Fauna

CONTACT

59 Fitzroy Street
Surry Hills, 2010 NSW
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Opening Hours

SUN closed
MON closed
TUE 5:30pm - 12:00am
WED 5:30pm - 12:00am
THU 11:30am - 3:30pm
  5:30pm - 12:00am
FRI 11:30am - 3:30pm
  5:30pm - 12:00am
SAT 11:30am - 3:30pm
  5:30pm - 12:00am

The Details

Cuisine
  • Italian
  • Modern Australian
Need to Know
  • Great for Dates
Serving
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
The bright dining room at Fauna in Surry Hills
Kangaroo tartare from Fauna restaurant in Surry Hills
Carbonara from Fauna restaurant in Surry Hills
Cocktails at Fauna restaurant in Surry Hills
The bright dining room at Fauna in Surry Hills
Kangaroo tartare from Fauna restaurant in Surry Hills
Carbonara from Fauna restaurant in Surry Hills
Cocktails at Fauna restaurant in Surry Hills

Tucked into a sleek renovated terrace on Fitzroy Street, Fauna is a neighbourhood restaurant serving polished contemporary Australian with Italian ideas and subtle Filipino influences. 

Open for lunch and dinner, Fauna features three separate dining rooms: the front dining room with a view of the street, the garden terrace, and an upstairs bar. Each has been designed with the Mediterranean in mind. Think olive green banquettes, rattan loungers, white marble table tops, and bright and breezy windows to open up the space.

Behind the menu at Fauna is head chef Ace Espiritu (ex-Icebergs Dining Room and Bar). Expect a classic four-course Italian structure, with a focus on local and native ingredients, and a few flavours that show off Espiritu's Filipino roots. 

“If you look at the menu, most dishes sound Italian, but only when you finally see or taste them, do you realise this is not your good ol’ nonna’s recipe,” Espiritu explains.

Begin with kangaroo tartare and Appellation Rock oysters with finger lime caviar, before skipping over to arrosticini lamb skewers and Italian flatbread with Berkshire pork cheek, lime, and cured egg yolk. Pastas include Arrabbiata with Balmain bugs and a classic Carbonara. 

For your fourth course, there are heartier dishes like BBQ Hornsby Shire spatchcock and whole flounder with grilled lemon and herb butter. 

Image credit: Fauna