Behind Winnie’s Sydney: Phase One of the Opera Bar Transformation

Sydney’s newest harbourside dining destination has officially opened beneath the sails of the Sydney Opera House, and Mattys is proud to have played a role in bringing it to life.

Located on the Lower Concourse beside Opera Bar, Winnie’s Sydney is a new all-day dining venue created by Applejack Hospitality.

Its opening represents the first phase of the broader transformation of the Opera House hospitality precinct, with the major refurbishment of Opera Bar now underway.

For Mattys, the project is another example of what happens behind the scenes to deliver hospitality venues capable of operating at scale in some of Australia’s most demanding locations.

A New Chapter for an Iconic Sydney Location

Winnie’s has replaced the former House Canteen with a completely reimagined hospitality experience.

Designed by Australian interior studio Luchetti Krelle, the venue draws inspiration from the Sydney Opera House’s original material palette. Warm timber, bronze detailing, dark terracotta and red granite create a space that feels connected to the heritage of the building while establishing a distinct identity of its own.

The venue includes a new all-electric commercial kitchen, an upgraded bar and seating for more than 330 guests across the terrace and seawall, all overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Open from morning until late, Winnie’s moves naturally from coffee and pastries to seafood-driven dishes, Australian wines and cocktails featuring locally inspired ingredients.

More information about the venue, menus and opening hours can be found on the official Sydney Opera House website.

Who Was Winnie?

The venue is named in honour of Winifred Atwell, the Trinidad-born pianist who became the first woman to perform at the Sydney Opera House.

Atwell performed for construction workers at the unfinished Opera House in 1964, almost a decade before the landmark officially opened. She later made Sydney her home and became one of Australia’s most celebrated entertainers.

That history gives Winnie’s a connection to the site that extends beyond its location. It celebrates a trailblazer whose story forms part of the Opera House’s cultural legacy.

Mattys’ Involvement

Mattys was engaged to contribute to the delivery of Winnie’s as part of the first phase of the Opera Bar precinct renovations.

Working within a complex, high-profile and operationally demanding environment, our team helped coordinate and deliver the commercial kitchen equipment requirements needed to support the venue’s diverse, all-day food offering.

Projects of this scale require more than selecting equipment from a catalogue. Every decision must consider workflow, service capacity, physical access, electrical requirements, reliability, compliance and the realities of operating a high-volume hospitality venue seven days a week.

The result is a commercial kitchen built to support the venue from its first morning coffee through to a busy evening service, all within one of Australia’s most important cultural landmarks.

Winnie’s demonstrates the kind of work Mattys wants to be known for: collaborating with hospitality operators, consultants, designers, builders and project partners to turn ambitious venue concepts into practical, functioning operations.

Designed for Real Hospitality Operations

A beautiful venue is only successful when the operation behind it works.

Commercial kitchen projects at this level must balance design intent with practical considerations such as:

• Efficient movement between preparation, cooking, service and cleaning areas

• Equipment capacity for high and fluctuating customer volumes

• Energy and electrical infrastructure requirements

• Product reliability and access to ongoing support

• Installation and commissioning within strict construction programs

• Coordination between multiple consultants, trades and project stakeholders

These details may not be visible to guests, but they directly influence service speed, food consistency, staff efficiency and the venue’s ability to perform over the long term.

The First Phase of a Bigger Transformation

The opening of Winnie’s marks the first completed stage of Applejack Hospitality’s wider vision for the Sydney Opera House dining precinct.

The neighbouring Opera Bar is now undergoing its own major refurbishment, continuing the transformation ahead of Sydney’s busy summer season.

We are proud to see phase one open to the public and to have contributed to a venue occupying one of the most recognisable hospitality locations in the world.

Congratulations to Applejack Hospitality and everyone involved in bringing Winnie’s Sydney to life.

This is only the beginning.

Winnie’s in the Media

Winnie’s has already captured the attention of Sydney’s leading hospitality and lifestyle publications.

Read more about the new venue through Sydney Morning Herald Good Food, Broadsheet, Urban List and Eat Drink Play.

Planning a Hospitality Project?

Mattys works with hospitality groups, chefs, consultants, designers and builders to deliver commercial kitchen equipment solutions for venues of every scale, from independent restaurants and cafés to major multi-site and landmark projects.

Whether you are opening a new venue, upgrading an existing kitchen or planning a complete hospitality fit-out, our team can help you assess the equipment, workflow and operational requirements behind the project.

Contact the Mattys Projects Team to discuss your next hospitality project.