A new $1 billion residential and retail development in North Sydney is set to become home to four new drinking and dining venues spearheaded by Etymon Projects, the group behind popular Milsons Point French boulangerie, bistro and traiteur (deli), Lou Lou . The new development, Aura by Aqualand on Walker Street, is set to open in mid-2024.

The development will include an LA-inspired all-day diner; a bakery, cafe and wine bar that’ll be open from breakfast through to aperitivo hour and dinner; a contemporary Japanese restaurant; and a provedore stocking sustainably sourced groceries and artisanal products. The 368-apartment development has been designed by architectural firm Woods Bagot (Wynyard Walk, Intercontinental Sydney’s Aster and Treasury bars), and the interiors are by Richards Stanisich (Hotel Rose Bay, Blackwood Bondi).

A fifth new venue by Etymon is also set to open on nearby Denison Street in spring 2023. An all-day steak and seafood restaurant with a cocktail and wine bar, it’ll have multiple outdoor terraces. It’ll be in the sparkling new skyscraper that already houses venues including Barlume and the offices of companies like Microsoft and Nine media.

In the past couple of years, North Sydney has become a buzzing hub for corporates, with a slate of banking, telco, media and tech companies moving their offices to the area. The progression looks to be fast-tracked in 2024 with the launch of the Victoria Cross metro station (with an entry right next to Aura by Aqualand), which will connect North Sydney with Barangaroo in three minutes, and with Chatswood in six minutes. A host of new hospo venues is set to follow suit and take advantage of improved public transport access, an uptick in the number of local residents, and the boom in workers coming to the area.

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