Sydney’s hot, new event venue, Saltbox, is coming to the vibrant TOGA Group created lifestyle precinct Wunderlich Lane, joining a hand-picked collective of retail, beauty,  wellness, and hospitality trendsetters at the new development in the city’s dynamic fringe of Surry  Hills and Redfern. 

Saltbox is the first sole-operated venue by the group behind industry-leading caterer Cook & Waiter,  owned by industry trailblazer David O’Brien and his esteemed team of hospitality alumni from  world-leading groups, including Guillaume at Bennelong, Bentley Restaurant Group, Tetsuya’s,  Rockpool, Sixpenny and the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay and Belinda Franks.

The 560 square-metre, state-of-the-art venue with a striking outdoor entertainment terrace was  designed by SJB and built by TOGA Group as part of the inspirational Wunderlich Lane development,  with interior designers Bates Smart bringing Saltbox’s hospitable charm and vibrant energy to life,  with a commitment to sustainability.

Saltbox is in exceptional company at the precinct. It is in close proximity to boutique luxury hotel,  The EVE – providing a stunning and convenient event space just metres from beautiful hotel  accommodation. The venue is also in the heart of a hand-selected group of bespoke retail, beauty,  wellness and hospitality operators, including Liquid & Larder, House Made Hospitality, Gelato  Messina, as well as the teams behind LuMi Dining and The Apollo, which bring some of the city’s  most anticipated new restaurants and stores to the precinct.

Saltbox will launch in Autumn 2025 with a curated food and drinks offering by Cook & Waiter, which  has delivered first-class, offsite experiences for over a decade to high-profile brands including Louis  Vuitton, Hermes, Porsche, Lamborghini, Google, Netflix, Penfolds and Qantas. Large corporate clients include Atlassian, American Express, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. Saltbox is in strong  demand, with clients already locking in events for 2025 and beyond.

Mr O’Brien says having established Cook & Waiter’s reputation as a leading offsite caterer over the  past decade, it is time to make a major splash in Sydney’s event landscape by launching a  much-needed, brand-new venue, supported by a brilliant, creative and respected in-house catering  team.

“Just as salt enhances the flavour of food, Saltbox will inspire and enhance the hospitality experience  at every opportunity, through the integration of a world-class venue with the exceptional food,  service, and guest experience that Cook & Waiter is renowned for,” Mr O’Brien says. 

“The addition of an event venue to our growing business portfolio gives clients a superb, new destination to consider; a refreshing alternative in the heart of a vibrant lifestyle precinct on the  city’s progressive and energetic fringe, that is pushing boundaries in terms of location, guest experience, and sustainability credentials.”

Saltbox caters to a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner event styles, including corporate meetings,  brand launches, cocktail parties, and wedding receptions. A luxe, mirrored lobby and reception area  on the ground floor ushers guests upstairs to the Level 1 event spaces: three beautiful and warm  spaces that are flooded with natural light. A striking, 119 square-metre, outdoor terrace runs the  length of the venue.

Bates Smart’s fitout celebrates an exposed timber frame, constructed from lightweight, carbon  neutral, cross-laminated timber (CLT), which represents best practice green design. The CLT anchors  the rest of the interior palette, which is made up of warm and authentic materials – raw surfaces,  textured fabric, planting and eco-friendly cork flooring that is rich in style, durable and soft under  foot, with thermal and acoustic benefits.

The main, pillarless room accommodates approximately 250 guests seated, or 460 cocktail-style, depending on event set-up, which is perfect for large seated events and conferences. The ceiling is the feature of the space, with its sculpted timber form and soft lighting accents.

Two warm and inviting, smaller spaces can be used for a variety of private dining, meeting room, and  breakout options. Floor-to-ceiling windows with soft sheer curtains bestow each beautiful room with  natural light and fresh air. All indoor spaces have sophisticated audio-visual capabilities and  black-out facilities. Rooms open onto the spacious, undercover terrace that overlooks the bustling  activity of Wunderlich Lane below.

Cook & Waiter Head of Sales & Marketing, Jules Cameron (nee van der Weegen), says the venue’s highly desirable location in Sydney’s hottest hotel, lifestyle and dining precinct will lure clients out of  their CBD comfort zone.

“Clients want more, and that’s what we’ll give them,” Ms Cameron says. “Saltbox is the exclusive,  standalone event venue at Wunderlich Lane; it’s a spectacular space worth waiting for, and we’re  already abuzz with enquiries for 2025.”

Bates Smart Interior Design Director, Brenton Smith, says the design is inspired by its locale at the  fringe of Surry Hills and Redfern; it captures the urban energy of the neighbourhood and its people.

“Saltbox capitalises on the vibrant spirit of Wunderlich Lane. We’ve crafted a space that blends  flexibility with sophistication. When you are inside you truly feel the excitement of the Surry Hills  and Redfern fringe,” Mr Smith says.

Related Reading:

Dean & Nancy on 22 at A by Adina Sydney launch World of Dreams | The Hotel Conversation

Tfe Hotels Revamps Its Member Programs With A Renewed Focus On The Customer Journey | The Hotel Conversation

TFE Hotels and Heritage Hotels announce strategic partnership | The Hotel Conversation