Chris Lucas is doubling down on his vision for Grill Americano Sydney, launching an Italian-style espresso bar and pasticceria that aims to inject traditional caffè culture into the city’s central business district (CBD).
Opening Monday 2 February at No. 1 Chifley Square, Grill Americano Caffè will operate weekdays from 7am to 3pm, offering counter service and $2 espressos, alongside house-made Italian pastries and a curated lunch menu.
The caffè concept completes Lucas’ original vision for the Venetian-inspired restaurant, which opened in December. Accessible through both the office building lobby and the restaurant’s street entrance, the space features the same blue velvet finishes that define the dining room, but with a more relaxed, lounge-style seating arrangement suited to breakfast meetings and quick coffee catch-ups.
Pastry program led by LODE
The pastry program is led by LODE, with a daily selection including plain croissants, pain au chocolat, pistachio croissants, seasonal fruit croissant tarts, and bombolini filled with citrus curd. Savoury options include toasted paninis with combinations like parma and mozzarella, mortadella with radicchio and provolone, and spinach with fried egg and pecorino.
At midday, the caffè transitions to lunch service with refined yet approachable dishes including a piccante fish burger with swordfish, tuna, pancetta and cheese; sirloin steak frites; Caesar di Pollo; and a rotating panino del giorno. Lucas has also brought over the ‘à la Maison Bâtard’ cheeseburger—a nod to the dish’s popularity at his iconic Melbourne venue.
The caffè represents a strategic move to activate the restaurant space throughout the day while tapping into Sydney CBD’s coffee-driven morning rush and lunchtime trade.
By pricing espressos at $2 for counter service, Lucas is positioning the concept as an accessible daily ritual, mirroring the democratic nature of traditional Italian espresso bars.
