Petersen opened the Print Room, a laid-back wine and cocktail lounge located upstairs, last year, and is intent on focusing on the history of the area. The building’s location has a rich history, beginning in the early 1840s it was the earliest concentrated residential and commercial settlement in Paddington, and became a bustling mecca in the years that followed.
“When I purchased the site in 2013, my dream was to reclaim the heritage of Paddington Village by opening some cool new venues, but still retaining that old world charm,” Petersen says. “We have created an inviting space where discerning Paddo drinkers and diners can settle in and get comfortable.”
The heritage building has undergone a complete refurbishment, with the new fit out focusing on “old world charm” and created by leading interiors specialists Alexander & Co. The site features exposed brick, wall tiling, leather banquettes, solid wooden floors and a hand wrought communal bar.
Similarly the menu has been worked over with Head Chef Noel Phear (Macleay Street Bistro), with a range of light meals – such as cured salmon with smoked baby potatoes, a meat tasting plate, or the signature Koby Burger, named after Petersen’s son – and the usual pub suspects such as beer-battered fish, braised lamb shank, and rump steak.
The bar will be managed by Sean Bosman (Okku).