The 10 most exciting new restaurant, cafe, bakery and bar openings of spring

The Sydney hospitality scene is set to bloom with new openings this spring. Here are 10 of the most exciting, from blockbuster hits like Wunderlich Lane, a six-venue hospitality precinct in Surry Hills, and The Grounds Coffee Factory in Eveleigh, to small suburban charmers like After Hours, a Randwick sandwich-shop-turned-wine-bar, and House of Papi, selling Filipino pandesal bread in Marrickville.

10 spring openings

After Hours, Randwick

As the sun begins to set, celebrity chef Matt Moran’s favourite local sandwich shop, Cut Lunch Deli, will transform into After Hours: a casual wine bar serving slightly fancier versions of your favourite sandwiches alongside glasses of minimal intervention wine and Aussie-made craft beer. Come in your swimmers, after a gym sesh, or with some mates for a cruisy catch-up.

Why we’re excited: The popular Schnitz sandwich is getting a glow-up for evening service with a cabbage slaw and a sweet chilli peanut shallot sauce on an Organic Bread Bar potato bun.

When to go: After Hours will launch on Thursday, September 12 and open every Thursday to Sunday, from the end of lunch service until around 8 or 9pm.

220 Clovelly Road, Randwick, cutlunchdeli.com.au

A.P Supply, Surry Hills

The smaller takeaway outlet of A.P Bakery sells an exclusive new range of pastry items alongside old favourites like their Aleppo scrolls and sourdough loaves. It’s a joint venture from A.P head baker Dougal Muffet, Reuben Hill’s Russell Beard, Ester chef-owner Mat Lindsay and Jin Ng.

Why we’re excited: They’re selling croissant-infused soft serve ice cream, served in choux pastry buns with a croissant and black sesame crumble and plenty of salted caramel sauce.

When to go: A.P Supply opened at the beginning of Spring, and you can check it out every weekend from 7.30am–3pm.

106 Commonwealth Street Surry Hills,apbakery.com.au

Bsp’eria, Maroubra

It started as a small pizza joint at Penshurst Station, with an electric oven, a handful of milk crates to sit on, and a tight neo-Neapolitan menu that sold out almost every night. Now, one of Sydney South’s best pizzerias is coming to Maroubra Junction. Expect a 10–12-seat takeaway-focused pizzeria with a big wood-fired oven.

Why we’re excited: This means carb-loading after a long day at the beach with stand-out menu items like vodka sauce pizza laden with fresh mozzarella, creamy stracciatella, basil and chilli oil.

When to go: From Thursday, September 12, Bsp’eria Maroubra will be open 5– 9pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and until 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday.

665-667 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, bsperia.com

Lune Croissanterie, Rosebery

When Melbourne croissanterie Lune opens its flagship bakery at the Rosebery Engine Yards later this year, it will be a “state-of-the-art, world-class experience”, founder Kate Reid says. It will also be the first time Sydneysiders can score buttery, delicious Lune croissants without travelling interstate.

Why we’re excited: Anticipating high demand (fans have been known to queue for upwards of three hours for a croissant), Lune in Rosebery will be their biggest bakery yet, capable of pumping out more than 38,000 pastries each week.

When to go: A spring opening looks likely, a spokesperson for Lune has confirmed.

Rosebery Engine Yards, 115/151 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery, lunecroissanterie.com

House of Papi, Marrickville

When Donut Papi announced it would close this winter, it was devastating news for doughnut fans. But it was less of a closure and more of a pivot – owner Kenneth Rodrigueza has since revealed plans to reopen the Marrickville site as “House of Papi”: a bakery and cafe with doughnuts, Filipino afternoon tea, and sandwiches.

Why we’re excited: If the test menu is anything to go by, there will be a range of super-soft Filipino pandesal bread in flavours like ube, coconut pandan, and cheese pimiento.

When to go: The spring relaunch date is yet to be confirmed, but keep an eye on socials for pop-up taste tests.

139 Marrickville Road, Marrickville, instagram.com/houseofpapi_sydney

Neptune’s Grotto, Sydney

Hospitality trio Andy Tyson, Dan Pepperell and Mikey Clift seem to have nailed the formula for a great restaurant experience – their steakhouse Clam Bar scored two Good Food Guide hats for 2024, and Taylor Swift popped into their Surry Hills restaurant Pellegrino 2000 during her tour. Neptune’s Grotto will be their fourth venture, a 70-ish-seat northern Italian restaurant located beneath Clam Bar.

Why we’re excited: “It’s our best place yet,” says cofounder Tyson. Expect lots of hand-rolled pasta.

When to go: Tyson has confirmed Neptune’s Grotto will be open before summer.

44 Bridge Street, Sydney, instagram.com/neptunes.grotto

The Grounds Coffee Factory, Eveleigh

The Grounds is known for creating highly aesthetic venues for the social media age, and their new Eveleigh addition is no exception. It’s a 150-seat locomotive-themed roastery and cafe with the meticulous detail of a movie set, serving pastries from a roving trolley, 11 coffee bean varieties, and a full American-style brekkie.

Why we’re excited: This could be the ultimate boozy brunch experience, with a long drinks list, including a “morning martini” (with vodka, honey and espresso) and “matcha collada” (dark rum, coconut, pineapple and matcha).

When to go: Following its September 4 launch, the cafe is open 7am–4pm daily.

2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh, thegrounds.com.au/the-roastery

Pelicano, Potts Point

In a boost to Sydney’s late-night revitalisation, the sprawling old Hugos Lounge site on Bayswater Road is set to be born again as a restaurant and nightclub. The restaurant’s culinary pitch will be coastal Mediterranean with a strong Italian bent. Interiors will have “a similar nautical feel” to the Double Bay original.

Why we’re excited: Pelicano aims to strengthen Sydney’s nighttime trade with a “Come in early and stay all night” approach.

When to go: Pelicano’s first stage – a restaurant and terrace that will open at 5pm and trade late – launches on September 17, followed by the launch of the adjoining Pelicano nightclub on the October long weekend.

Level 1/33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point, pelicano.com.au

Wunderlich Lane, Surry Hills

Wunderlich Lane is a new dining and lifestyle development alongside The EVE boutique hotel. In this one location, there will be six new hospitality venues, all set to open before summer hits. Here’s the breakdown: the team behind two-hatted restaurant LuMi Dining will open Regina La Pizzeria with ex-Da Orazio pizzaiolo Matteo Ernandes in October; omakase restaurant R by Raita Noda will follow; and House Made Hospitality group (Grana, Lana) have come on board with Island Radio (a fun dining experience with Southeast Asian cuisine) and Baptist St. Rec. Club (a cocktail and wine bar with ’80s Australiana vibes). Then there’s Olympus, a Greek restaurant from The Apollo team meant for big groups, and Gelato Messina for dessert! Phew.

Why we’re excited: This is your night out, sorted.

When to go: The venues are expected to open in phases, beginning in early October and finishing up in late November.

Postino Osteria, Summer Hill

The heritage-listed Summer Hill building, where hatted inner west favourite One Penny Red traded until late last year, will reopen as a restaurant and wine bar after one of Sydney’s leading Italian chefs, Alessandro Pavoni (a’Mare), snapped up the former post office site. Pavoni has pulled together a menu of comforting Italian classics designed for casual nights out in the neighbourhood.

Why we’re excited: There’s a six-course menu for $79 per person, and it includes homemade spaghetti and meatballs.

When to go: From Friday, September 13, the restaurant will open for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday and for lunch from Friday to Sunday. Bookings are open now.

2 Moonbie Street, Summer Hill, postino.au

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