When you’re in need of a pit-stop in Sydney, consider parking up at Riley Street Garage, formerly fuelling cars, and now filling up hungry diners. Located at 55 Riley Street in the harbourside Woolloomooloo suburb, the building goes back to 1910, but the garage came about in the 1930s and the art deco style is still much in evidence after a top bit of work by RAD Studio‘s Richard Alexander.

The eye is immediately drawn to the beautiful bar around which everything else sort of orbits. The impressive centrepiece to this 200-seat venue is a result of owner Brody Petersen’s philosophy “I’d rather eat in a bar than drink in a restaurant”, and he’ll get no argument from us on that score. Brody has plenty of experience in the Sydney hospitality sector, having previously opened Bondi venues The Flying Squirrel and everyone’s favourite Naked Gun-inspired eatery Stuffed Beaver. Oh Priscilla Presley… Anyway, back at the garage, seafood features prominently on the menu from chef Regan Porteous, especially oysters, which are stylishly advertised by a cracking vintage-look mirror sign. Also ramping up the vintage feel is the Wunderlich colortex brickwork which contrasts nicely with the rougher exposed sections.