San Marzano Opens in Sydney's Adina Town Hall
SYDNEY CBD: Sydney’s food scene has a soulful new addition with San Marzano - an all-day Italian eatery that blends espresso bar energy, lunch spot comfort, and aperitivo charm - moving into the ground floor of the newly refurbished Adina Town Hall hotel earlier this month. More than just a name, San Marzano pays homage to the famed Italian tomato and the family rituals it inspired. For founder, John Paul ‘JP’ Calvaruso, the venue is a heartfelt tribute to his childhood in Concord, New South Wales, where Sundays meant rolling pasta and simmering San Marzano sugo in his nonna’s backyard.
Calvaruso - who has run the buzzing Mr Jones café in Ultimo for ten years and cut his teeth working the pizza ovens at La Disfida Enoteca E Pizza in Haberfield when he was just a lad - is an operator who seamlessly bridges the Italian Australian experience. The son of immigrants, he grew up in a household where hospitality meant sitting at the table, eating, laughing, talking, and not rushing to leave.
Similarly, wife Rachel traces her heritage back to some of the first Italian migrants into the harbour city at the turn of the century, who ran the Roxy Cafe in Park Street in the CBD. For the Calvarusos, family and food is everything. It’s a story that resonates with many Sydneysiders who share similar cultural backgrounds, making San Marzano feel both familiar and fresh.
“There’s a wonderful Italian proverb – “A tavola non si invecchia” which means “You never grow old at the table” and speaks to the time spent slowing down, enjoying meals and company with loved ones around the table and not worrying about the passing of time,” JP said.
“San Marzano is my way of honouring those family memories. It’s about creating a space that feels like home and keeping the recipes alive - the same sugo my nonna made; my mother’s chicken schnitzel; my uncle’s orecchiette barese and my nephew’s bucatini carbonara. Every dish is simple, full of flavour, and made with the best ingredients, just like my family cooked for me.”
The Menu: Nostalgia Reimagined for Modern Sydney
There’s no doubt San Marzano’s menu celebrates authentic cuisine with a modern Sydney twist - with Calvarusos across the globe vigorously debating “whose version is better.”
Breakfast highlights include the Honey Butter Crust Brioche Toast - caramelised thick-cut brioche with whipped ricotta, homemade berry jam, citrus maple, and salted pistachio; Scrambled Egg Carbonara - Farm-fresh eggs, aged Pecorino goat’s cheese, crispy pancetta and pangrattato on ciabatta; the Breakfast Caprese Focaccia - Buffalo mozzarella, ox heart tomato and basil on house-made focaccia; or JP’s’ super healthy Solo Verde Green Bowl – Broccolini, avocado, spinach, poached eggs, toasted almond, and salsa verde.
For lunch, the house-made pasta – including Nonna’s Beef Lasagne with layers of creamy béchamel, San Marzano tomato sugo, mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano – the Gnocchi which heroes the San Marzano tomatoes; and the Chicken Milanese Focaccia with Maria’s schnitzel, take centre stage. Diners can also expect Italian wines by the glass, including San Marzano’s own Primitivo and Sangiovese, alongside classic cocktails like Negroni, Amaretto Sour, and Americano. For those with a sweet tooth, Nutella hot chocolate, and pistachio lattes and iced tiramisu lattes provide a sweet finish.
The Venue: A Nod to Vintage Italo Design
San Marzano is a venue that feels like it’s been there for generations and that’s very deliberate. Nic Graham, Director of Nic Graham + Associates, a boutique firm based in Sydney managing medium to large-scale hotel projects across Asia Pacific, has demonstrated his signature approach to venue design. Diners can expect bold use of colour and graphics and quirky memorable design with San Marzano, and the lovely finishes that come with Nic’s trademark hands-on approach to design.
While the studio is primarily known for their hotel work, it occasionally takes on independent restaurant projects, including recent collaborations in Darwin, Melbourne, and Sydney. A self-described foodie, Nic believes great hospitality design begins in the kitchen. “It always helps when you can have a passionate discussion about the menu with someone authentic creating the food,” he says of the Calvaruso family and their connections to Italian suppliers.
This philosophy guided Nic’s transformation of a compact café space into a warm, retro Italian-inspired enoteca, reminiscent of the intimate venues found on the streets of Florence or Rome for a quick stand-up espresso; or the bowls of pasta he consumed after university at the legendary Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar in Melbourne.
San Marzano features classic Italian design elements: dark lacquered wood shelving, black-and-white vinyl flooring, terrazzo finishes, and burnt red-orange accents. “The brief was for it to feel like it had been there for decades,” Nic explains. “So, the aesthetic also draws upon mid-century influences and traditional enoteca imagery - italic graphics, vintage poster art, and a tactile material palette.”
The project, which took 15 months from concept to completion, began with mood boards and a deep dive into the food and wine offering. “It’s a compact space, but we refigured it to maximise flow and ambience. “The window wall to the hotel and the coffee machine placement were designed for quick-hit service, catering to both local trade and Adina hotel guests,” he said.
TOGA Procure played a pivotal role in the stunning transformation of the newly refurbished Adina Town Hall hotel and San Marzano restaurant. Notably, the terracotta tabletops were chosen to complement the hotel lobby floors, paying homage to the rich Italian themes. This collaborative effort with the owners, operator, and designer ensured a cohesive and visually appealing environment that perfectly aligns with the desired design vision.
Reflecting on the finished space, Nic says: “It’s humbling to walk in and see that little corner—a café enoteca that feels like it belongs in Italy. That’s the joy of working with smaller spaces. You can invest in traditional detailing and create something truly special and somewhat nostalgic.”
The Location: 511 Kent Street, Sydney
Kent Street in Sydney is a dynamic thoroughfare that weaves through the heart of the CBD, blending historic charm with modern high-rises, boutique hotels, and a vibrant mix of dining and business hubs.
At 511 Kent, Adina Town Hall recently reopened following a sophisticated refurbishment by Bates Smart, transforming the first-generation apartment hotel into a refined, liveable space in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The 144-room property now offers a stylish blend of timeless design and contemporary comfort, with open-plan layouts, soft materials, and elegant finishes that evoke the warmth of an upscale apartment. The addition of San Marzano on the ground floor gives guests access to Double Roasters Coffee (from nearby Marrickville) and Italian comfort food that’s bought to life with olive oil, herbs, and a deep sense of tradition.
The hotel and enoteca boast an enviable location in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, just steps from iconic landmarks like the Queen Victoria Building, Darling Harbour, and the historic Sydney Town Hall Clock Tower — placing guests within easy reach of the city’s best shopping, dining, and cultural experiences.
The experience: San Marzano Opening Hours
Open seven days from early-morning espresso at 7am through to aperitivo hour at 3pm, San Marzano channels the spirit of a retro Italo-Bar — the kind once found on Lygon Street or tucked away in Rome — and brings it to the heart of Sydney’s CBD. Excitingly, hotel guests will also be able to enjoy room service San Marzano-style in the coming weeks.
Editor’s Notes
San Marzano: The Ferrari of Tomatoes
San Marzano tomatoes are often referred to as the "Ferrari" of tomatoes, particularly in the context of canned tomatoes, due to their exceptional quality, flavour, and high regard in culinary circles. These tomatoes aren’t just famous — they’re protected. Grown in a small region of southern Italy between Naples and Salerno, these tomatoes benefit from the area's mineral-rich volcanic soil, which gives them their signature balance of sweetness, richness, and gentle acidity.
Their status is safeguarded by a European quality certification known as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). This designation ensures that only tomatoes cultivated and processed in this specific region, using traditional methods, can carry the San Marzano name. It’s the same system that protects iconic products like Champagne and Parmigiano Reggiano, guaranteeing authenticity and quality from farm to table.
Image render credit: Nic Graham & Associates.
Ends.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jodi Clark - TFE Hotels (Director of Communications) +61 499 900 658 / [email protected]
Jessica Wood - TFE Hotels (Public Relations Business Partner) +61 437 242 034 / [email protected]
SAN MARZANO
San Marzano is an Italian eatery located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, inside Adina Town Hall. Inspired by founder John Paul Calvaruso’s family traditions and the iconic San Marzano tomato, the venue blends espresso bar culture, comforting lunches, and relaxed aperitivo vibes. With a menu rooted in simplicity, quality ingredients, and nostalgic recipes — from Nonna Maria’s lasagne to house-made focaccia and spritzes — San Marzano offers a warm, unpretentious space to gather, slow down, and savour the flavours of Italy, reimagined for modern Sydney.
ABOUT ADINA APARTMENT HOTELS
The Adina brand comprises more than 40 Adina Apartment Hotels and Adina Serviced Apartments in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Europe. The former offers stylish apartments in central locations with services and amenities where guests can live at ease including 24-hour reception, free Wi-Fi, room service, meeting spaces, pools, and gym facilities. Adina Serviced Apartments offer fully equipped apartments with on-demand service and homely comforts.
With a 20-year history of Australian hospitality Adina operates on a global scale giving guests the freedom, comfort, and connection to stay their own way. www.adinahotels.com