SYDNEY
The White Horse
Surry Hills
Joining a spate of new openings reinvigorating Surry Hills’ Crown Street, the White Horse is in the midst of a total overhaul with a quality collective of hospo folk overseeing the transformation. Craig Hemmings (who worked the floor at Bilsons, Quay, Guillaume at Bennelong and Chin Chin) leads the charge as general manager, while Jed Gerrard (Hearth, COMO The Treasury) will fly over from WA as chef-partner, joined by James Audas (Bar Heather) on vino and Michael Chiem (PS40) on the bar front. While the brief is a pub that the team would like to go to, you can expect it to be delicious and elegant thanks to the gun team, as much as it an approachable local. The classic pub format will see a public bar and restaurant on the ground floor; joined by a cocktail bar on level one and private dining room on level two. The refreshed icon is set to open its doors in autumn.
Fort Denison
Sydney Harbour
The team behind Shell House are set to redefine destination dining as they take over the lease on Fort Denison in Sydney Harbour. Details are still thin on the ground but one thing is for sure, they’ll be serving up unparalleled harbour views. With Joel Bickford leading the charge as culinary director, you can expect elegant fine dining and exquisite produce to dominate the menu.
Chef Alejandro Saravia of Morena restaurant, set to open in Sydney’s CBD.
Morena
CBD
An expansive 220-seat restaurant will see chef Alejandro Saravia return to Sydney – and his Latin-American roots – in Martin Place’s historic sandstone GPO building. Located at 1 Martin Place, which is home to five-star mainstay The Fullerton Hotel, Morena’s menu will showcase dishes from Saravia’s home of Peru, while also exploring Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil. Sticking with his food ethos of working closely with producers (much like Saravia’s Melbourne restaurant Farmers Daughters) Australian produce will be used to showcase the flavours of Latin American.
Bobbie’s and Song Bird
Double Bay
As the unofficial King of Double Bay, Neil Perry will continue to grow his empire in May, with the arrival of two new venues to the neighbourhood. Joining Perry, cocktail master Linden Pride – responsible for Manhattan’s award-winning craft cocktail bar Dante – will return to Australia to open the jazz and cocktail bar, Bobbie’s. Pride curated the original bar program for Rockpool Bar and Grill and Spice Temple back in 2009. “When you get nominated for loads of awards and have one of the best Negronis in New York… You must be doing something really well,” says Perry. Named after Pride’s grandfather who was a radio DJ in the 1950s and helped introduce Australia to American jazz and blues, Bobbie’s will have regular live music sessions. “Bobbie’s is all about jazz, great drinks and a nice little snack food program,” says Perry.
Upstairs, you’ll find Song Bird, which will occupy three levels of the building. “There will be a little bit of spiciness but a bit more Cantonese. And there will be a few little dishes from other places like Japan and Korea, so kind of Spice Temple-meets-Golden Century.” Acme – who designed the interiors at Margaret – will be responsible for the fit out. “I love of Chinese and Asian cooking, so it’s about giving it a home.”
Etymon
North Sydney
North Sydney will continue to dial up its dining groove when Etymon (Loulou, The Charles) open four venues at 168 Walker Street. A globe-trotting mood board of inspiration will see a hybrid cafe-wine bar-bakery; a European-inspired providore; a Californian-inspired all-day diner; and a modern Japanese restaurant, all open within the residential development, servicing both locals and workers alike.
MELBOURNE
Batard
CBD
Lucas Restaurants will open the much-anticipated Batard in the second half of 2024 on Bourke Street, as a three-storey homage to Parisian dining. As Chris Lucas puts it, “capturing the magic and allure of Paris, but in a very Melbourne way.” It comes off the back of an extensive research trip to Paris in 2023 (and many trips before) where Lucas and a team of chefs dined at up to 10 restaurants and bars a day, “We spent a week together dining in restaurants, drinking Martinis, shopping and wandering markets – they’ve been absolutely captivated,” says Lucas of this hunt for the perfect French fries and ultimate pâté. “The energy and charm of Paris is something that needs to be lived to be truly understood.” From the group that gave the city Society and Grill Americano, the brasserie is set to be one of 2024’s most extravagant openings – but the question remains whether Melbourne’s appetite for flashy French fare has already been satiated by Reine & La Rue? To the north, Lucas’s eponymous group will also take over 100 Chapel Street with a new opening, situated next door to casual Asian diner Hawker Hall.
Ho Jiak
CBD
Much-loved Sydney chef Junda Khoo will bring his clever take on Malaysian flavours to Melbourne later in 2024. Landing a three-level site on Bourke Street with an entrance on Royal Lane, Ho Jiak‘s Melbourne outpost will offer a different menu for each floor. “So, it’s like having three different Ho Jiak concepts under one roof,” says Khoo. On the ground floor, the kitchen will power the whole venue, with plans for a kiosk to the side for takeaway and alfresco dining on Royal Lane,” says Khoo. The menu here will call on a street food concept as an homage to the original Ho Jiak in Sydney’s Strathfield. “Stuff like nasi lemak, Hainan chicken rice, and a bain marie with different dishes where they can get three choices with rice similar to the “chap fan” stores on the street in Malaysia.” The first floor will be a more formal affair, exploring the cultural intersections of the cuisine with a levelled-up playfulness. “That’s where we will be doing our elevated Malaysian dishes, so the laksa bombs, oysters, steak and a good wine list,” says Khoo. The crowning third floor will be a rooftop bar-beer hall with home-cooked style family favourites, similar to Ho Jiak Haymarket.” Historically, Melbourne hasn’t welcomed Sydney imports with open arms but we’re confident Khoo’s cooking and crack service team will win them over.
Her, Melbourne.
Level 2 at HER
CBD
The final piece of this multifaceted Melbourne favourite on Lonsdale Street will open in late 2024. The second level – between Music Room and BKK – sat vacant while the other levels sprung to life, the pause allowing the rest of the building to activate before deciding what shape the final destination of the multi-storey venue would be. “The transformation of 270 Lonsdale Street has, and continues to be, an act of love; restoring the building’s once vibrant energy to a hub of creativity,” says Georgie Larkins of HQ Group. “Level two is the final piece of the puzzle, and as the centre of Her it will be a place to celebrate and socialise,”
Askal
CBD
This forward-thinking Filipino restaurant is the first project by the Otso Otso Group (with former Sunda, Society and Serai chefs) and will open in a heritage-listed three-level retro-fitted 1800s saloon on Exhibition Street. The ground and first floors will house the restaurant, while a rooftop bar will follow. “Guests can expect Filipino fare that explores the diverse regionality of the cuisine,” says Kariton Sorbetes owner and chef John Rivera. “For those familiar, it will be like reliving the cooking of their grandparents and for those exploring, it’ll be a flavour-packed experience,” he says. Expect smoky and sticky barbecue pork ribs with banana ketchup (a nod to co-owner Ralph Libo-on’s dad); an interpretation of a Spam sandwich with warm pandesal; and to finish, leche flan with a Don Papa rum caramel and toasted vanilla oil. Opening is slated for early autumn 2024.
BRISBANE
Petite
Fortitude Valley
Cameron and Jordan Votan of Snack Man will open a new French bistro next to their first two venues in autumn this year. “Our favourite plates from all over France will be served alongside delicious glasses and bottles of wine,” says Cameron Votan, owner of Happy Boy and Snack Man “We will be showcasing wines from all over France but with a definite focus on some of Snack Man’s extensive Champagne, Loire, Burgundy and Beaujolais cellar.”
Longwang
CBD
Brisbane’s CBD will welcome a modern pan-Asian restaurant, fronted by Same Same former executive chef, Jason Margaritis. Named after the revered Chinese Dragon King of the Sea (and opening in the year of the dragon), Longwang will bring together the punchy flavours of Southeast Asia. From the Tassis Group (Fosh, Rich and Rare, Opa and Yamas) Longwang will stretch out across two levels, with upstairs featuring a dedicated cocktail bar. Expect bright, spicy share plates and peppy cocktails. Also keep an eye out for the group’s other two openings at the backend of 2024, with Bombora (a high-end restaurant) and Mulga Bill’s (a pizza and seafood-focused spot) at Kangaroo Point Green Bridge.
Snacks at Supernormal
(Photo: Parker Blain)Supernormal
CBD
Brisbane’s credentials as a serious food destination will receive a super boost as Andrew McConnell‘s restaurant group Trader House brings Supernormal to the Queensland capital in 2024. The opening will mark the group’s first venture outside of Melbourne, where McConnell has built an empire of award-winning restaurants, including Gimlet, Cumulus Inc., Cutler & Co and more. The Brisbane restaurant will be housed in a new luxury development at 443 Queen Street on the riverfront. The superstar chef is also excited to work with local Queensland producers to develop new twists on some of his Supernormal classics, which were inspired by his time living and working in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
ADELAIDE
Asha
Goodwood
The team behind Gourmet Traveller award Wine Bar of the Year are venturing into restaurant territory, with the opening of Asha, two doors down from Good Gilbert. Calling upon the flavours of the Middle East and North Africa, the 34-seat neighbourhood restaurant will have a floor-to-ceiling styled bar and an open-plan kitchen. The wine list will explore the likes of Georgia and Lebanon, alongside full access to Good Gilbert’s 450-strong wine collection.
