Sunday Co. has today announced Vito’s, a new restaurant and bar inspired by the great dining rooms of mid-century New York, will open in August 2026 inside the heritage-listed Burns Philp Building at 11 Bridge Street, Sydney. Vito’s draws from the golden age of New York dining, the great Italian-American rooms where the food was abundant, the hospitality was instinctive, and the tables were always full.
Established in 2023 by hospitality veterans Brett Sergeant, James Wicks and Iris Kleimann, Sunday Co. operates a portfolio of venues including Morrison’s Oyster Bar and Grill in the heart of Sydney’s CBD and Whalebridge, on the water’s edge of Sydney Harbour. Underpinned by deep industry expertise, Sunday Co. is committed to building timeless institutions defined by exceptional food and generous hospitality. Vito’s is the group’s most ambitious project to date.
The Sunday Co. team viewed more than 20 sites before selecting 11 Bridge Street. The Burns Philp Building offered the scale and architectural character the project required. The venue seats 170 across a central dining floor framed by raised alcoves and grand booths, with approximately 80 linear metres of banquette seating, with a mezzanine overlooking the dining floor. The room has 21-foot heritage ceilings, original wrought iron columns, polished marble bars, burgundy leather banquettes, brass detailing and custom chandeliers.
Brett Sergeant, managing director, Sunday Co., said: “We have set out to create something that feels permanent, a place that could become part of the fabric of Sydney, the way the great Italian restaurants became part of New York’s. The Burns Philp Building has given us the bones to do that. It’s a landmark building that deserves a landmark restaurant, and we’ve invested in every detail to make sure Vito’s has the craft and character to last decades.”
The kitchen will be led by head chef Michael Fox, former Good Food Guide ‘Young Chef of the Year’ and previously chef de cuisine at Carbone, Hong Kong. Highlights include: orecchiette crab, green garlic butter; prawn and scallop agnolotti; scampi crudo and Black Onyx porterhouse steaks over a custom grill.
Fox, said: “Vito’s celebrates Italian-American food at its highest level – bold, flavoursome, generous dishes executed with precision. With deep roots in New York’s immigrant communities, this is a style of food that has fed neighbourhoods for decades. We’re drawing from that heritage and elevating these classics without losing their heart.
Vito’s has been designed by Craig Madgwick of Design Madgwick. The meticulously restored space provides a remarkable backdrop, with every element custom made by mostly Australian artisans, from the marble bar and banquettes to the lighting, joinery, tiles and tables. The design blends nostalgic charm with lived-in luxury, evoking mid-century Manhattan through polished marble, rich burgundy leather, brass detailing and dramatic chandeliers, creating a room that is at once grand and intimate.
Sergeant said: “The best dining rooms in the world weren’t built overnight, they accumulate craft and detail over time. We’ve worked with Craig Madgwick to create that same sense of permanence at Vito’s. From hand-painted crockery from Southern Italy to chandeliers recreated from scratch, everything has been designed to feel like it’s been here for decades.”
Vito’s will operate midday until late, seven days a week, with the venue capturing the rhythm of a metropolitan institution.
Vito’s opens August 2026 at 11 Bridge Street, Sydney.
