First Look: North Sydney's Vibrant Hospo Hub Is Ready to Welcome Its First Guests at Four All-New Venues

North Sydney's culinary star has been on the rise for a while, thanks to an influx of excellent venues such as up-market steakhouse Poetica, pretty-in-pink Italian diner Bar Lettera and leafy rooftop retreat Rafi. But if there was any question as to the virtues of heading north of the Bridge in search of a fine feed, the arrival of Walker Street precinct is sure to silence any doubts.

Four slick new venues created by Etymon Projects and located on Walker Street — just a few minutes walk from the upcoming Victoria Cross metro station — are set to make North Sydney a must-visit for any self-respecting foodie, with all four venues opening their doors from Tuesday, July 9.

Sol Bread + Wine

You can start the day at Sol Bread + Wine, a bakery and cafe by day and intimate wine bar by night that channels a Mediterranean 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 breakfast bakery to a laidback cicchetteria serving top drops and sophisticated snacks.

Soluna

A striking presence in Sol Bread + Wine, a bold red spiral staircase delivers diners to the first-floor sister venue, Soluna. Open from lunch through to dinner, this 110-seat restaurant — as well as the attached 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. The room is dominated by a green terrazzo bar, mirroring the verdant planting dotted throughout the space.

Genzo

At first glance, contemporary Japanese diner and sake bar Genzo is a playful space complete with vivid overhead LED lighting, anime influences and an eye-popping colour scheme. But don't let that fool you — this restaurant takes its offering very seriously. 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 combine for a contemporary izakaya experience that will rival Sydney's best.

Una

Finally, new priovidore Una, will stock gourmet produce, artisanal goods and pantry essentials as well as house-made pastas and other take-home meals. A considered edit of local and imported ingredients, from cheeses and charcuterie to boutique wines and spirits, will make this luxury grocer a boon for any North Sydney gastronomes hoping to wow at their next dinner party.

Executive Chef Rhys Connell, formerly of The Grantry and Sepia, will oversee all four venues of the new Walker Street precinct. "I realise [this is] an opportunity I've been working towards my whole career," Connell said. "The past couple of months have been a creative blur of menus, scribbling ideas down in the middle of the night and tastings for each venue, and we're now in such a great place with it all I just can't wait to open the doors."

Rhys Connell

Find the Walker Street Precinct at 168 Walker Street, North Sydney, open from Tuesday, July 9.
Sol Bread + Wine will open daily, 7am–10pm. Head to the venue's website for details.
Soluna will open daily, 11.30am–late. Head to the venue's website for details.
Genzo will open Tuesday – Sunday, 12–3pm and 5–10pm. Head to the venue's website for more details.
Una will open Sunday–Wednesday, 10am–6pm, and Thursday–Saturday, 10am–10pm. Head to the venue's website for details.

Images: Steven Woodburn