Acclaimed Italian chef Orazio D’Elia is set to open Da Orazio Trattoria in early March 2026, marking an emotional homecoming to the Rushcutters Bay kitchen where he first made his name.
The new restaurant will occupy the site previously home to Marta Osteria and Popolo, where D’Elia served as head chef and earned widespread recognition for his Italian cooking.
“The kitchen in Rushcutters Bay is where I found my voice as a chef,” D’Elia said. “Coming back here feels like coming full circle.”
Da Orazio Trattoria will take a different approach from D’Elia’s existing Bondi location, eschewing pizza in favour of a menu inspired by the trattorias of central and southern Italy. The concept draws from D’Elia’s Neapolitan heritage, his travels throughout Italy, and traditional family recipes.
“La cucina Italiana is a symbol of simplicity,” D’Elia explained. “At Da Orazio Trattoria, I want to cook the food that reminds me of my childhood, the flavours from my travels around Italy as a young chef, and from my most recent trips. Trattorias have always preserved family recipes, and that’s what I want to do here.”
The venue will also feature weekend pop-ups from Da Orazio Pasticceria, offering rotating selections of traditional Italian desserts.
A two-decade long journey
D’Elia’s journey to this moment spans two decades. Born in Pomigliano d’Arco near Naples, he trained in Milan before arriving in Australia 20 years ago on a working holiday. After falling in love with Bondi’s coastal community, he worked his way through Sydney’s restaurant scene, including stints at L’Incontro, Limoncello, and the original Popolo.
His career accelerated when Maurice Terzini recruited him to lead the kitchen at Icebergs in 2013. The pair opened the first Da Orazio on Hall Street in 2014, before parting ways professionally in 2018. D’Elia then launched Matteo in Double Bay and Matteo Downtown in the CBD, both named for his eldest son.
In 2022, D’Elia reclaimed the Da Orazio name and reopened at the original Hall Street location. He expanded the brand last year with Da Orazio Pasticceria in Alexandria, specialising in house-made Italian pastries, focaccia, and artisanal chocolates.
Da Orazio Trattoria will operate seven days for dinner and Thursday to Sunday for lunch when it opens in March. The restaurant is located at 30 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay.
