A year after announcement of the purchase from the in-receivership Keystone Group, new owner Dixon Hospitality Group has relaunched Darling Harbour’s Bungalow 8 as a beachside villa.
Dixon (DHG) bought Bungalow as part of a package of former Keystone venues, including it and Cargo in Darling Harbour, The Winery and Manly Wine, CBD bar The Rook, and Woolloomooloo fine-dining restaurant Kingsley’s.
Yesterday (2 Nov) DHG relaunched the waterside venue with the “relaxed vibe of a beachside villa”, boasting shapes and tiles in shades of pastels, blues and whites that convey airy, seaside vibes.
The two-level venue still holds The Loft upstairs for late-night dancing to name DJs, now adorned in rich plum, greys and timber.
The new-look menu is by executive chef Justin Wise, with modern Australian beach club classics, seasonal salads and fresh seafood, schnitzels and burgers. Aiding the goal of European-inspired long lunches in the sun, larger dishes like the seafood platter service those wanting to share.
“We’re bringing Bungalow 8 back to life!” says Wise.
“We’ve created a menu and a space where you can easily imagine yourself in Tahiti or Bora Bora. There’s fresh salads with exotic fruits for a light bite, or you can go all-out and order the seafood platter or braised pork hock to share.”
On the drinks list is a range of local and international wines, boutique beers and jugs of summer-inspired cocktails, such as the retro Great Grape Cooler, made with grape Kool-Aid, green apple Smirnoff, shiraz, lemon, berries and lemonade.
The Loft offers a further selection of cocktails, making use of fresh juices and house-made syrups, beside magnums of celebratory bubbles.
Bungalow 8 is now open every day and night, until late.
I dont get it. They are smack bang on the iconic Sydney Harbour & they want it to look like it has the “relaxed vibe of a beachside villa” & why does the food have to remind you of times spent in Tahiti?
Why does every new venue have to be about some other place aside from the actual city they are in.