Alan Thompson's new venue Barista and Cook gives Green Square boom a bang

Green Square's looming residential boom has hospitality operators jostling for real estate and international DJ turned Sydney cafe operator Alan Thompson has staked an early claim with new venue Barista and Cook. "It's going to be one of the most densely populated areas in the country," says Thompson, who sold Surry Hills cafe Bang Bang in May after a seven-year run. "Within 18 months we'll have another 10,000 people living nearby."

Thompson has locked in former Excelsior Jones chef Adrian Borg​ for his new venture, with Giant Design responsible for the space, opening at 830-840 Bourke Street in mid-January. "We'll do a fried chicken sandwich, some raw desserts and play with a few classics," Thompson says. "We want to do a modern kedgeree, made with brown rice, lemon zest and coriander."