Housing Australia’s first hatted Mexican restaurant upstairs and a late-night tequila and cocktail bar in the basement, Esteban Restaurant & Bar epitomises the new verve that blankets the Sydney CBD.

Nestled down a narrow, inner-city laneway, the Esteban experience begins through a persuasive sensory entry – patrons first greeted by the heady scent of mezcal and charcoal, followed by the visual of dimly lit seating and custom detailing.

Sitting within an existing heritage building, the design was considered, in the whole, as a bespoke piece of joinery fitted within, and respectful of, site conventions. The main bar acts as the anchor of the space, boasting a natural granite bar top finished with carved timber nosing and aged brass detailing. Harmoniously fused to the existing brickwork, the raw materials of the building become a part of the integration.

Feature lighting throughout gives prominence to the architectural detailing and evokes warmth. The collective experience lends to a positive sense of discovery and discussion around authenticity in regard to food, drink and the broader experience.