Grounds of the City opening in Sydney this month
It’s official: the Grounds of the City with its open style kitchen and all-day brasserie style menu with dine-in and takeaway offerings will be opening at the end of the month.
For the Grounds of Alexandria, part of Sydney’s ever-expanding cafe scene, it will mark its first expansion into the CBD.
The Grounds of the City will be located on a 300-square-metre space on George Street in the Galeries, right opposite the QVB.
And the offering will be more intimate than what’s found at Alexandria.
In addition to the food, there will be a shoeshine service for people waiting to get their coffee and a roaming, custom-made cake trolley.
And “coffee sommeliers” at the Barista’s bar will guide guests through individual coffee experiences.
Alexandria’s co-founder Ramzey Choker says he was inspired by the Apple store experience.
The idea is to have a place that offers more than just coffee and food. What’s added to the mix is a customer experience to get people through the day and keep drawing them back.
Choker says it’s been on the drawing board now for years.
“This site has been in the planning stages for two years. We’re looking back in time to the 1920s for inspiration; from the craftsmanship that went into the coffeehouses of the day,” Choker told broadsheet.com.au.
The interiors are being designed by Acme & Company with architect Vince Alafaci and Choker’s sister Caroline, who also designed the original Grounds and the Potting Shed in charge.
Choker says the design will be a critical part of the Grounds of the City’s offering.
“The Grounds is all about beauty and detail, not just polished concrete. Everything [at the city venue] is custom made. It’s a test for us to create something different, but still part of The Grounds’ family,” Choker said.
With the open kitchen, there will be all-day, brasserie-style food available from breakfast to dinner. There will also be takeaway for those on the run.
by Leon Gettler, May 18th 2017
