Bar Morris mixes Italian and Asian flavours in Pitt Street

At the Haymarket end of Pitt Street, a rare “interwar palazzo”-style building from architect Virgil Dante Cizzio sits in a precinct littered with Thai restaurants and Asian food shops.

Sydneysiders will get their first look at the reimagined interior on Wednesday, June 14, when Hotel Morris and its 40-seat wine bar, Bar Morris, open.

The Italian-inspired 1929 building has landed a young Italian chef, Rosy Scatigna.

Last spotted in the kitchen at Shell House and earlier at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, Scatigna uses a few playful references to Bar Morris’ Asian food neighbours in her cooking.

There’s a splash of fish sauce in her prawn marinade, for example, and the occasional secret ingredient. But mostly, Scatigna will tap her Italian heritage.

The 30-year-old head chef uses her grandmother’s recipe of spelt flour and garlic for Bar Morris’ focaccia, and there’s 𝄒nduja madeleine (cheesy savoury sponge, enriched with guanciale and 𝄒nduja emulsion).

The wine list sways between Australia and Italy, and the cocktail line-up includes the Negroni Speziato, made with gin infused with Chinese five spice, plus a touch of amaro.

Bar Morris’ leather-clad walls, marble bar and velvet banquettes get their first workout on June 14-17 with a four-night collaboration between Scatigna and Mmabatho Molefe from Cape Town restaurant Emazulwini as part of Vivid’s new Chef Series. After that, Scatigna will fly solo.

Open daily breakfast and lunch; Tue-Sat dinner.

412 Pitt Street, Haymarket, barmorris.com.au