LUXE Loves is the regular feature where we spotlight our all-time favourite places in the world. From spiff boutique stays to the finest diners, dapper drinkers and swooniest shops… welcome to the crème of our curated cohort.
What:
Fred’s
Where:
Paddington, Sydney
Why we love it:
A fierce, femme-focused team is the powerhouse behind Fred’s; a convivial farm-to-table eatery spotlighting ethically produced, seasonal fare sourced from the Blue Mountains’ Kanimbla Valley.
Head Chef Danielle Alvarez, freshly arrived from California’s coveted Chez Panisse, injects the same beloved country-style oomph into an array of veg-centric small plates, handmade pastas, and heartier dishes including a juicy lamb “a la ficelle.” The best part? Succulent portions are whipped up before your eyes on a free-standing Tuscan grill and mammoth custom-made, wood-fired hearth in the central show-kitchen.
If you aren’t able to nab a front row view of the action behind the marble-topped counter, opt for a plush baby blue couch in the creamy-chic salon and admire its crisp linens, dark timbers and tableware crafted by a local Japanese ceramicist.
Better still, top it all off with a post-sup drink at the vibey Charlie Parker’s downstairs; a dapper wood, brick n’ leather imbiber where mixologist Toby Marshall shakes exquisite pours of bourbon, carrot and cardamom according to the same seasonally-driven ingred focus.
While epicurean big-hitter Merivale has already footed the bill for a well-deserved – er, facelift — of Paddington’s Oxford Street (here’s looking at you, The Paddington), their latest culinary conquest adds further razzle-dazzle to this formerly-drab drag of Sydney’s inner-city nabe.
380 Oxford St, Paddington. +61 2 9240 3000. merivale.com.au
