Canvas

Canvas is a breathtaking restaurant on level four of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) in The Rocks, blending the art and culinary worlds in an ever-changing experience.

Canvas hosts a new chef in residence each season, with Scottish-born Sepi and LuMi alumnus James Scott taking the reins in June 2025 from Canvas' inaugural chef Josh Raine.

James’ menu effortlessly blends his technical skills with his interest in Australian native ingredients and culinary history, with standout dishes like crab cappelletti with finger lime, lemon myrtle and basil; Wagyu tartare with pickled shallots, fried saltbush, confit egg yolk, and a served with a Sydney Opera House-shaped Jerusalem artichoke crisp; and a Desert Lime parfait, with meringue and oconut sorbet.

Complementing MCA’s carefully curated selection of artworks, the dining experience at Canvas has been meticulously coordinated down to details like the fragrance, floral displays, relaxed staff uniforms by Australian label Unison, and a soundscape by composer Dan Fontaine.

The restaurant has views across Circular Quay to the Sydney Opera House, an uninterrupted outlook on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and a textured, neutral interior with Huon pine, ripple glass, and white marble elements that ensure diners’ focus is kept on the real artwork: the chef in residence’s menu.

Canvas serves a two-course ($95pp) and three-course ($120pp) menu) between 11.30am and 4.30pm Wednesday–Sunday, and is available for private event hire in the evenings.

Now check out more of the most beautiful restaurants in Sydney.

Image credit: The Big Group | Supplied

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