Paddington’s historic Captain Cook Hotel has been reimagined by Bird & Bear hospitality group, reopening with a fresh Italian focus.
The most striking transformation? The former pokies room is now Joe’s Kitchen, a light-filled eatery serving Roman-style pinsa pizza. Think lighter, crispier flatbread with an airy texture and soft centre, topped with combinations like Italian sausage with stracciatella, pesto and hot honey.
Head of Culinary Eric Tan and Head Chef Gil Dela Cueva have partnered with Rome-born chef Alessandro Sistopaoli to develop a bespoke cold-fermented dough using Australian flour and traditional Roman techniques. The menu extends to Italian-leaning blackboard specials like stuffed zucchini flowers and pork cotoletta, paired with a curated Australian and Italian wine list.
The venue spans four spaces including a Sports Bar, Bistro, and a newly transformed Josephson Lane beer garden wrapped in greenery and fairy lights.
Quick Bites
- What to Eat: Roman-style pinsa pizza with toppings like Italian sausage, stracciatella, pesto and hot honey; Italian blackboard specials including stuffed zucchini flowers, pork cotoletta, house-made focaccia, arancini, burrata with charred fruit, porchetta pinsa sandwich, chicken schnitzel, and eggplant parmigiana
- What to Drink: Curated Australian and Italian wine list, Aperol, Limoncello and Hugo spritzes, Australian beers including Resch’s, Carlton, Balter and Heaps Normal Quiet XPA on tap
- When to Go: Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 11am-12am, Sun 12pm-10pm. Joe’s Kitchen: Wed-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sun 12pm-10pm
- Where: 162 Flinders St, Paddington NSW 2021
- Vibe Check: Light-filled Italian eatery meets neighbourhood sports pub with a leafy, European-style beer garden wrapped in fairy lights. Dog-friendly spaces and community-focused energy throughout
