The Amuro Team Are Opening An Intimate Japanese Wine Bar In Darlinghurst

Tucked away in a tiny Darlinghurst space lies Amuro, a 20-seat, boutique saké room that has captured the hearts of locals with simply dressed sashimi, rice bowls and one-bite seasonal desserts that marry together Japanese and European influences. The only problem with keeping your circle small? It makes it nearly impossible to diversify the offering—so, for owner Joy Liu, it only made sense to expand. 

Enter Aenza, the newest addition to Liu's venue family, championing Amuro's success in celebration of the tight-knit Darlinghurst community they've built over the years—a little bigger, a lot more social, and still just a few steps from the original saké counter concept (literally, down the street).

"It felt like the right time to create Aenza because, through Amuro, we’ve built a very strong local community and loyal crowd over the years," Joy tells Urban List.

"Many of our guests have grown with us and supported our vision from the beginning, and we wanted to offer more to our customers."

While the room itself may have grown (the addition of thirty more seats is definitely a plus), the intimacy and care that Amuro has already established is ever-present. The open-plan design places the kitchen centre stage—more dinner theatre than stiff fine-dining, with guests invited to watch the show take unfold. 

"We want the experience to feel warm and personal," Joy explains.

"Guests should feel comfortable chatting with our chefs and team, almost like being welcomed into a friend’s space, rather than a formal restaurant."

As for the design, Amuro is clearly still haunting the narrative.

"The site was originally an underdeveloped heritage building, which we completely rebuilt from the inside from scratch," she tells us. 

The aged rendered walls of the original building have retained their patina, complemented by textured granite, stained timber, and a sandblasted steel canopy—a through-line of natural elements that informs the vision for both spaces. 

They've also maintained the concept of a regularly rotating menu, which will pull from seasonal produce to present a strong selection of creative snacks—their own take on traditional dishes, complemented by a curated wine list pulling from various regions across Europe. 

"We’re very excited about exploring the relationship between Japanese flavours and European wine, showing how the two can complement each other in unexpected and interesting ways," says Joy.

"We’re seeing Sydney diners become more interested in venues that feel personal, immersive, and less formal—fine dining quality ingredients and technique, but in a more casual and relaxed setting."

The result is ultimately premium produce served via small share plates, allowing guests to dabble across the menu—bringing the playful exploration of an à la carte format into an immersive and connected dining experience. 

Aenza will open for dinner service this winter.

Image credit: Aenza | Supplied