Overview
The food and drink revolution of Circular Quay continues with a new venue from the Hinchcliff House team opening just across the road from the OG. Only a few days after the bustling waterfront suburb welcomed Lotus Dining Group's sleek new Cantonese restaurant Pearl, an expensive new Mediterranean-inspire terrace has arrived at Quay Quater Tower from House Made Hospitality.
Martinez Terrace is the first element of a two-pronged new offering from the acclaimed hospitality team. The colourful 160-person outdoor bar will be joined by the vibrant Martinez dining room on Thursday, October 12. For now, the attention is all on the openair watering hole, which you'll find slinging spritzes and oysters at the end of a quick elevator ride up from Young Street.
"We want Martinez to capture the relaxed style of drinking and dining that is synonymous with holidays on the Mediterranean coast, and for the Terrace Bar to give you memories of drinking the afternoon away in a seaside spot," says House Made Hospitality Director Scott Brown.
House Made Hospitality's producer-led approach to wine continues at Martinez, with a selection of drops that the team has had a hand in making themselves sitting alongside a variety of Australian and European whites, reds and rosé. The terrace is also the kind of venue that encourages you to just get the bottle to share with your friends. There's even a whole page of the extended drinks list dedicated exclusively to magnums of wine.
As a little opening celebration, the bar is encouraging you to make a group booking and go big, offering a rotating selection of rosé magnums for $99 a bottle until 4pm Monday–Saturday throughout October.
Elsewhere on the beverage selection, you'll find a wide variety of craft beers and five signature cocktails on tap — including a vodka, coconut and mango spritz primed for warm afternoons out on the terrace.
To partner with your magnum of wine, the food menu is also designed to be shared. Executive Chef Alex Wong (Lana) suggests the baguette with cultured butter and caper salt, sesame seed fougasse, whipped roe with bottarga, LP's saucisson and Ortiz anchovies with seaweed persillade butter on a Grana baguette.
Chilled mussels with Yarra Valley roe, duck terrine and a next-level ham, mustard and fennel sandwich are among the other highlights on the snack side of Martinez's menu — while there are a few heftier options including steak frites and grilled swordfish.
Emilie Delalande of Etic (Barangaroo House) has led the design work across the venue, with both the terrace and the dining room containing odes to artist residencies in the south of France.
The bar is designed to facilitate any occasion — there are intimate two-person tables and long benches designed for group catch-ups. And if you're lucky, you might even nab a spot with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Martinez Terrace is now open at Quay Quarter Tower, 50 Bridge Street, Circular Quay. Its adjoining restaurant is set to open on Thursday, October 12. For more information head to the Martinez website.
Images: Steven Woodburn and Jason Loucus.