head to the website for more information.
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Images: Steven Woodburn.
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