Grappa The Rocks

One of Sydney’s most recognisable Italian names has landed in the CBD, with Grappa opening a second venue inside the former Rockpool site in The Rocks.

After 26 years on Norton Street, the move marks a major step for founders Charlie and Virginie Colosi—bringing their long-standing Leichhardt institution into a heritage sandstone building on George Street that’s been sitting empty since 2022. It’s a big space to take on, and Grappa has risen to the challenge, stretching across multiple levels with a 300-seat footprint that includes a main dining room, an upstairs bar and private event spaces, with a terrace to follow.

Originally a bakehouse from the 1860s, the interiors have been stripped back to highlight exposed sandstone walls, hardwood beams and softer, low lighting—so it's closer to an old-world trattoria than a polished CBD newcomer.

Everything is made in-house—from pasta and pizza through to bread and desserts—with a focus on Italian tradition anchored in local produce. Long-time head chef Adam Nicholls leads the kitchen, backed by a team spanning pasta, pizza and pastry, each bringing a more regional approach to their corner of the menu.

Expect returning favourites like tuna carpaccio and salt-baked snapper, alongside newer additions including White Rocks veal and a simple-but-hard-to-pass-up fior di latte soft serve finished with olive oil and sea salt.

Upstairs, Charlie’s Bar shifts the focus to drinks, with an aperitivo-led cocktail list and a serious cellar—over 300 wines, largely Italian and French, plus more than 150 varieties of grappa. It’s designed as a destination in its own right, whether you’re dropping in for a pre-dinner drink or settling in for the night.

Beyond the day-to-day dining, the space has also been built with events in mind. Private rooms, a bar space and a soon-to-open terrace overlooking George Street give it the flexibility to host everything from smaller dinners through to larger functions.

Now open, Grappa The Rocks brings a familiar style of Italian hospitality into a new setting—simply scaling up what it already does well.

Image credit: Grappa | Supplied