Overview
At a time when Sydney has endured an unusually high number of venue closures, a formerly shuttered bar's return is certainly good news. Andrew Becher, the owner of two of Macleay Street's best diners — upmarket bistro Franca and Catalan diner Parlar — has already made an impressive mark on the Potts Point dining scene. Now, the restaurateur is adding a third venue to his Kings Cross portfolio, reviving Double Bay hotspot Pelicano, which closed in 2019, and transplanting it to the former digs of legendary nightclub Hugos Lounge on Bayswater Road.
Once a favourite celebrity haunt, the original Double Bay Pelicano (where Neil Perry and Liden Pride's new martini bar Bobbie's is now located) was forced to shut at the height of its popularity to make way for building renovations. "It felt like there was some unfinished business there," Becher says of the bar's untimely closure.
Andrew Becher
In the years since, Becher's been biding his time, waiting for just the right location to launch Pelicano 2.0. "An opportunity to move into the old Hugo's site could not have been more perfect [because of] the legacy we both share as revered brands intent on driving the rebirth of Sydney's nightlife," says Becher. "Everyone loves a bit of nostalgia but with a fresh look and feel, we aim to bridge the gap between the good old days and an offering more in line with current demands and desires."
This new incarnation of Pelicano will be quite different to the original — and not just because punters will now climb a flight of stairs to reach the front door instead of descending into a Double Bay basement.
"Our group has grown dramatically since Pelicano closed, with our food offering garnering more focus and recognition," Becher says. "We are focused on the transition from day to night to cater to the market of today. With this in mind, we want to create a space that offers it all — a high-end cocktail program, great food and a lively atmosphere where you can dance and have fun. People want it all in one location nowadays and we are happy to oblige. The venue itself is also so unique in Sydney, somewhere that captures all the afternoon sun but also works so well after dark."
Armorica
While Becher's other venues are known for their luxe-leaning, no-expense-spared fitouts — the renovation of popular Surry Hills brasserie Armorica cost Becher a cool $3 million, for example — the decor for Pelicano will take a slightly different tack.
"As Armorica had to be developed from the ground up, it required substantial investment to transform it into the venue it is today — the kitchen alone accounted for around half of the budget. This time, the site has good bones and we were able to purchase the kitchen equipment outright which has allowed us to reduce the timeframe and some of the cost to refurbish the venue," Becher explains. "The Pelicano brand embodies energy and fun, but we also wanted it to be a space that people feel comfortable in. That's why the focal point of the venue will be the artwork. We are working with great artists who do a lot of the heavy lifting, eliminating the need for a traditional full fit-out to transform the space."
Pelicano's restaurant will open to the public from Thursday, October 3 at 5pm. The nightclub space will open at the end of October.