Winnie's Sydney

Overview

Head to the harbourside to check out Winnies, a new all-day eatery in an iconic location, boasting world-famous views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Whether it's an early-morning coffee, a leisurely lunch, a quick snack and a drink after work, or a celebratory dinner, this new spot is designed to attract more visitors to the Opera House area, marking the first step in the precinct's reinvigoration. 

Nestled next door to the Opera Bar, Winnie's extended shopfront offers pastries and house-made goods, and a new, fully electric, upgraded kitchen that is pumping out dishes designed to enhance the venue's reputation as a foodie destination. The new menu by Applejack Culinary Director Patrick Friesen and Opera Bar Executive Chef Daniel Cooper promotes NSW producers across signature dishes such as a Blue Swimmer Crab omelette and a prawn pasta with chilli, basil and lime. 

"The café is Australia's greatest cultural export. It's where we come together, where cultures meet and where we celebrate the city we live in. At Winnie's, we're just building on that — great NSW produce, cooked with the creativity and generosity that defines Australian café culture," says Friesen. 

Winnie's takes its moniker from a Trinidad-born ragtime pianist, Winifred Atwell, who played Waltzing Matilda for construction workers building the Opera House, years before it opened. "We're so excited for Sydney to fall in love with this beautiful new venue. Winifred Atwell was a true trailblazer and her incredible performance here all those years ago is such a special part of the building's history. I love that we're bringing her story to life in a new way. Great music, delicious menus and good company feels like the perfect next chapter for the Opera House," says Jade McKellar, Chief Customer Officer of the Sydney Opera House.

The new opening marks a significant first step in Applejack's vision to reimagine the Opera House drinking and dining precinct, with renovations soon to commence at Opera Bar. "This harbourside dining venue has always had incredible energy, people coming and going, meeting before shows, catching up over a drink. Winnie's is our chance to build on the legacy of Winifred Atwell to create a venue with its own identity that truly belongs here and feels as significant as the location itself. We were deeply inspired after watching footage of Winifred performing for the Opera House construction workers back in the 1960s — it captures exactly the energy we wanted for this venue: warm, joyous and uniquely fun," says Hamish Watts, co-founder of Applejack.

Images: Supplied. 

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