The Rabbit Hole — Sydney, Australia

Given the prolific dynamism of Sydney’s food scene, it’s hard to believe that there’s still room for a ‘first’ of anything. Not true, as proven with the recent opening of The Rabbit Hole, the city’s first organic tea bar. Located in the inner-city neighbourhood of Redfern, the bar, a former industrial site, has been transformed by designer Matt Woods, who has neatened its rough edges and softened its masculine interior by polishing up a series of original details, such as herringbone strutted timber ceilings. At the core of its design is the Japanese art of Kintsugi, a process of joining broken pottery with gold, which has been applied to a selection of bowls displayed atop turned oak timbers, and is also seen in the liberal use of crushed ceramic tiles throughout. Tempering these dramatic details is a humble, yet complementary, backdrop of banquette seating, granite surfaces and a warehouse shelving stand.
The organic bar has been designated a ‘coffee-free destination’ by co-owners Corinne Smith and Amara Jarratt, and, as if for emphasis, a chandelier made entirely of tea bags by Chilean artist Valeria Burgoa looms large over diners as they sip and sup. On offer is a selection of tea that veers from the expected —green, mint and lemon — to the experimental, such as the raspberry and thyme green tea shrub soda, with probiotic fruit tonic. These are all offered as pairings alongside a breezy and emphatically Aussie menu that includes dishes such as avocado topped toast with edamame, sprouts and rooibos dressing.
ADDRESS
146 Abercrombie Street
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Tuneshine is a new way of bringing back the lost art of the album cover
The compact Tuneshine screen uses LED tech to illuminate the artwork of whatever you’re currently streaming
-
Inside the new theatre at Jacob’s Pillow and its ‘magic box’, part of a pioneering complex designed for dance
Jacob’s Pillow welcomes the reborn Doris Duke Theatre by Mecanoo, a new space that has just opened in the beloved Berkshires cultural hub for the summer season
-
What to see at Rencontres d’Arles 2025, questioning power structures in the state and family
Suppressed memories resurface in sharply considered photography at Rencontres d'Arles 2025. Here are some standout photographers to see
-
Rediscover a classic midcentury hotel in Sydney
FK leads a major renovation of the landmark Sofitel Sydney Wentworth hotel, pairing 1960s modernism with an elevated, Australian-minded reset
-
Wallpaper* checks in at The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter: ‘a lush restaurant with rooms’
In Sydney’s Paddington, chef Josh Niland opens the 14-bedroom luxury hotel alongside his pioneering restaurant
-
Book a brutalist one-room wonder Down Under, the Vipp Tunnel in Tasmania
The Danish design brand's bookable showcases arrive in the southern hemisphere, thanks to the vision of Tasmanian architectural firm Room 11
-
Wallpaper* checks in at The Eve Hotel Sydney: a lush urban escape
A new Sydney hotel makes a bold and biophilic addition to a buzzing neighbourhood that’s on the up
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Lo Scoglio: an Australian vacation rental with regenerative principles
Tucked away in Byron Bay’s hinterland, an Italian-style farmhouse presents a sustainable approach to luxury
-
Five influential women hoteliers reflect on the changing face of hospitality
As women continue to gain ground in the hotel sector, despite still being underrepresented in senior positions, five female moguls share their experiences of the past and projections for the future
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Melbourne Place: ‘an alchemy of colour, texture and personality’
Designed by Kennedy Nolan, Melbourne Place is the Australian city’s newest independent hotel, oozing creativity and urban energy
-
All aboard the world’s most luxurious train journeys
Stay on track with our pick of the most luxurious train journeys around the world, whether in 1920s-style opulence or contemporary chic