Spring has sprung in Sydney — and we’re back on the dining tour trail!
After a winter hiatus, we’re refreshed, hungry and ready to welcome our summer guests.
New players for this season include: Paripe, the elegant Spanish dining room on Crown Street and Pasta Emilia, a beautifully dressed warehouse space hidden away on Riley Street, formerly one of Sydney’s most notorious precincts! We are looking forward to introducing our guests to both of these new venues for Summer 2026 - 2027.
We also want to say a long overdue farewell to both Sopra and Bang Tang in our hood of Potts Point. We wish their owners well on their next adventures.
You can’t say the restaurant industry is not a dynamic beast!
New Player | Paripe
We’re very happy to welcome Paripe to our Surry Hills Dining Tour line-up.
Nestled in the heart of Surry Hills, this restaurant is an intimate tapas bar celebrating the authentic flavours and vibrant culture of Spain.
Founded by two passionate Spaniards with a shared dream, Paripé brings a true taste of Spain to Sydney, creating a warm and lively space where guests can relax, share and enjoy the traditions of a Spanish tapas bar.
Pablo and Maria are two entrepreneurs who left Spain to pursue their dream in Australia. With years of experience across various roles in hospitality, their journey was anything but easy. After gaining invaluable experience in some of Sydney’s most renowned and beloved venues, they made a life-changing decision.
Fueled by gratitude and a desire to build something of their own, they turned their biggest dream into a reality: Paripe—a celebration of their love for Spanish culture, food, and community.
New Player | Pasta Emilia
We’re also thrilled to welcome Pasta Emilia to our Surry Hills Dining Tour line-up.
Pasta Emilia is Anna Maria Eoclidi’s tribute to the gastronomic traditions of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Conceived as a restaurant, cooking school and certified organic food lab, the kitchen produces fresh, silky pasta and rich sauces rooted in centuries-old practice. Guided by a commitment to clean, responsible provenance, the team is dedicated to these values.
Emilian chefs make more than 15 varieties of certified organic pasta each week in the Laboratorio on Riley Street in Surry Hills.Including the slow-cooked beef and Parmesan ravioli and the classic tortelli spinachi, alongside traditional pasta sauces and other regional dishes.
The space is a harmonious blend of an imagined Nonna’s Tuscan home and an atmospheric inner city warehouse venue: weathered wooden tables and bentwood chairs.Complimented by an exquisite collection of crockery and glassware, jars of preserves and pickles arrayed on heavy, antique sideboards, and freshly cut flowers in over-sized vases.
Warm and welcoming—just like the people who greet you at the charming French door entrance off Riley Street, inviting you to stay a little longer.
Gracias Sopra
It's always sad to see a favourite local close its doors.
Sopra opened its doors in the Challis Dining quarter, during the challenging COVID years and quickly became one of those places that brought energy and optimism back to the ‘hood.
With its lively velvet-framed bar, buzzing dining room and delicious Spanish-inspired menu, it was a place we returned to time and again. Our all time best dish was the Chicken parfait with thinly slice, toasted bread, a dollop of quince paste, pickled vege and nicely hot chillis. Our guests were always warmly welcomed and well looked after by the wonderful team.
The young, friendly staff were as much a part of the experience as the food, joining in for a laugh and a chat across the bar on a busy Friday night. Sopra also played a special part in our own story, featuring in our 2022 Australian Tourism promotional video.
To the Sopra crew: thank you for your hospitality, generosity and always innovative cocktails.
You'll be greatly missed, and we wish you all a wonderful next adventure!
ขอบคุณ Bang Tang
Bang Tang has been a much-loved part of our Sydney dining story for more than 10 years.
We first discovered Bang Tang when it was a tiny hole-in-the-wall on Llankelly Place, serving fresh salad bowls and rice paper rolls for lunch. From there, it moved to a larger space on Victoria Street, where the alfresco dining became one of our favourite spots to visit at sunset.
Sitting under the tree canopy, listening to the birds as they said goodbye to the day, was such a lovely Potts Point experience. Add the beautifully restored terrace houses, a glass of wine, friendly service and plates of super-fresh salads, tuna bombs, gyoza and chicken rolls, and it was hard to find a better way to start our evening tour.
Post-COVID, Bang Tang moved into its own purpose-built space tucked away off Orwell Street, where locals often enjoyed a casual evening meal. We particularly loved taking our dining tour guests here. It was such a fun hidden spot to reveal — surprising visitors with the vibrant Asian flavours, beautifully prepared dishes and consistently high quality.
And then there’s Nat, the owner/operator who was always welcoming, warm and accommodating. We’re going to miss Bang Tang, and we’re definitely going to miss Nat.
Thank you for more than a decade of wonderful food, hospitality and happy memories.