Nestled in the storied walls of the former Sebel Townhouse, Divino Osteria is a love letter to Southern Italy, serving authentic flavours and heartfelt hospitality on one of Elizabeth Bay’s most iconic streets.
Once the unofficial home of Australia’s music scene, the Sebel Townhouse Hotel welcomed legends like Elton John, David Bowie, and The Clash. Today, Divino Osteria honours that rich, vibrant history with a space that balances relaxed elegance and timeless charm, where every meal feels like a warm embrace from a Southern Italian nonna.
The vision behind Divino Osteria is deeply personal. Founded by Paddington-born Anthony Alafaci, whose Italian heritage sparked a lifelong love of food and wine, the restaurant invites guests to enjoy traditional Italian flavours with a modern edge.
“Our goal was to recreate the kind of experience you’d find in a family home in southern Italy, good food, good wine, and good company,” says Alafaci.
“Divino means ‘divine’ as we wanted the name to reflect the warmth and quality of every visit.”
At the heart of Divino’s kitchen is Head Chef Andrea Di Stefano, a Catania native with roots in both homestyle Sicilian cooking and Michelin-starred European kitchens. Chef Andrea brings generational knowledge from his mother and grandmother into every dish, alongside refined techniques developed in fine dining restaurants across Italy and London.
The menu is a celebration of fresh, seasonal ingredients and authentic methods, including handmade pasta, stone-baked pizza from the venue’s hand-built brick oven, slow-cooked sauces, and locally sourced produce. Menu highlights include the Costoletta d’Agnello, featuring a herb crusted lamb cutlet, beetroot puree and potato terrine, as well as the Medaglioni, an oversized ravioli with wagyu sirloin MBS9+, brown butter & sage, which pairs perfectly with the Due Lune Nero d’Avola from the Italian wine list.
Complementing the dining experience is a carefully curated sustainable wine list featuring selections from Australia, France, Italy, and New Zealand. Cocktails are equally considered, with a well-balanced offering of Italian classics with a twist. Highlights include the limoncello and the Aperol Margarita, with espolon tequila and lime juice.
More than a restaurant, Divino Osteria is a warm, welcoming home for lovers of Italian food, music, and culture. A space where past and present harmonise, where guests can dine like locals and feel like family.
Address:
1/19-23 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay, NSW, 2011
Opening Hours:
Lunch – Thursday to Sunday: 12 pm -3:30 pm
Dinner – Tuesday to Sunday: 5 pm – 10 pm
Closed – Monday
Image credit: Guy Davies
