Running under acclaimed culinary figure Peter Gilmore since 2001, the restaurant has received the highest honour of three hats in the Australian Good Food Guide every year for the past 23 years.
With the close of Quay, the city will lose the three event and private dining spaces within the restaurant that could host between 10 and 100 attendees for sit-down galas.
“After 24 years at the helm of Quay, I have mixed emotions in announcing that Quay Restaurant will be closing its doors this February,” Gilmore wrote on Instagram on Tuesday morning.
“Over the past two decades there are many things I am proud of.
“The hundreds of young chefs and front of house professionals who have passed through our doors contributing their passion and professionalism to the Quay story.
“To have mentored and hopefully inspired, and to see so many go on to do great things. It has been the privilege of my career,” he wrote.
Gilmore goes on to mention the awards the restaurant has received – including spending five years on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list – and working with farmers, producers and artisans through the restaurant.
He also confirmed he would be ending his association with Quay’s sister restaurant, Bennelong at Sydney Opera House, consulting with the establishment until June next year.
Quay will have its last service on February 14. The physical space that the restaurant occupies above the Overseas Passenger Terminal has been sold to the Australian Venue Co which will open a new offering there in 2026.
This is the second critically lauded restaurant in Sydney to announce its closure in a matter of months.
Oncore by Clare Smyth at Crown Sydney announced that it is set to close in November, with the restaurant also wrapping up service in February.
Oncore received three hats from the Good Food Guide multiple times since opening in late 2021.
With the ability to hire a 12-seat private dining space or the whole restaurant for 60, the disappearance of Oncore also reduces the fining dining options for business events groups in Sydney.
