Seta Sydney to bring Italian fare to former Athenian site

An Italian crudo bar and a Michelin-starred chef in a heritage building with vaults where aspirational convicts stored their money? Only in Sydney.

Wildfire founder Tonci Farac purchased the Athenian restaurant, which operated out of the former bank building on Barrack Street, in 2017 and last week he closed the stalwart Greek restaurant that he will transform into the Italian-leaning Seta Sydney.

"This isn't just going to be another Sydney Italian serving pappardelle and duck ragu, we're doing it properly," he says.

Farac won't name his incoming chef, but says he was owner-chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Italy.

Designer Michael McCann (Mr Wong, Felix) will mix Venetian-style timber panelling and a hand-cut marble floor.

"It'll have an open theatre kitchen and a unique Italian crudo bar," McCann explains.

Seta Sydney opens in November.