- After almost two decades, Mangan leaves Sydney’s Glass Brasserie
- The 54-year-old chef says it’s time to explore new culinary projects
After nearly two decades of long lunches, celebrity chef Luke Mangan is hanging up his apron at the famous restaurant that helped make him a household name.
Mangan has revealed that he has decided to end his partnership at the iconic Glass Brasserie at The Hilton Sydney at the end of the year.
The 54-year-old has been running the exclusive restaurant since it opened on the second level of the city center hotel, overlooking the Queen Victoria Building, in 2005.
Courtesy of Mangan’s cutting-edge cuisine, Glass has since become a Sydney institution and has attracted celebrities from across the country and the world, hosting everyone from Delta Goodrem and Nicole Kidman to Elton John and Priscilla Presley.
But after nearly two decades at the helm, he says he’s decided it’s time to explore new projects and is leaving the restaurant in good hands by parting ways with the hotel on amicable terms.
Luke Mangan and head chef Nicolas Ciosi pose in Glass Brasserie’s award-winning kitchen
Hilton Sydney told the city’s Daily Telegraph that responsibility for overseeing Glass would now fall to chef de cuisine Natalie Murphy and head sommelier Mauro Bortolato.
“Luke has been a great partner,” said Sydney Hilton general manager Malcolm Zancanaro.
Last year, Mangan celebrated his 18th anniversary with Glass by hosting a star-studded evening at the restaurant and toasting his longevity.
“Restaurants tend to have a lifespan of three to five years in Sydney,” he said.
Mangan had run Sydney’s iconic Glass Brasserie at the Hilton for almost two decades.
Mangan hosted countless celebrities, including Nine presenter Richard Wilkins, at the restaurant.
‘The costs are very high and it is a difficult business.
“I never thought we’d be here 18 years later because it’s so fucking fickle.”
“But I’ve just tried to stay on top of the game.”
Mangan already has his hands full with three other Sydney restaurants, including one of the world’s most exclusive restaurants atop the South East Pylon of the city’s Harbor Bridge.