It's Sydney's newest museum with the city's newest museum eatery attached, but food operator Ed Cutcliffe says he's surrounded by lots of old stuff.
The recently opened Chau Chak Wing Museum at Sydney University is overflowing with antiquities. "We even have a 2000-year-old statue [in the food venue]. We call him Bertie," Cutcliffe says.
The veteran coffee and cafe entrepreneur has opened Sounds Sydney at the site. The 120-seater juxtaposes the museum's artefacts with a modern, sharp-edged room and a drinking glass light fixture.
It might just have the most impressive wine list ever seen on a university campus, with Cutcliffe inviting wine writers and guest sommeliers to curate the list.
"We have some LP's Meats product, lots of Australian wines and some really good food," Cutcliffe says. And given his Little Marionette pedigree, there is a strong emphasis on the coffee. They'll add a coffee cart outside next year.
"We're right near the uni quadrangle. Where the tennis courts and grassy knoll used to be," he says.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5pm (nights to follow from mid-December).
University Avenue, Camperdown
Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.
Sign up