Ace Hotel has made an effortlessly cool arrival to the Sydney dining scene with an 18th-floor rooftop restaurant, Kiln; an all-day eatery, LOAM; a day-to-night café and bar, Good Chemistry; and a lobby cocktail bar.
In a sweeping reimagination of a historical building that has stood for over a century, the Southern hemisphere has claimed its first Ace Hotel. With each location offering a unique reflection of its surroundings through design, the dining spaces are no exception. Kiln’s panoramic views of Surry Hills and two spacious terraces with fully retractable ceilings, give off a quintessentially Sydney vibe.
‘Prince of Pasta’ Mitch Orr Leads The Kitchen
With community at the heart of Ace philosophy, it’s easy to see why Chef Mitch Orr (formerly of Duke Bistro, ACME and Pilu) landed the position of chef partner. Renowned for his innovative, yet unpretentious, genre-bending cooking, Orr is serving up a seasonal menu designed to share, drawing inspiration from the flavour-rich cuisines of Italy, Japan and Southeast Asia.
With two open-air terraces with retractable roofs, and floor to ceiling windows, Kiln offers a rarely seen vantage of Sydney. The restaurant’s name is a nod to Ace Hotel Sydney’s previous history as Australia’s first discovered pottery kiln. Kiln will be open nightly for dinner service and on weekends for brunch
LOAM – a sister location to the restaurant at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles – will serve a relaxed, all-day menu to the neighbourhood from its ground floor location. LOAM’s seasonal menu features vegetable-forward cooking coupled with sustainable meats and seafood, all sourced from the region’s best independent farmers, ranchers and fishermen.
Framed by leather banquettes, and an earthenware glazed mural, LOAM is perfect for a laid back lunch or casual after-work dinner with friends.
Good Chemistry – Situated along the hotel’s Foy Lane entrance, a day-to-night cafe and bar with seating in an airy space opens fully into the laneway. Open all day, Good Chemistry is serving up a plethora of Australian brekkie faves, think fresh baked pastries, market-driven salads, toasties, conservas and light bites, all complemented by pours of Sydney’s own Mecca Coffee and Tea Craft along with draught wine and beer.
Nearby, you’ll see a large restored safe that’s been housed in the building since the first half of the 20th century, and another Ace Hotel staple: a vintage photo booth.
The Lobby – A Community Hub For All
Continuing a longstanding Ace Hotel tradition, the Lobby aims to be a welcoming community hub for locals and travelers alike. A cocktail bar and lounge, serves as the hotel’s central gathering space and offers a tight but dynamic offering of wines by the glass and bottle to complement the menu’s craft beers, cocktails, snacks and shareable small plates.
The Lobby will also regularly feature open-to-all arts and cultural programming. Sydneysiders can expect anything from an art exhibition to a chef’s talk at the new hotel.
Mike Bennie is a connoisseur of all things brewed, distilled and fermented. He’ll be bringing his extensive experience to each of the hotel’s four food and beverage venues.
“I’m stoked to have the opportunity to create a drinks program that’s truly reflective of the current state of Australian drinks, with a sense of fun and wonderment that engenders a sense of community around the hotel and its spaces – and is as inclusive as the hotel itself.” Mike Bennie, Drinks Consultant, Ace Hotel Sydney
