The Sydney hospitality hard hitters behind The Dolphin, Harpoon Harry’s and Bondi Public Bar are set to take residence in the city’s historic Shell House from July 2021 – converting the noteworthy space into an imitable, multi-level dining destination.

Point Group will transform the site into three levels of dining and drinking locales, which will include a chic, ground-floor bar and bistro named for the previous on-site hotel, The Menzies Bar, an enticing restaurant, the Shell House Dining Room on level 9, and a rooftop bar called the Shell House Sky Bar, on level 10.

The Shell House Sky Bar will be settled beside the building’s recognisable 400-tonne clocktower, which has been carefully restored after being suspended mid-air for years during the building’s refurbishment, and boasts a view of the city lights below. 

As the only surviving commercial palazzo-style building in Sydney – clad in glazed terracotta – the Shell House forms one of the tallest heritage facades in the world.

The privilege of re-imagining this building is not lost on Brett Robinson, CEO of the Point Group, who says, “We have a once in a generation opportunity to do something extraordinary of a global standard; to build a new iconic hospitality landmark and take a leading role in helping reignite Sydney CBD’s dining culture.

“We will take the heritage and legacy of the iconic Menzies Hotel and adapt it to modern day expectations. We want to become a new cultural home for the creative, the fun and the social in the CBD. We want to create an oasis that tells a new and interesting story as you travel through each level of hospitality, showcasing a new centre of gravity for good times in the city.”

The structure will also feature a grand new entry way to Wynyard Station – as part of a $2 billion Brookfield Properties development – making this an easily accessible spot for post-work drinks and inner-city dining.

Mike Russel, Brookfield Properties’ regional director, says, “From the very day we agreed on the first designs of this city-changing project, we knew that the Shell House was an opportunity to create something extra special for Sydney.”

The opening of each dining space will be staggered, starting from July 2021 – set for completion by October 2021.