Knight Frank and Retail Commercial Consultancy have been instructed to sell a rare vacant restaurant in an iconic Sydney Harbour waterfront location, the world-famous Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo, via auction.

Lot 1 in Finger Wharf is an area of 334sq m, with a mezzanine level in addition to the ground floor.

It can accommodate 165 covers, with both indoor and outdoor dining, and is offered as a blank canvas for an owner-occupier.

The restaurant space was previously occupied by Aki’s, which ran for 17 years from 2003 and ultimately closed in 2020 as a result of COVID.

This is the first time it is being offered to the market since it was built.

Finger Wharf, situated on the beautiful Sydney Harbour and located between the wealthy Eastern Suburbs and the buzzing Central Business District, is a true Sydney icon, and one of the top dining destinations in one of the world’s most exciting cities.

It is home to the fashionable Ovolo Hotel and some of the most prestigious apartments in Sydney, as well as established fine dining destinations like Ottos, China Doll, Kingsley’s, and Manta.

Knight Frank Partner, National Portfolio Investments Michael Gilbert said the restaurant space in Finger Wharf offered buyers an extremely rare opportunity to purchase a waterfront restaurant.

“This is the ultimate owner-occupier waterfront restaurant opportunity,” he said.

“It is the first time that such an opportunity has been offered on the open market for over 20 years, and I cannot see another being offered ever again.

“There are no other vacant restaurants at Finger Wharf and all the existing restaurants are very busy, with strong patronage, and hence very tightly held.”

Andrew Vines of Retail Commercial Consultancy said Finger Wharf was one of the highest profile dining locations in Australia, and was highly sought after for restaurant operators.

“We expect strong interest from restaurant operators looking to purchase a space in an established and very popular dining precinct,” he said.

“There is spectacular outdoor dining both on the waterfront side, as well as on the return frontage to Cowper Wharf Road.”

Knight Frank’s Joint Head of South Sydney Anthony Pirrottina said such a blank canvas opportunity as the one at Finger Wharf should attract operators offering cuisines not currently represented at Finger Wharf, such as Japanese or even an upscale Mexican or Peruvian, all of which are enjoying growth now.

Lot 1 in Finger Wharf will be auctioned at the next Knight Frank Australia National Portfolio Investments event at 11am on Wednesday, April 19 at The Assembly, Angel Place, 123 Pitt Street in Sydney.

Vacant waterfront restaurant Woolloomooloo’s Finger Wharf for sale by Knight Frank and Retail Commercial Consultancy