Applejack has opened Winnie's on the Opera House lower concourse, a waterfront cafe and eatery inspired by the first woman to perform at the landmark during construction.
Dining Desk is a contributing writer covering eat-drink and public affairs for The Sydney Times.
Applejack has opened Winnie's on the Sydney Opera House lower concourse, creating an all-day waterfront cafe and eatery inspired by Winifred Atwell, the first woman to perform at the Opera House during its construction in 1964.
Designed by Luchetti Krelle, the interior pays homage to the Opera House's heritage-listed architecture with warm timber, rich terracotta and floor-to-ceiling harbour views. The 42-seat space sits on the lower concourse level next door to Opera Bar, with direct access to the waterfront promenade at Bennelong Point. From inside, the sightlines pull towards the harbour and the CBD skyline, making it one of the more theatrically positioned dining rooms in the city.
The reference to Winifred Atwell is not purely commemorative. Atwell was a Trinidad-born pianist who became a fixture of British television in the 1950s and 1960s, and her 1964 performance at the Opera House during its construction marked one of the first public cultural events held at the site. Applejack's other venues include Rafi, Forrester's and Bopp & Tone, and the group has built its reputation on grounded, produce-led cooking rather than architectural spectacle. Winnie's follows that formula, but the location adds a ceremonial weight that distinguishes it from the group's other openings.
The menu spans breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the all-day format designed to capture both the morning coffee trade and the evening cocktail crowd. Dishes lean into the coastal setting, with seafood and native ingredients featuring prominently alongside more familiar cafe fare. The breakfast menu includes eggs, sourdough and house-made granola, while the lunch and dinner offerings move into larger plates of fish, shellfish and grilled vegetables.
The wine list is concise and Australian-focused, with an emphasis on cool-climate producers from Tasmania, the Yarra Valley and Adelaide Hills. Cocktails are built around native ingredients, including wattleseed, lemon myrtle and Davidson's plum, with a short list of classics for drinkers who prefer familiar formats. The bar opens from morning until late, making it a viable alternative to Opera Bar for visitors and office workers who want a harbour view without the queue.
Winnie's is open daily from morning through to night, with no bookings required for the bar and small-plate areas. The location at the Sydney Opera House lower concourse makes it accessible from the Circular Quay ferry terminals, the CBD pedestrian bridge and the Opera House forecourt. According to the Timeout Sydney Winnie's coverage, the venue opened in September 2026 as part of Applejack's continued expansion into landmark hospitality sites.
The opening comes as the Opera House's dining and events program undergoes a broader refresh, with several new tenants moving into the concourse and forecourt areas. Winnie's occupies a site previously used for temporary events and pop-ups, making it the first permanent ground-floor restaurant addition to the Opera House in several years. For more on Sydney dining, see Eat & Drink.
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