Andrew Beecher and Maurice Terzini are two of Sydney’s most ambitious restaurateurs, having spent years elevating Sydney with world-class restaurants and bars.

The two haven’t teamed up, but separately both are betting big on the next phase of Sydney’s nightlife.

And what they have planned will completely pull Kings Cross into a new era with a particular focus on the notorious, windy strip of Bayswater Road.

First, Beecher is reviving his original Pelicano brand by taking over the former site of Hugos Lounge, restoring the once-world-famous nightclub space with a hybrid concept.

A ritzy restaurant by day, a sophisticated nightclub by night.

At least, that’s how it’s sounding for Pelicano 2.0, bringing back a celebrity-favourite brand and adding a key piece to Beecher’s staple of Potts Point heavy-hitters, which includes Parlar and Franca on Macleay Street.

It could be one of the biggest boosts to Sydney’s nightlife that the city has seen thus far, validating claims (including our own) that the city’s night-time economy is tracking along just fine.

Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald, Beecher cites the success of surrounding new venues that are “pumping at 2am” as well as NSW Premier Chris Minns “taking away red tape.” Both are essential for this kind of investment.

Pelicano will open in two phases. The first will be a restaurant and terrace launching on September 17, while the adjoining nightclub will be revealed over the October long weekend.

And then there’s Maurice…

Terzini, best recognised as the mastermind behind Sydney icon Bondi Icebergs, will be going a different route to Beecher. But still pitch-perfect for Bayswater.

The prolific restaurateur has already given a nod to Potts Point with the opening of Snack Kitchen.

Now he’ll run a glitzy cabaret bar in collaboration with Peter Shopovski (of queer collective House of Mince).

Does it sound like Sydney’s answer to Brooklyn’s famously raunchy House of Yes?

Maybe. But we doubt it’ll be as debauched.

Mirage KX will ostensibly be a residency rather than a permanent fixture, but it’s a strong leap of faith for Terzini who has expressed his confidence in Kings Cross before.

The “supper-and-show” concept seems to be the way forward for a big chunk of Sydney’s nightlife.

Blending premium dining with performance art is something world-class cities like New York, Chicago and London do so well. There’s no reason Sydney can’t also be on the same level, especially now that that aforementioned red tape is peeling off.

The fine folk at Dulcie’s recently opened The Emerald Room on Victoria Street with a similar concept. And by all accounts, the hybrid is going down incredibly well with locals and tourists interested in Sydney’s new swagger.

Kings Cross needed some superstars to come in and drive the revival. By the end of the year, it seems we’ll be starting at a complete transformation for the precint.

These are the venues driving Kings Cross into a new era—some old, most new.

Bones Ramen
Ken’s Continental
Farmhouse
The Hook
Dulcie’s
Mirage KX
Pelicano
Chula
Eat Fuh

Something exciting is happening to Bayswater Road

Speaking as someone who walks up Bayswater Road almost every day. I’m very excited. The strip used to be the focal point for my formative years, and it’s about time this place was given the spark it deserved.

A spark, mind you, that relies on quality and creativity, as opposed to optics and influencers.

As with just about every other 30-something who grew up in Sydney, venues like Candy’s Apartment and World Bar felt like home and Bayswater Road was the coolest place in town (until Oxford Art Factory opened).

But it’s still half-dead.

New Orleans-esque piano and oyster bar The Hook has taken over what was most recently a half-decent Turkish restaurant. We’ve got the Farmhouse team doing great things on their side with Bones Ramen and the excellent Ken’s Continental. And we’re also seeing exciting developments on Roslyn Street, Ward Street and Kellett Way.

But Bayswater is the strategic centre for a Kings Cross revival. Give this strip a glow-up and you’ll see life flood back into the notoriously complicated area.

Having all these great new concepts so close to each other should recall what Kings Cross used to be. Long before I was born.

I once interviewed the affable Brandon Martignago when his subterranean showstopper, Dulcie’s, first opened in 2019.

Dulcie’s, named for one of Kings Cross’ most curious characters (Dulcie Deamer), was a breath of fresh air for a dying King’s Cross.

Brandy told me that he was trying to bring the area back to its heyday when it used to be a Parisian-style play of performers, artisans and bohemians, before the gangs took over.

An admirable play (and Dulcie’s should now be considered a pioneer), but he clearly couldn’t shoulder that burden alone. And so it’s taken a few years for Kings Cross to trudge along the path to retro-futuristic glory.

The area is certainly not going to be revived by half-cocked concepts and questionable nightclub owners. The past few years have proven that with the coming and going of hollow influencer havens like Eros and Kings Cross Pavillion.

It’ll be shouldered by big openings like Pelicano and Mirage KX, as well as those smaller, more intimate concepts like Piccolo Bar and The Hook.

I have every confidence that these places can stick the landing, given the pedigree determined to elevate Kings Cross to an entirely new level.

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