A rooftop terrace with “million-dollar” views located on an iconic Sydney building is about to be transformed into a high-end restaurant – and not everyone is happy about it.
Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) has closed its café’s sculpture terrace to make way for a new fine-dining restaurant called Canvas.
A visit to the old cafe with its “affordable” menu was a feature of visits to the MCA, but those wanting to enjoy the view will now have to spend much more on a meal.
Australian hospitality professionals The Big Group, behind Melbourne’s Glasshouse on the Yarra restaurant, will launch the lunch-only restaurant in October.
Having already opened a new ground floor café overlooking Tallawoladah Lawn, the level four destination is designed to be a more formal and exclusive option.
The kitchen will host a rotating roster of celebrity chefs from Australia and around the world, and Australian-born UK resident Skye Gyngell could be a future guest.
Big Group founder Bruce Keebaugh said: The Sydney Morning Herald Just like a work of art, not everyone will like the terrace space to become exclusive.
Mr Keebaugh said the location was “too upscale” to be given over to a cheaper, more casual restaurant where people can sit for hours with a cup of coffee or a pastry.
The sculpture on the MCA terrace will be the setting for a new restaurant called Canvas, which is open only at noon and will be available for rent at night.
The former “cafeteria-style” cafe offered museum visitors quick and easy meals with “world-class” views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House.
Instead, Canvas will offer a three-course lunch menu for under $100 and the space, with its views of the Opera House, will be available for rent in the evenings.
The first chef to helm Canvas’ kitchen for the first three months will be Josh Raine of Tetsuya’s, which recently closed in the city’s CBD.
The announcement comes at a time when Australians, struggling to cope with the cost of living, are spending less money on food and lockdowns across the country have occurred in record numbers.
Perhaps that’s why not everyone is happy to hear that the old place with its “coffee shop atmosphere” and reasonable prices is giving way to something more upmarket.
“Can we no longer dine on the sculpture terrace?” one asked.
But others said the new restaurant’s “exciting” opening would make the most of the world-class views and liven up Sydney’s flagging dining scene.
“Wow, fabulous!” said one.
“Just what Sydney needs! Congratulations!” added another.