Cafe Paci

Head chef Pasi Petanen of Finland is taking the concept of a pop-up restaurant to entirely new heights. At Cafe Paci in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, set menus of complex gastronomic creations thrill visitors time and again, offering ingredient combinations that were once unheard of (before Cafe Paci). Located on Riley Street, close walking distance to the Australian Museum, Hyde Park, and within short distance of Kings Cross, Cafe Paci is turning gourmet cuisine on its head and doing so in a way that remains accessible to the masses.

It’s the opposite of sensory overload as you walk into Cafe Paci from Darlinghurst’s sunny, colourful Riley Street – at this restaurant, the interior is completely grey. Don’t let that alarm you, though. The stark contrast of the restaurant’s grey furnishings with the bright, vibrant culinary offerings available is stunning, providing an artistic approach to the way guests see and eat their food. It’s as if your meal, as well as your own presence in the restaurant, is part of a work of art. Sommelier Dennis Roman, in charge of the wine selection, ensures that vibrant hues of red wine get added into the mix, making the interior a space that, although painted metallic grey, is bursting with several shades of vivid natural colour.

Cafe Paci in Darlinghurst specialises in the set menu, so when visiting, it’s a good idea to relinquish control and let the talented chefs and crew prepare your culinary journey for you. Have lunch and enjoy a five-course set menu including squid rice with chicken skin or parsley sorbet with malt caramel. For dinner, indulge in nine courses of expertly prepared delicacies with flavour combinations unmatched in Sydney. Vegetarians even have their very own set menu, so nobody gets left out. Feeling adventurous? Make your reservation and prepare for what’s in store at Sydney’s Cafe Paci.