Hunter St Hospitality announces The Collective, a new precinct for The Rocks

Hunter St Hospitality is transforming former historic nightclub The Argyle into part of a new precinct in The Rocks, opening in April.

The precinct, which will be known as The Collective, encompasses the group’s Argyle Street restaurants The Cut Bar & Grill and Saké Restaurant & Bar, alongside a set of new venues in the neighbouring historic ‘Argyle Store’ building. The heritage-listed 1820s building is one of Australia’s oldest and was formerly used as a custom house and bond store before being transformed into a nightclub, offices, and function rooms.

“Hospitality precincts are having a moment in Sydney, and I believe their appeal will only grow,” says Hunter St Hospitality’s CEO Frank Tucker. “With an 1800 square metre footprint spread across three levels, we saw an opportunity to create something even more special with the properties we already have. By building on the strength of favourites like Saké and The Cut Bar & Grill, we’ve cultivated a precinct that feels like the perfect reason to linger longer in The Rocks.”

The news comes after Hunter St Hospitality relaunched The Cut Bar & Grill in late 2024 after a four year hiatus – a move which followed the shuttering of 30 of the group’s food venues in the wake of Covid.

The group will transform The Argyle into three new venues: The Garden, The Dining Room, Cloakroom, and a handful of smaller bars.

The Garden is a bar set in the Argyle Store’s sandstone courtyard. By day it will act as a café, with coffee, breakfast and sandwiches available. At night, the space will transform into a bar, with a selection of items available from The Dining Room’s menu.

Beyond The Garden is The Dining Room, a 200-capacity restaurant highlighting Australian produce. The menu includes the likes of black lip abalone with bottarga and black rice, yellowfin tuna with blood plum and celery, Moreton Bay bug with roasted garlic and karkalla, and a 1kg Robbins Island wagyu ribeye. Upstairs are two bars, The Bar and The Lounge (which doubles as a private function space with bar and DJ booth).

Finally, Cloakroom is an intimate cocktail bar with space for 20 and a focus on martinis and technically complex cocktails.

“Each venue offers something unique, from casual dining to premium experiences, making The Collective as appealing to tourists exploring the area as it is for corporate Sydneysiders,” says Tucker.

Santiago Aristizabal, Andy Evans, and Shimpei Hatanaka, the executive chefs behind Hunter St Hospitality’s other venues – including Rockpool Bar & Gril, Spice Temple, and Bar Patron – will curate the culinary direction of the precinct.

“Each chef contributes their own distinctive expertise and perspective, and we believe this collaboration gives The Collective its unique identity, setting it apart as a precinct that truly celebrates culinary craftmanship,” says Tucker.

Photography by Steven Woodburn.

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