Powerhouse has today announced Sydney chef and restaurateur Simon Sandall will lead Retail Food and Beverage operations at the new Powerhouse Parramatta, opening to the public on Saturday, 7 November 2026.
Sandall worked his way through some of London's best-known kitchens, including The Ritz Club and Les Ambassadeurs Club. He moved to Sydney in 1995, working at the Sydney Opera House before joining Matt Moran as Head Chef of ARIA in 1999. He later became Group Executive Chef, overseeing venues including Chiswick, Aria Catering, Opera Bar and North Bondi Fish, among others.
In 2018, Sandall opened his own restaurant, Boronia Kitchen in Hunters Hill, followed by a private dining space and a catering arm that has since grown into Catering by Simon Sandall.
Sandall will draw on more than four decades of experience to lead a team for the retail food and beverage operations across Powerhouse Parramatta. This includes the Restaurant, the Cinema Bar and a Café and Wine Bar, designed to be flexible with indoor and outdoor seating.
The Powerhouse restaurant has been designed by George Livissianis, with an indoor and outdoor dining area spanning almost 600m2 for over 290 patrons. Looking out onto the Parramatta River, the space features a considered palette of aluminium, leather and cork, creating cohesion with the museum's architecture. Industrial designer Adam Goodrum has designed a series of stools and tables, including The Bow Tie Table, constructed from stainless steel and cork.
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said: “Powerhouse Parramatta will be a place for communities to spend the day together and connect, with food and hospitality an important part of the wider experience. Simon has an extraordinary depth of skill and experience and we're thrilled to welcome him to Powerhouse Parramatta as we prepare to open our doors in November.”
Simon Sandall said: “I've run kitchens my whole working life, but nothing compares to this. To be trusted with the retail food and beverage program at a project of this scale, in a building that will shape how Sydney experiences culture for generations, it's honestly humbling. I don't say that lightly. This is a chance to leave something behind, a legacy, for a city I've called home for more than thirty years. That's not something you get offered twice.”
Further information on the restaurant including menu and bookings will be announced later this year.
Located on the banks of the Parramatta River, Powerhouse Parramatta is one of the world's most significant new museum projects and Western Sydney's first state cultural institution.
Powerhouse Parramatta is designed by Franco-Japanese architects Moreau Kusunoki (Lead Designer) and Australian architecture firm Genton (Local Architect) and Arup. The project is proudly funded by the NSW Government, delivered by Infrastructure NSW, constructed by Lendlease and is being realised through the generosity, support and collaboration of foundations, agencies, businesses and individuals for the benefit of NSW communities.
