Made up of four venues in one, Kuro brings compartmentalised dining to the Sydney CBD. Guests can choose from four different dining experiences, including a la carte restaurant Kuro Dining, degustation-only fine diner Teramoto by Kuro, specialty café Brew Bar, and drink spot Kuro Bar.

The main restaurant, Kuro Dining, eschews the traditional sushi and sashimi for a string of Japanese snacks and share plates, made from high-quality Australian produce. The menu, curated by head chef Nobu Maruyama with executive chef and owner, Taka Teramoto, starts with moreish morsels like scarlet prawns and charred edamame before working its way up to house-aged duck with black garlic and braised beef tongue in miso red wine.

The comprehensive drinks list covers vast territory, from a 120+ wine list to sake, shochu, umeshu, and a hard-to-ignore selection of Japanese gins and whiskeys. Come early and prop up at the bar for meticulously made cocktails with a Nippon twist. Get the camera out for theatrical tipples like the Green Hour, an emerald mix of absinthe with green smith apples and Champagne cordial garnished with an apple-shaped ice sculpture.

The fourth dining experience, Teramoto by Kuro, promises to be the most snug of all, with the micro dining experience limited to just 10 people a night. The menu is omakase only, (chef’s choice) with a special selection prepared and served by head chef and owner, Taka Teramoto. As per the Japanese tradition, diners will sit at a chef’s table that wraps around the kitchen, so they can observe Teramoto at work.

Can’t wait to go back? You can also swing by in the mornings for a specialty tea or coffee at the Brew Bar. Beans are roasted in house, alongside two single origins that change with the season. East meets west on the breakfast menu, which trades on patisserie items like matcha eclairs and Kuro lamington cakes. As the day goes on, a flick of the switch sees the coffee machine sink beneath the concrete bench, transforming The Brew Bar into a communal dining table for service.

An understated palette of sandstone, timber and concrete is brought to life through bespoke design pieces created by traditional Japanese craftsmen. Key features include an installation of individually lit American oak portals that vary in brightness according to the time of day, and a blossom chandelier, hung with thousands of pearlescent capiz shells. Channeling the Japanese art form of Kintsugi, cracks in the concrete floor are mended with gold, creating shimmering rivulets that run underfoot.

Kuro is located at 368 Kent Street, Sydney. It opens Mon – Fri 8am – 3:30pm and 4:30pm – late and Sat 5.30pm – late. Sections open at varying times, check the website for exact hours. kurosydney.com.