Rasā House

Rasā House brings South and Southeast Asian cuisine to the Rose Bay waterfront in a cosy, eclectic, mid-century dining room. 

Led by first-generation restaurateur and creative Vinay Matta—whose parents founded iconic Sydney establishments Jewel on the Bay and Spice Room—the team comprises chefs from India, Nepal and Indonesia.

“The idea for Rasā House came from my travels, my art as a screenwriter, my heritage and my parents’ journey in hospitality,” says Vinay. “I’ve learnt a lot from them but I’m also ready to make things my own. To do something that isn’t rooted in legacy but will create a legacy of its own.”

The kitchen's colourful, traditional approach mirrors the restaurant's name, with Rasā meaning ‘flavour’ in Indonesian and ‘the essence of life’ in Hindi. 

Standouts include an Afghan-Indian lamb shank boti sitting in a hung curd with pomegranate and slivered almonds inspired by Vinay’s travels through Mumbai, and jhol momos, a Nepalese vegetarian dumpling in coconut gravy with black sesame.

The adventurous wine list features rare vino from Germany to Morocco and special occasion picks like Chablis, plus a dedicated martini menu and clever cocktails. 

The space itself is stunning with framed vintage poster walls, booth and bar seating, a vinyl record player used for Saturday sessions, a surrealist hand-painted mural in the bathroom by Sydney artist Mali Pilgrem Blasco, and a small outdoor seating area overlooking the marina.

Now check out the best restaurants in Sydney right now. 

Image credit: Rasā House | Dexter Kim

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