Say hello to The Collective, Sydney’s newest dining precinct by the team behind Rockpool Bar & Grill, now open in The Rocks. The ambitious multi-venue hub – which encompasses five distinct and stunning venues and covers a massive 1,800 square metres – has taken over from late-night haunt The Argyle, breathing new life into this historic part of Sydney.
First up is The Dining Room, a beautiful 225-seat restaurant set in a former wool store, featuring heritage pillars, plush booths, a wine cellar that can hold more than 500 bottles, and original sandstone walls dating back to 1881. Heading up the kitchen is Hunter St Hospitality’s all-star team of chefs: Santiago Aristizabal, Andy Evans and Shimpei Hatanaka. They’re joined by The Collective’s new executive chef, Mike Flood, who has previously been on the pans at Firedoor, Quay, Felix and The Ivy. Giddy up.
Expect luxe snacks like caviar tartlets and baby abalone schnitzels, fresh seafood towers, go-big-or-go-home steaks (hello, 1.5kg Wagyu MB9+ tomahawk) and more. For dessert, we have our eye on the light-as-a-feather banana mille-feuille. Be sure to head upstairs to level one and check out the sleek and sexy cocktail spot The Bar, right next door to the floating DJ who’ll be playing hits daily. After one cocktail? Make it the Strawberry, a cracking riff on a Negroni that heroes the sweet and juicy fruit.
There’s The Garden, an alfresco all-day restaurant located in a sun-soaked courtyard surrounded by heritage-listed buildings. The 100-seat space is filled with greenery – from olive trees to spiky grass trees and more than 300 lush shrubs and perennials – making it feel like an oasis in the heart of The Rocks. Drop by in the morning for buttery omelettes featuring sweet crab meat with a Mandarin Garibaldi. Or for something heartier, the grass-fed scotch fillet with fried eggs and caramelised onion should do the trick. Prawn rolls, seasonal salads and steak and chips round out the day-to-night offerings.
Tucked away to the side is the Tailor Room, an intimate 20-seat cocktail bar with a playful offering like nothing else in Sydney right now. Paying homage to the building’s history as a former wool and textile store, the cocktail menu at Tailor Room is called Textures, with drinks named after and inspired by different fabrics – think corduroy, denim, cotton and more. Take Silk, for example. This gin-based cocktail spotlights coconut and rose geranium with a hint of sandalwood to create a flowing and, yes, silky smooth tipple.
The Dining Room, The Garden and Tailor Room join two already-established Hunter St Hospitality venues in The Rocks – Japanese restaurant Saké and underground steak house The Cut Bar & Grill – creating a five-in-one dining precinct that channels old-world charm with contemporary sophistication.
Hunter St Hospitality CEO Frank Tucker said, “Hospitality precincts are having a moment in Sydney, and their appeal is only growing. With The Collective, we saw a chance to do something special – breathing new life into heritage spaces that deserve to be experienced, not just admired. There’s a lot to uncover once you step inside, and we hope it becomes a hidden gem for anyone looking to see a different side of the city.”
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.