New French venue for Redfern hotspot

Exciting news for Sydney gourmets with a new French bistro set to open in the hip Wunderlich Lane precinct on the border of Redfern and Surry Hills.

Baptiste Bistro, from the team behind The Apollo, Olympus and Cho Cho San, will open its doors in November.

The 80-seat French restaurant completes a trio of Apollo Group's venues at the precinct after the recent announcement of rooftop izakaya Tenjo.

Designed as a neighbourhood bistro for Redfern, Baptiste will bring an all-day French dining experience to Baptist Street, home of the hip EVE Hotel.

The new venue will be open seven days a week from 7am until late with happy hour offered twice daily. First from from 4–5pm and then 10–11pm.



The kitchen brigade will be led by Luke Papalia from Olympus, who has had stints at Pilu at Freshwater and Norma’s Deli.

The menu will be focused on French bistro classics like fresh goat’s cheese with chive oil and herbs; onion and olive tart, ham and cornichons; and Niçoise, Caesar and Lyonnaise salads.

Rôtisserie chicken will sit at the heart of the menu alongside steak frites, poached marron, and tuna steak au poivre, all served with pommes allumettes. Which is very unFrench. Bring on the frites.

An oyster station at the bar will offer fresh oysters alongside crudités, while the dessert menu stays firmly within French bistro territory, with crème caramel, profiteroles and rhum baba among the offerings.

The beverage program will see wines from classic and new-wave cult producers from France and Australia, aged bottles from the group’s cellar, and a daily selection of wines by the glass.

“We didn't want to open a restaurant that read as brand new, but a bistro that felt like it had been on the corner for years,” says owner and operator Jonathan Barthelmess.

See www.baptiste.com.au

Images: Nikki To.

An authentic taste of Italy landed in Redfern

 

When a pizza joint is packed to the rafters on a chilly midweek evening that is a very good sign.

When you sit down and are surrounded by various Italian accents and dialects, that is almost certainly a harbinger of good things. 

And so it proves at Regina La Pizzeria, a candidate for Sydney's best pizza place, in the emerging foodie destination of Wunderlich Lane, where Surry Hills meets Redfern at the intersection of Cleveland and Crown Streets.

Earlier this year, Regina La Pizzeria was awarded 3 slices in the Gambero Rosso Pizzerie d’Italia guide, becoming the only Sydney venue to receive the publication’s highest recognition 

Co-owner Matteo Ernandez, originally from the island of Lampedusa, off Sicily, was the only Australian pizza chef included in the Best Pizza Awards 2026 - The Ones to Watch, announced in Milan in June.  

Co-founder Michela Boncagni, a qualified sommelier, oversees the broader guest experience at Regina, spanning an Italian-accented wine list, and very friendly service. There is genuine hospitality on offer here. 

Before Regina, Ernandez (above) led kitchens as head pizzaiolo at Da Orazio and Matteo Double Bay.

At Regina, he works with high-hydration doughs built on a blend of semolina, tipo 1 flour, and wheat germ, using a biga recipe to achieve what he defines as a “young but expressive” dough.

We perched at the bar table overlooking the open kitchen as Matteo and his team produced a formidable array of pizza styles. 

And while pizza remains the core of the offering, the venue has evolved beyond the traditional pizzeria format, with a broader menu of hand-made pasta and seasonal dishes supported by an Italian-focused wine and cocktail program.  

At the centre of Regina’s kitchen is a dough-focused philosophy, where hydration, fermentation and baking are carefully controlled to prioritise consistency, lightness and structure. 

A key part of this approach is Ernandez's use of Molino Casillo flour, chosen for its emphasis on preserving the character of the wheat itself. 

Regina uses Australia’s first Fazzone oven (above), a traditional Italian wood-fired oven built brick by brick in Naples, reassembled in Sydney and designed specifically for contemporary-style pizza.

There are traditional favourites, along with Pan Baked Pizza (padellino), cooked in small round metal pans rather than directly on stone. 

Twice-Cooked Pizza, meanwhile, combines frying and baking techniques to create a pizza that is crisp on the outside while remaining light and airy inside.

On Tuesdays, Regina hosts Scrocchiarella pizza nights, showcasing the traditional Roman-style pizza known for its signature crunch. 

The wine list focuses on Italian producers and native varietals. We tried a San Lorenzo di Vera Rosata, a montepulciano, sangiovese blend from the Marche, and a deliciously dry and savoury Emilio Schiacca Rossobrillo Nero d'Avola from the slopes of Mount Etna.   

The same dough style also carries through to Regina’s chocolate padellino dessert, combining chocolate chips, vanilla mascarpone, mixed berries and hazelnuts.

We were, sadly, pizzaed out by this time, but did find just enough space for some delicious Sicilian-style cannoli (above) with ricotta, chocolate, and candied orange. 

Easy to recommend this place.

 Regina La Pizzeria Wunderlich Lane, Redfern, Sydney. https://www.reginalapizzeria.com

* The writer was hosted by Regina La Pizzeria 

New Sydney boutique hotel opens in surprising location

Times change.

A couple of decades ago the area bordering inner city Sydney suburbs of Redfern and Surry Hills was best avoided. 

There were only a few reasons to visit the badlands off Cleveland Street: to eat some great Lebanese food, buy an illicit wrap or two, find a lady of the night, or perhaps get into a fight.

But gentrification happened and now the area around Wunderlich Lane is home to restaurants, bars and, as of today, a new luxe hotel.

Independently owned by TOGA and operated by TFE Hotels, the EVE Hotel Sydney opened its doors today.

It is set among a labyrinth of lively laneways connecting Surry Hills and Redfern and boasts a 20-metre rooftop pool..

Designed by Surry Hills-based architects SJB (with styling collaboration from Bates Smart), the city's newest 102-room boutique hotel is part of Sydney's newest lifestyle precinct, Wunderlich Lane, set on the site of Sydney’s original Wunderlich Ltd factory, which made terracotta roof tiles.

 
The precinct’s inner-city laneways will feature boutique shopping, al fresco dining and design-led commercial and event spaces.

“We have a prominent address at the crossroads of Surry Hills and Redfern and a location full of rich history,” said TOGA Group managing director and TFE Hotels chairman Allan Vidor.

“And our team are looking forward to sharing our version of Sydney hospitality.”

"By design, The EVE’s pre-opening team has aimed to create spaces where guests and visitors can immerse themselves in the art, cultural, and culinary offerings from the local community,"

See https://theevehotel.com.au/.

Dancing in the streets: Time for a festival vibe in Sydney

Village high streets across the City of Sydney will be transformed into lively festival hubs over the coming months as part of the Sydney Streets program.

The roads will be closed to traffic for the day as the street festivals kick off at 11am and run until late in the evening.

The festivals feature live music performances, outdoor dining from local restaurants and food vendors, street entertainment and roving performers.

Local businesses and organisations will host pop-up shops and outdoor market stalls, offering giveaways, competitions and exclusive deals.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, said the series had grown significantly since it was first introduced during the pandemic. 

“Sydney Streets provides a platform for local shops, restaurants and businesses to connect with their communities and visitors in a friendly, open-air environment,” Moore said.

“It’s an opportunity for locals to shop, eat and explore their neighbourhood, with unique experiences and surprises at every corner.”

Surrounding street closures and special event clearways set the stage for the events, opening with a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony.

Activities to keep kids entertained will include a circus playground, origami workshops, face painting, art classes and reading areas.

Some events will feature a fun dog agility course, while others include fitness sessions, craft workshops, health checks and games.

February 15: Macleay Street, Potts Point

February 22: Stanley Street, Darlinghurst

March 8: Harris Street, Pyrmont

March 15: Glebe Point Road, Glebe

March 29: Redfern Street, Redfern

April 5: Crown Street, Surry Hills

A special Sydney Streets event will also take place as part of the Sydney Lunar Festival in Haymarket from 5:15-9:30pm on Saturday, February 1.

Three live entertainment sites on Sussex Street, Ultimo Road and Harbour Street will feature traditional and contemporary performances including lion and dragon dancers, dance groups, martial arts and singers.

To welcome the Year of the Snake, food trucks and market stalls with meals and gifts will be set up throughout Haymarket, 12 zodiac animal lanterns will line George Street and DJs will entertain visitors throughout the night.

For more information see whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Image: Sydney Streets: Glebe Point Road. Katherine Griffiths for City of Sydney

Redfern to get a hip new boutique hotel

Inner city Sydney is about to get a hotel with a difference with the Eve Hotel Sydney located between two of the city's most upwardly mobile suburbs; Redfern and Surry Hills.

Located in a labyrinth of lively laneways connecting the two suburbs, the new hotel will be operated by TFE Hotels and is developed and owned by TOGA Group – both headquartered in Sydney.

Designed by Surry Hills based architects SJB, the Harbour City’s newest 102-room boutique hotel is part of the new Wunderlich Lane lifestyle precinct, at the centre of Toga Group’s Surry Hills village.

Set on the site of Sydney’s original Wunderlich Ltd factory on the Redfern side of Cleveland St, the precinct’s inner-city vibe will feature boutique shopping, al fresco dining and design-led commercial and event spaces.

“We have a prominent address at the crossroads of Surry Hills and Redfern and a location full of rich history,” said Toga Group Managing Director and TFE Hotels chairman Allan Vidor.

“Our team are very much looking forward to sharing our version of Sydney hospitality by offering a genuine and vibrant experience.”

Described as an "edgy boutique" hotel, The Eve is scheduled to open in September 2024. It will have a rooftop pool and bar.

For more details see https://theevehotel.com.au/