Odd Culture Group has confirmed its move into the Sydney CBD, locking in two venues on York Street set to open in early 2026. The expansion brings a two-venue concept into the heart of the city: an underground daiquiri bar and discotheque, alongside a neighbourhood osteria, marking the group’s first move beyond the Inner West and into the CBD’s high-traffic, high-pressure trading environment.
CEO Rebecca Lines said the decision to enter the CBD had been on the table for some time, with the York Street sites selected for their character and potential to carry the group’s style of hospitality into a new part of the city.
“Looking towards the Sydney CBD for our venues has been a natural progression for us at Odd Culture Group,” Lines said. “We pride ourselves on having a diverse portfolio of pubs, bars and restaurants with a core focus on utilising spaces that make you feel something special – and for us the York St sites are full of that kind of charm.”
With the project now locked in and development underway, Lines will lead the rollout alongside co-directors James Thorpe and Nick Zavadszky, with venue teams to be named closer to opening.
While the CBD offers scale and foot traffic, Lines acknowledged the move comes with sharper edges than operating in neighbourhood pockets, where repeat trade is often baked in.
“The biggest challenge in the Sydney CBD district is that it can feel transient plus there is intense competition, rising costs, and a guest base that’s often time-poor and choice-rich. You need to earn loyalty quickly, and I believe that’s also the opportunity of this district – the CBD has huge energy, diversity, and frequency of trade if you get it right,” said Lines.
Despite the commercial realities of the CBD, the group’s approach remains rooted in the same hospitality principles it has built its reputation on, even if the audience and pace of trade look very different.
“Our ‘neighbourhood charm’ has never just been about the postcode but rather how people are welcomed, remembered, and looked after,” Lines said. “For us, the opportunity is to bring warmth, personality, and genuine hospitality into a part of the city that’s often more transactional. Our goal is for the venues to be a moment of respite from the corporate world, with a bit of neighbourhood charm where people feel known, welcomed, and want to return to.”
As the group steps into a more competitive, experience-driven market, entertainment is being positioned as a core part of how the new venues will differentiate themselves on York Street.
“Entertainment is a big part of the Odd Culture DNA, and our new venues will continue to embody that through diverse and quirky offerings that will engage audiences looking for something fresh and new to add to their dining experience,” said Lines.
Shifting from organically grown neighbourhood trade to a CBD audience has also changed how the group is thinking about design, service, and operations from the ground up.
“In the Inner West, we were building venues that naturally grew out of our immediate community through local regulars, familiar faces, and word of mouth. Whereas in the CBD, you don’t have that same organic neighbourhood base, so you have to design for belonging from day one,” Lines said.
“We’re approaching these new venues with a much clearer sense of purpose: who the guest is, how they want to feel when they walk in; and what will make them come back not just once, but daily. That means tighter operational design, deeper investment in training and leadership, and a much more deliberate focus on service, flow, and guest connection.”
More details on both York Street venues are expected in the coming weeks, ahead of their early 2026 opening.