The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Putting the casual back in Cockle Bay

Scott Bolles
Scott Bolles

Closing their doors: Cockle Bay's Coast Restaurant.
Closing their doors: Cockle Bay's Coast Restaurant.Marco Del Grande

Sydney's shift from serious dining to more-casual venues has yet another poster child, with Cockle Bay's Coast Restaurant closed to make way for the launch of a branch of Ibiza's famed Cafe del Mar.

The Cockle Bay version will have more emphasis on food, but will still try to capture the chilled-music lounge-bar vibe of the original.

Opening in late October, it will feature interiors by Sibella Court. Owner John Zappia says Cafe del Mar will open in other major Australian cities if the concept works in Sydney.

Last year, Zappia denied rumours of a Cafe del Mar launch at the site after his family acquired Coast, maintaining the project had been dead in the water until the landlord could be convinced of its merits.

''The fine dining of yesteryear is going backwards,'' Zappia says.

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up
Scott BollesScott Bolles writes the weekly Short Black column in Good Food.

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement