The Arrival
There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when a restaurant truly understand what the word “home” means. Tucked quietly at 150 Day Street in Sydney’s CBD, Abode Bistro is that kind of place. I’ve walked past this spot so many times and never ever entered. This is the reason why you should.
The Vibe: Warmth Without the Fuss
The name says it all. Abode — meaning dwelling, home, the place you return to. And from the moment you step through the door, that’s exactly what this bistro feels like: a friend’s home, if that friend happened to be an exceptional chef with an obsession for beautiful, local produce in a beautifully decorated, light filled space. Let’s keep in mind this is the signature restaurant for ParkRoyal hotel and it’s so unlike the typical hotel restaurant. No boring greys and browns here. Instead bright white – like and English conservatory, daarhling.
The Food: Honest, Seasonal, and Quietly Spectacular
At the heart of Abode’s kitchen is a philosophy that’s refreshingly simple: let the ingredients do the talking.
And then there’s the sharing. Because at Abode, food isn’t just nourishment — it’s a conversation. Share plates are at the core of the experience, designed to be passed around the table with all the easy joy of a Sunday lunch at, well, home.
For entrée we inhaled the Freemantle Octopus with green romesco, ancho vinaigrette ($29), (sustainably sourced). A unique mix of flavours, with impact, and delicately cooked octopus with a salty and fresh set of accompaniments.
We also had the pan seared scallop with nduja butter, cauliflower and pistachio. Four glistening scallops in their shell arrive on a soft pillow of pureed cauliflower, nduja butter (spreadable pork sausage – chorizo and scallop vibes) and the delicious crunch of pistachio.
Followed by Abode’s Roasted Chicken habanero butter sauce, Swiss chard (such a Sunday family classic) and pawpaw ($44). The pawpaw is such a controversial fruit, but astonishingly fresh to cut through the habanero sauce. The Beef Tenderloin asparagus, fennel, chicory, beef jus ($60) with roasted potatoes in duck fat ($14) – who can pass up this enduring favourite of duck fat potatoes?
The beef is medium rare perfection with perfectly braised asparagus – a hint of Britishness in this one, perfect for the conservatory vibe.
We finished with the almond cake, macerated strawberries and cardamon gelato ($20). The gelato is well worth sticking around for, delicate, none too sweet and will leave you wondering why Connoisseur doesn’t bucket this up and sell it immediately.
Whether you’re dropping in for a long bistro lunch (Tuesday through Saturday, 12PM–3PM) or settling in for a leisurely dinner (5PM–9PM), there’s a comfortable, unhurried quality perfect for a weekender or a post work round up.
What we’re Addicted to:
A lovely spot for casual, yet refined, unpretentious yet delicious food.
The icons next to each menu item letting you know that it’s locally sourced or imported
along with comprehensive allergen information.
What do we need to be more Addicted?
A couple more dessert options – the cardamon gelato as it’s own – with a couple of scoops and a crumb would be heavenly.
150 Day Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tuesday – Saturday: Bistro 12PM–3PM & 5PM–9PM | Bar 12PM–10PM
Sunday – Monday: Bistro & Bar 4PM–9:30PM
Reservations: +61 2 9260 2945 | rsvp@abodebistro.com
abodebistro.com