Sydney’s hottest new dining destination just opened – and it’s huge

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
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The Rocks has just been reborn as Sydney’s newest food and drink playground, thanks to the launch of The Collective.

A bold new hospitality precinct has arrived in Sydney – and it’s making The Rocks feel like the city’s freshest neighbourhood again. Taking over the iconic site that once housed The Argyle, The Collective, launched by Hunter St. Hospitality, is a sprawling 1800-square-metre precinct that reimagines historic sandstone buildings as some of the most exciting new places to eat and drink in the city.

Once a Sydney nightclub, now a refined dining destination. The Collective in The Rocks blends heritage charm with great food, cocktails and courtyard vibes.

At its heart? Five venues, three of them brand new. The Collective brings together the refined drama of The Dining Room, the leafy charm of The Garden and the intimate energy of Tailor Room, alongside fan-favourite institutions Saké and The Cut Bar & Grill.

Tailor Room The Collective precinct in the Rocks Sydney
Tailor Room serves a fabric-themed cocktail menu. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

“We saw a chance to do something special – breathing new life into heritage spaces that deserve to be experienced, not just admired," says Hunter St Hospitality CEO Frank Tucker.

“There’s a lot to uncover once you step inside, and we hope it becomes a hidden gem for anyone looking to see a different side of the city."

A precinct with personality

The Dining Room The Collective precinct in the Rocks Sydney
The Dining Room is quietly jaw-dropping. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Each venue in The Collective has its own distinct flair, but they’re united by smart design, serious culinary credentials and the kind of seamless storytelling that makes precinct-hopping a real experience.

The Dining Room is quietly jaw-dropping – a sandstone-and-leather transformation of an 1881 wool and textile store with a wine room that has a 500-bottle capacity and a menu that swings from baby abalone schnitzel to 1.5-kilogram wagyu MB9+ tomahawk steaks. Upstairs, a separate bar (open to all) pulses with low-key energy and native-ingredient cocktails in a space that used to be a nightclub – a subtle wink to the site’s former life as The Argyle, though now it leans more sultry lounge than late-night chaos.

The Garden, just next door, trades moody drama for alfresco charm – an open-air courtyard framed by olive trees, 150-year-old xanthorrhoeas and 19th-century walls. You’ll find everything from crab omelettes and Bloody Marys to king prawn rolls and cocktails under the stars.

And then there’s Tailor Room – a sleek 24-square-metre cocktail bar that’s already a contender for Sydney’s best date night spot. Inspired by the building’s textile past, it serves a fabric-themed cocktail menu with drinks like Silk, Denim and Corduroy, alongside salty house-made crisps and deep green velvet booths.

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Why it matters

The Garden The Collective precinct in the Rocks Sydney
The Garden trades moody drama for alfresco charm. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

The launch of The Collective reflects a broader shift in Sydney’s hospitality scene – precincts are having a moment, and this one just raised the bar. Not only does it celebrate the historical charm of The Rocks, but it also gives locals and visitors a reason to return, linger and explore beyond the usual haunts.

From breakfast to last drinks, it’s a choose-your-own adventure where nothing feels cookie-cutter. It’s also a showcase of culinary talent, with chefs behind Rockpool, Quay and Spice Temple shaping the menus, and cocktail pros from award-winning bars across the globe shaking things up behind the scenes.

Whether you start the night with a negroni at Tailor Room, settle in for steak and wine at The Dining Room, or end up under the fairy lights in The Garden, The Collective is built for Sydney’s evolving appetite.

Address: The Collective, 12–18 Argyle Street, The Rocks

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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The secret Sydney suite life: a luxury under-the-radar stay right on the harbour

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    This winter, these secret Sydney harbour suites are the staycation we’ve been looking for.

    Whether it’s the crisscrossing ferries or the white sails of the Opera House rising out of blue depths, Australia’s biggest city lives for its harbour. But while locals might glance at that watery expanse on their daily commute across the Bridge, it can still be hard to truly connect with Sydney’s maritime soul. The secret: seeing the harbour eye-to-eye, right at water level. And what better place to submerge yourself in that energy than sleeping there? That’s where Pier One Sydney Harbour comes in (and with new all-inclusive bed and breakfast benefits, there’s even more to love).

    All-inclusive VIP benefits

    Who Is Elijah Amenities at Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Book in for the all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The hard truth is that it will be very difficult to tear yourself away from your ultra-luxurious harbour home-away-from-home to explore the city. If you want to make leaving even harder, opt for Pier One’s all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The Bed and Breakfast with Suite Benefits package turns up the volume on what is already the ultimate staycation, with complimentary valet parking, daily breakfast for two and turndown service. The biggest perk? Enjoy a bottle of French champagne every day during your whole stay

    Pier One Sydney Harbour

    Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Step into a piece of history with all the modern comforts. (Credit: Dave Wheeler)

    The five-star Pier One Sydney Harbour is quite literally old Sydney through and through. Built on what was once a working cargo wharf and the passenger terminal for those heading to the North Shore before the bridge was constructed, the heritage building sits right between the tangle of cobblestones, pubs and alleyways of The Rocks and the historic docking zone of Walsh Bay – at the centre of the city’s old sea trade.

    If knowing the hotel’s history isn’t enough to get your sea-longing going, the interior design certainly will. As soon as you step up to the concierge desk in the lobby of the restored building – which underwent a $15 million redevelopment in 2019 – you’re immersed in Sydney’s seafaring tale. Weathered wood panelling and white marble floors surround you, while loop lighting installations hover above the bar island just beyond, ringed with stools ready for intimate, martini-tinted conversations. Steel rivets and timber beams speak to its past, and glass-walled views anchor you firmly in the present-day life on the harbour.

    Pier One Suites

    Pier One Sydney Harbour admiral suite
    Enjoy incredible views from your suite.

    Across the 189 rooms and suites built on and over the water, the maritime theme continues. Sculptural aged brass fittings, exposed girders, colour schemes that evoke shifting currents, and mirrors that reflect ripples that – depending on your booking – sit just metres from your pillow.

    United on theme yet unique in set-up, each room or suite is different. On the ground floor, dog-friendly rooms with direct access to the pier are all prepped for pampered pups, while others have views and even balconies overlooking Walsh Bay, the Bridge and the Harbour.

    But the 19 suites step things up even more. Gaze out through floor-to-ceiling windows, or get even closer. Your private balcony is made for sipping a Nespresso coffee on as the sun comes up – or soaking in the bathtub of the Admiral Suite on the deck, a drink from the locally stocked mini bar in hand. This mini bar was recently completely transformed, so you have more Aussie favourites to choose from, including alcohol and snacks.

    Dining at Pier One

    Pier Bar Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Settle in for an afternoon of good drinks and views.

    Once you’re checked in, start your afternoon with a spritz at PIER BAR – or arrive by boat via the private pontoon if the occasion calls for it – and settle into one of the cabanas. Weekdays bring Happy Hour (or ‘sunset hour’ at Pier One); weekends bring the DJs. After an even sweeter experience? The Everyday Creamery and Matcha Kiosk is slinging mango and vanilla soft serve – classic and those spiked with Midori and gin alike.

    PIER Dining is an ode to contemporary Australian flavours across the terrace, pier and dining room. On its seafood-leaning menu are Sydney rock oysters from Merimbula, potato scallops with salmon roe and crème fraîche, chicken with melting sundried tomato butter, vodka rigatoni with Shark Bay prawns. And the ‘Pierlova’ – that’s pavlova with chocolate, dulce de leche and banana is worth saving room for. Make sure to ask for the wine list – it’s 100 per cent Australian drops.

    Around town

    luna park, sydney opera house and sydney harbour bridge
    Explore the neighbourhood during your stay. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    If you’re strong enough to polish off just one last pastry from the breakfast buffet and walk out the door, we applaud you. Luna Park across the harbour beckons with its wide grin, while a glance upward might spur you to climb the Bridge’s famous iron arches. The Opera House – just across Circular Quay from the Museum of Contemporary Art – sings out for a concert.

    You’ll want to book ahead for those hot-ticket performances at Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company, just a few minutes’ walk south of the hotel. Ten minutes further brings you to the waterfront bars, restaurants and clubs of Barangaroo, or the karaoke, gardens and dim sum of Chinatown further afield.

    Keep the mellow of your weekend getaway going with a stop at Barangaroo Reserve, watching the yachts go by – all before returning for that Sydney sundowner at Pier One.

    Ready to make that Pier One stay a reality? Book the ultimate Sydney staycation at pieronesydneyharbour.com.au