Banksii to Open in Barangaroo

The team behind Surry Hills’ award-winning Bar H has just announced a new harbour-side venture at Barangaroo. In September, chef Hamish Ingham and sommelier Rebecca Lines will open Banksii, a vermouth bar and bistro with a contemporary Mediterranean-influenced menu.

Named after Sir Joseph Banks, the botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his great voyage, Banksii will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. 

Ingham, whose resume includes Billy Kwong and Alice Water’s Chez Panisse in San Francisco, is planning a suitably light and fresh approach. “We’ve been playing around with some dishes that use botanicals and I’m really happy with how the menu is coming together,” he says.

Vermouth will be the cornerstone of the drinks list with more than 40 varieties alongside a wine list focusing on Australia and the Mediterranean.

Design firm Luchetti Krelle will be looking after the interior fit-out, which will reference the Banks era of the late 1700s.

Banksii will be among the 50-plus bars and restaurants planned for The Streets of Barangaroo by the end of the year. Other announced ventures so far include those from Aria’s Matt Moran, and the duo behind Bentley, Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt.