Pumphouse Sydney was one of the first microbreweries in the city and designers Stuart Krelle and Rachel Luchetti looked to its 19th-century history to inspire their refurbishment of the beloved institution.
The Darling Square bar and restaurant sits inside an 1891 building originally constructed as the first multi-purpose hydraulic pumping station for the Sydney & Suburban Hydraulic Power Company. The first of its kind in New South Wales, the building supplied energy used to construct the surrounding landmarks in the neighbourhood.
Luchetti Krelle drew on this origin story as part of the Sydney bar and restaurant’s interior refresh, juxtaposing strong industrial elements and heritage finishes that hark to the late 19th century. Think dark wooden furniture, leather and rattan elements, and a newly built timber bar complete with a metal top. Shelving echoes the arched windows that skirt the space, while a new artwork by Lance Corlette and metallic pendant lights have also been installed in the bar’s interior.
Head Chef Anthony Kirk has redesigned the Pumphouse’s gastropub inspired menu, which features Aussie seafood (local rock oysters and ocean trout) as well as grazing boards of cheese and cured meats, seasonal favourites and sweet treats.
Of course, a selection of rotating craft beers is on offer alongside in-house favourite Thunderbolt Strong Ale, while wine lovers can indulge with the private dining room, set up for wine tasting.
Pumphouse Sydney, 17 Little Pier Street, Darling Harbour, NSW, 2000
