Shaffa Welcomes Ach Wine Bar & Bistro for a One-Night Levantine Feast

Sydney’s dining scene is set for a rare and intimate experience this Spring as Shaffa hosts an extraordinary one-night-only kitchen takeover on Monday, October 13.

For one evening, the bustling Surry Hills restaurant will welcome Brisbane’s Ach Wine Bar & Bistro Chefs, Noam Lissner and Marty Coard, into its open kitchen for a collaborative culinary journey unlike any other.

 

The takeover is more than a guest Chef appearance - it’s a meeting of philosophies, styles and flavours. Noam and Marty will join Shaffa’s team at a single kitchen bench, creating a 10-course tasting menu that celebrates contrasts: sea and land, freshness and fermentation, delicacy and richness.

Guests will be treated to dishes that embody this playful tension. Shaffa’s seafood-forward plates, such as bluefin tuna with green shivka dressing, will be paired with Ach’s bolder, meat-driven creations, including braised oxtail kibbeh with Wagyu tri tip.

Together, the Chefs will present food that reflects the Levant’s diverse traditions while pushing boundaries in technique and flavour. Optional wine pairings will also be available, offering another layer to the evening’s exploration.

Shaffa’s setting is an experience in itself. Located on Albion Street in Surry Hills, the restaurant sits between two sandstone landmarks: the circa 1855 Appletree Inn and the circa 1884 former Catholic Church. Inside, a soaring 10-metre glass ceiling bathes the room in light while the open kitchen takes centre stage.

 

With just 60 seats, Shaffa’s design is intimate yet theatrical. Diners don’t just eat here - they watch, listen and interact. On this night, the venue will become more than a restaurant; it will be a stage where two kitchens merge, ideas spark and flavours come to life in real time.

For those less familiar with Ach Wine Bar & Bistro, the Brisbane restaurant has become known for its adventurous, land-driven take on Levantine dining. Noam and Marty have built their reputation on bold flavours, generous hospitality and a philosophy that honours tradition while refusing to be bound by it.

 

Its arrival in Sydney is more than an interstate collaboration - it’s a moment of cultural exchange. By joining forces with Shaffa, Ach will infuse its Queensland edge into the lively, seafood-forward dining that has made Shaffa a favourite in Sydney.