The MCA’s sunny rooftop cafe to make way for fine diner ‘Canvas’

Sydney is getting a new fine dining restaurant atop the Museum of Contemporary Art, replacing the long-loved MCA Cafe while keeping those pristine harbour views.

For years, the rooftop MCA Cafe has made up for its by-the-numbers grab-and-go food with a delectable perspective of Sydney Harbour, its widescreen vista taking in the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. It’s a breathtaking view and a great way for locals to remind themselves of our city’s unmatched beauty.

Now the beloved rooftop cafe is on its way out, being replaced in just a few months by a new fine dining concept from Melbourne-based The Big Group.

The hospitality collective, best known for catering big-ticket events like Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup and the Australian Open, has already transformed the museum’s ground-floor cafe with a voguish sustainable menu, as well as the museum’s two big event spaces—The Quayside Room and Harbourside Room.

Canvas will be the group’s most ambitious play to date, giving the MCA an ostensibly world-class kitchen that’ll host regular chef residences as well as international culinary talents who want to tinker around with new ideas.

Dynamic museum restaurants have been done successfully before. The now-closed In Situ, which ran out of San Francisco’s modern art museum, took a unique approach with a gallery-like menu displaying masterful signature dishes from world-famous chefs. Canvas should be a similarly mishmash of ideas once the kitchen starts to rotate through chefs.

The first chef for Canvas will be Josh Raine, former chef for one of Sydney’s foremost fine dining experiences, Tetsuya’s.

Related
Friends playing lawn bowls at The Greens in North Sydney

What’s open over the October Long Weekend 2024? Everything you need to know about Labour Day

We all love a public holiday but what exactly is the October long weekend all about? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. There is significance to Labour Day in New South Wales and we’ve put together a handy guide to answer ... Read more
Crowd at SXSW Sydney

Here are all the restaurants offering discounts during SXSW Sydney

With the 2nd annual SXSW Sydney just weeks away, the mega festival’s complicated and extensive program is starting to take shape as attendees dial in their “must-see” events. And you’ll need a lot of fuel to keep going across the ... Read more
The Wine Bar at Martin Place

The International is Martin Place’s glamorous new mega-venue

It’s only been a few years since The Point Group opened Shell House and the mega-venue has already been firmly established as a valuable player in Sydney’s upscale dining scene. Now, the team are back with another ambitious collection of ... Read more
Lune has created a Tim Tam crossaint

Could Lune’s epic Tim Tam croissant be coming to Sydney?

Australia’s undying lust for unexpected “frankenfood” mash-ups appears to have no limits. We’ve already seen a viral ramen pie take over Sydney with massive waiting lists, and now Melbourne-born Lune Croissanterie has stepped up to the plate with a so-crazy-it-makes-sense ... Read more