Gonzo Sydney, Italian with mischief
Gonzo Sydney is Applejack Hospitality’s playful Italian inspired restaurant and bar inside The Grace Hotel on York Street in the CBD. Think a double height dining room, red leather booths, a vinyl DJ station and marinated olives on the house.
Gonzo is named after the journalism where the writer is part of the story, and the room works the same way. Luchetti Krelle, the studio behind Opera Bar and Winnie’s, layered glass block, stained glass, burl timber and mosaic tiled bars through the space, with oxidised olive as the house colour. The share style menu mixes three takes on Italian cooking from Patrick Friesen, Matías Cillóniz and Head Chef Aldo Farroni, who grew up just outside Rome. That means thin, crackling Roman pizza alongside pasta, bread baked in house daily and gelato made on site. The drinks lean into aperitivo, with house vermouth blends poured at any hour and a Gonzo Amaro made with Red Mill Rum to finish. It suits a big table, a long lunch or a night that goes further than planned.
Quick Bites
EAT: The gem and frisée Caesar pizza with mozzarella and anchovy.
DRINK: The ‘Nduja Wanna, a spicy margarita.
PLAY: Grab a seat at the long marble kitchen bar to watch the pizza oven and open line at work. Planning a group night? Book one of the two semi private rooms or the mezzanine, which has its own bar.
VIBE CHECK: Playful, colourful, generous
