Now Open: Barangaroo House's Japanese Restaurant and Vinyl Bar Rekodo Pairs Top-Notch Tunes and Eats
Sets from acclaimed DJs, snapper karaage, DIY hand rolls and sake flights all come together at this stylish new venue.
Whether you're looking for a cracking soundtrack that will have you pulling out Shazam throughout the night, a new Japanese restaurant to add to your must-try list or a spot to share a sake, Rekōdo has you covered. This multi-faceted venue has just arrived in Barangaroo House, the expansive harbourside precinct from Solotel and Matt Moran, offering a packed schedule of DJ sets from local tastemakers and an exciting Japanese menu.
Head Chef Paddy McDermott has created a playful spread of dishes like DIY tuna belly, avocado and roe temaki hand rolls; and taiyaki waffles with kimchi and fontina cheese. Looking for something a little heartier? Feast your way through Rekōdo's whole snapper karaage, wagyu karubi steak or modanyaki noodles — or the charcoal-smoked red miso eggplant, which will arrive to your table still cooking in a donabe clay pot.
"Leaning into the music vibe of Rekōdo, I'd say we're going for a 'high fidelity' approach to the menu — familiar flavours but having a little fun in the way they're presented," explains McDermott.
While the food is a big drawcard, the thing that sets Rekōdo apart is the music. Boasting a huge collection of vinyl records, the venue will enlist the curatorial skills of a different tastemaker each month to select the tunes. Kicking things off for September is Meg Mac, showcasing the eclectic music taste that has inspired her beloved catalogue of ballads. Following Mac's reign as initial selector, Donny Benét and Lazywax are already locked in to take over the speakers in October and November respectively.
And yes, there will be vinyl dance parties galore. This weekend, from Friday, September 16–Sunday, September 18, some of Sydney's finest are jumping on the decks, including Simon Caldwell, Marty Doyle, Reenie and a special set from Harvey Sutherland as part of the Sydney All-Nighter. Across the next two weeks, the likes of Adi Toohey, Ayebantonye, Phil Smart, Eddy Diamond and Mike Who will also be dropping by, with plenty more musical goodness in store for the coming months.
Rounding out your visit to Barangaroo's new multi-faceted space is the drinks list. Bar lead Pauric Kennedy has pulled together a 20-strong list of sake and Japanese liqueurs which will be available to order by the glass, as a tasting flight or in cocktails. Take some brown sugar umeshu, for instance, then add tangerine and elderflower tonic, and you have Rekōdo's refreshing Tokyo Tipple.
"The Rekōdo experience is about mixing sound, drink and good times with shared friends," says co-owner and Matt Moran. "Paddy has done a great job creating a menu that reflects this, with a mix of small and larger dishes all designed to share so you can tailor it to whatever vibe you're after."
Rekōdo is located at Level 1, Barangaroo House, 35 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo. It's open midday–midnight Wednesday–Saturday and midday–10pm Sunday and Tuesday.
Images: Steven Woodburn
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