El Beso to open on Darlinghurst's Victoria Street

The landmark corner site where Kika tapas bar resided, and Fez before it, will be re-birthed next month. The move is the latest step in the resurgence of Darlinghurst's Victoria Street as a drinking and dining powerhouse.

The Kika site, once the pride of the strip, sat empty before Allan Levy of Metro Commercial recently leased it. Spaniard Carlos Molina has snared the property, and will reopen it late September as El Beso.

"It means The Kiss, and we want to do proper Spanish," the chef says.

Molina, who owned a restaurant in Andalusia, says half of the El Beso menu will be inspired by southern Spanish tapas.

"There's nothing similar here in Sydney to what we want to do," he says. Victoria Street has been on a roll in recent months with opening activity; new arrivals include Henrietta Supper Club and Salon De The, a new venue from the Ciroc Collective.