Hester's

The hospitality group behind popular Sydney venues The Butler, The Botanist and SoCal has completed a new CBD precinct with the opening of Hester's. The cafe and bar is the third and final Applejack venue situated along Carrington Street (across from Wynyard Park) — joining elegant eatery Bopp & Tone and hole-in-the-wall cafe June's Shoppe.

Open weekdays for breakfast and lunch, it's brewing Chatswood's Gabriel Coffee all day, and pouring beer and wine from noon. In the morning, expect classic brekkie dishes like goat's omelettes ($12) and smashed avo ($12), plus pastries and muffins baked in house. It's a more refined offering for lunch, with the menu designed by Bopp & Tone Head Chef Sa Va'afusuaga. Think Mediterranean-inspired dishes like seared tuna niçoise ($25), woodfired chicken club sandwiches ($18), crumbed snapper with shoestring fries ($32), slow-braised lamb ragout ($25) and char-grilled Riverine sirloin ($35).

Yasmin Mund

If you're looking to snack with a drink in hand, the seafood-focused 'nibbles' menu offers salt cod fritters ($19), flash-fried calamari ($16), Sydney rock oysters ($5 each) and Australian king prawns ($9 each). Apart from a succinct beer and wine menu — which includes the likes of Alpha Box & Dice's Zaptung prosecco ($11) and Estrella lager ($10) — you can also sip on passionfruit kombucha ($6.5) and cucumber sodas ($4).

Each Carrington Street venue is inspired by the post-WW2 era and lends a touch of nostalgia to the fit-out. At Hester's, expect earthy tones, with light timber furnishing, glowing pendant lighting and pastel touches.

Images: Yasmin Mund