$170 Million Precinct – 25 Martin Place Commercial win

NEWS | Including a pan-Asian diner, a pasta and wine bar and a cocktail bar.

There’s a lot to look forward to once the MLC Centre’s $170 million revitalisation is finished next year. It’s been renamed 25 Martin Place, and a host of indoor and al fresco eateries overlooking Martin Place are soon set to open alongside a range of luxury retailers. As part of the makeover, the precinct’s Theatre Royal is getting an overhaul as well.

A bunch of eateries have already been confirmed, including a Middle Eastern-style diner from the Nour and Lilymu team; an outpost of New Zealand steakhouse Botswana Butchery; and a Japanese eatery from Canberra’s Inka.

Now, another round of bars and restaurants has been announced for the hub. White & Wong’s – from the same New Zealand group behind Botswana Butchery – is a pan-Asian diner with dishes from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and more. Next door, and by the same group, will be Sardine, a cocktail bar with indoor and outdoor seating.

Another boozer, Cabana Bar, will have an expansive open-air terrace. It’ll serve pub grub, tropical cocktails and tequila flights. And L’uva, a pasta and wine bar, will dish up Italian share plates alongside Australian and Italian wines.

Once it’s finished the 25 Martin Place development will have around 6000 square metres of retail space, with more than 50 stores – including a two-storey Valentino flagship – and 30 eateries, alongside its iconic tower. The precinct first launched in 1978; it was designed by legendary architect Harry Seidler and at the time the MLC skyscraper was the tallest in the southern hemisphere. It was originally named for its founding occupant, financial institution MLC Limited; the precinct has been taken over by Dexus.

25 Martin Place is slated for completion in 2022. Theatre Royal’s first show following its impressive renovation will be the Alanis Morissette-inspired Jagged Little Pill, which begins on December 2.

25martinplace.com.au