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Guillaume Brahimi To Bring French Bistro Pop-Up To Double Bay

Guillaume Brahimi will return to Double Bay for a four-night French bistro pop-up at Baker Bleu, with the bakery set to host a short run of his classic French dishes.

The residency will run from Thursday, 6 August to Sunday, 9 August at Baker Bleu, 2 Guilfoyle Avenue, Double Bay. During the event, the daytime bakery will operate as a French bistro by night.

Brahimi, who is mainly based in Melbourne at Bistro Guillaume, will be in the kitchen for the limited run. It will be the first time in six years that Sydney diners have had the chance to eat his cooking.

Baker Bleu bakery in Double Bay — *Photo Credit: Guillaume Brahimi/Instagram*

Bistro Dishes Back On The Menu

The four-course menu will focus on dishes associated with Brahimi’s bistro cooking, including onion soup, cheese soufflé, roast chicken with tarragon jus and steak au poivre.

Sides will include Paris mash, frites and green salad, while desserts will include profiteroles, passionfruit soufflé and lemon tart.

The menu is priced at $190 and includes bread, a snack, entrée, main, dessert, petit fours and sides. A short wine list will be available by the glass or bottle, with selections drawn from Brahimi’s personal favourites.

Several dishes in the residency are also featured in Brahimi’s recent book, Plat du Tour, which was released in April.

Guillaume Brahimi French bistro menu — *Photo Credit: Guillaume Brahimi/Instagram*

Limited Sittings At Baker Bleu

The Double Bay pop-up will have nine tables available per service, with seven sittings planned across the four-night residency.

Bookings opened on 2 July and are available by phone only on 0458 400 327. Sittings are listed at 5:45pm and 8pm.

Baker Bleu co-founder Mike Russell has described the event as a chance for the neighbourhood bakery to open at night and take on a French-style bistro format, with the venue’s bread served alongside Brahimi’s food.

Double Bay bistro table setting — *Photo Credit: Guillaume Brahimi/Instagram*

A Return Tied To Sydney Dining

Brahimi has a long association with Sydney dining. After moving to Sydney in the 1990s, he later took over the Sydney Opera House restaurant space and opened Guillaume at Bennelong in 2001.

That restaurant continued until its final service on New Year’s Eve in 2013. Brahimi later opened Bistro Guillaume in Sydney’s CBD in 2016.

He is currently operating Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne and continues as a culinary ambassador for Crown Sydney. Bistro Guillaume Perth concluded its 14-year run in April.

The Baker Bleu residency will bring Brahimi’s bistro cooking back to Sydney in a small Double Bay setting, with the pop-up running from 6 to 9 August.

Published 3-July-2026

Double Bay Heritage Home Sells for Circa $11 Million

Sydney Sotheby's International Realty

One of Double Bay’s most distinguished heritage homes, the Victorian Italianate mansion at 61 Cross Street, has sold for circa $11 million, close to its asking price, in a result agents are calling a significant win for the suburb’s prestige market.

The two-storey home, built circa 1880 on a 335-square-metre block just 200 metres from the Double Bay ferry wharf, changed hands without a single renovation from its most recent owner. In a market that has been grinding through a difficult year, selling close to the guide is no small thing.

“There’s a lot of doom and gloom surrounding the eastern suburbs property market right now, but our office is still executing premium results on a regular basis,” says Ben Cassen of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty, who handled the sale alongside Sotheby’s director Clint Ballard.

A home that has made money for everyone who has owned it

The property carries a notable transaction history. Shark Tank personality and recruitment entrepreneur Andrew Banks purchased it in 2018 for $6.065 million, a figure that at the time made it the third most expensive house sale in Double Bay that year.

*Photo Credit: Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty*

He sold in 2022 for $9.8 million to China-based buyer Chi-Lan Janet Cheng, a gain of roughly $1 million per year of ownership.

Cheng has now on-sold for circa $11 million, a more modest return of around $250,000 per year during her ownership. The 2021 market, which drove Banks’ exceptional result, was an outlier. What Cheng has achieved in a significantly more subdued climate is nonetheless considered a strong outcome by those close to the deal.

The vendor made no renovations during her ownership, which makes the result more notable still.

What the home offers

The mansion retains many of its Victorian Italianate / 1880s architectural elements, including soaring 3.4-metre ceilings, marble fireplaces and original hardwood floors. A high-end renovation completed under a previous owner introduced a custom Poliform kitchen and updated bathrooms while preserving the heritage character throughout.

The residence features three bedrooms, a north-facing landscaped garden courtyard and wide balconies on the upper level that catch the harbour breeze. Rear laneway access via William Street connects the property to the foreshore. The position, close to Steyne Park and the boutique dining and retail strip that defines Cross Street’s village character, makes it consistently attractive to buyers and tenants alike.

The home collects approximately $3,500 per week as a rental property, figures that will not have been lost on the incoming buyer.

The buyer

Agents declined to name the purchaser. Sources suggest the buyer is Martono Jaya Kusuma, known as MJ, the founder of Indonesian mobile telecommunications company Nexian, and his wife Rosana.

The Kusumas are well known in Sydney’s eastern suburbs property market, having previously sold a designer Bellevue Hill home for just shy of $24 million in 2021 while simultaneously acquiring a three-lot site in the same area for around $16.5 million to build a family compound.

The reported acquisition at 61 Cross Street, if confirmed, adds another chapter to what has been a sustained and active presence in the eastern suburbs market.

A suburb finding its footing

Double Bay’s prestige end has not been immune to the softening that has spread across Sydney’s eastern suburbs in 2025 and into 2026. But transactions like this one, where a heritage home sells close to its guide without renovations and without a boom-era tailwind, suggest the fundamentals at the top of the market remain intact.

For buyers watching from the sidelines, and for agents who have had a tougher year than the headlines might suggest, that is a meaningful data point.

For further information on the property, contact Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty.

Published 29-May-2026

The Double Bay Agent Who Wants a Robot at the Front Door

Ric Serrao has been selling real estate in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for nearly 40 years. He has set suburb records, topped national sales rankings and built one of the most recognisable agencies in the market. His next project might be his most unusual: buying a robot to greet buyers at open homes.

The principal of Raine and Horne Double Bay and Bondi Beach is quite serious about it. He wants the robot at the door taking down names and numbers, freeing his agents to focus on the conversations that actually matter, the ones that turn an interested buyer into a signed contract.

“I’m looking to buy a robot,” Serrao said. “They’ll just be greeting buyers at the door, taking down names and numbers. And that will free up agents to do the serious talking with buyers and the negotiating.”

An Idea Born From a Real Problem

Open homes are one of real estate’s most labour-intensive rituals. An agent at a well-attended eastern suburbs open can find themselves split between welcoming new arrivals, answering questions, managing the crowd and keeping an eye on the property, all at once. The front-door greeting, polite and necessary as it is, eats time that might be better spent elsewhere.

Serrao’s logic is straightforward. If a robot can handle the name and number collection reliably, the human agents are freed for the work that actually requires human judgement. He is planning to travel overseas later in the year to industry trade shows to assess what is available.

“I think there’s definitely room for AI and aero robotics to help with minor tasks and collecting data,” he said. He is also realistic about the regulatory questions the idea raises. “Would they need to be certified as real estate agents?” he wonders, noting he has not yet raised the idea with Fair Trading.

And no, he is not planning to clone himself. “Someone that’s a lot younger with more hair,” he quipped.

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The Technology Is Already Moving Fast

Serrao’s timing is spot on.

In late January 2026, Elon Musk confirmed the end of an era for Tesla’s luxury fleet, announcing the company will axe the Model S and Model X by mid year. The move represents a massive strategic pivot. Tesla is ripping out the production lines at its Fremont factory to make room for the mass production of its Optimus Gen 3 humanoid robots.

Tesla optimus robot — *Photo Credit: Tesla/X*

While the robots currently serve as electric co workers learning the ropes inside Tesla plants, the goal is a staggering one million units a year. For local buyers, however, the wait continues. While production is ramping up, these robo agents are not expected to hit the open market until 2027 at the earliest.

Other companies have their own versions of advanced robots that make the industry an exciting mix of options for early adopters for various applications: customer service, hospitality, real estate. The list is continuously growing.

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Not Everyone Is Convinced

The idea has its sceptics, even among people who agree that change is coming. Paul Biller, principal of Biller Real Estate, is not rushing to sign up.

“I’ll be interested to see how it goes, but I don’t want robots at my opens,” he said. “It’s a cool gimmick, but it takes 10 seconds to say hi to a buyer and human interaction is important.”

He does agree, though, that the broader shift is real. “A lot of things are going to be automated and big changes are definitely on the way over the next five to 10 years with AI.”

What This Tells Us About Where Real Estate Is Heading

The conversation happening between Serrao and Biller is the same one unfolding across the industry. Real estate agencies have been looking at ways to manage the labour demands of property inspections for some time, with some already outsourcing open home duties to separate companies. The question is not whether automation comes to real estate, but what form it takes and what it replaces.

For Double Bay, a market where buyer relationships and discretion matter enormously and where Serrao’s near-four-decade reputation for personal service is a core part of the product he sells, the robot-at-the-door idea is not about replacing the agent. It is about protecting the agent’s time for the parts of the job that no robot will be doing any time soon: reading a room, sensing hesitation, knowing when to push and when to hold back.

That is the judgement that still takes nearly 40 years to develop. For everything else, apparently, there might soon be a robot.

Raine and Horne Double Bay and Bondi Beach is located at 385 New South Head Road, Double Bay. Enquiries can be directed to the team at 02 9327 7971.

Published 30-March-2026

Eileen Bond’s Double Bay Penthouse Listed for $17 Million

Photo Credit: Ray White Double Bay

The long-held Double Bay penthouse of late social figure Eileen Bond has been placed on the market with a $17 million auction guide.

Double Bay Auction Scheduled For 19 March

The residence at 3/9 Gladswood Gardens is scheduled to go to auction on Thursday 19 March at 6:00 p.m., with the auction to be held at the Ray White Double Bay office.

The dual-level apartment occupies the top two storeys of a boutique block of three. It comprises four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and parking for two vehicles. The property spans 492 square metres of combined internal and external space.

Inspections are scheduled across late February and March in the lead-up to the auction.

Double Bay penthouse — *Photo Credit: Ray White Double Bay*

Purchased In 1986

Bond and her former husband, Alan Bond, purchased the property in 1986 for about $1.2 million. The couple divorced in 1992 after 37 years of marriage.

Bond retained ownership of the upstairs apartment and used it as her Sydney base for around three months each year while primarily residing in Perth. She died in July last year at the age of 87. The property is now being sold by her children.

Layout And Harbourside Position

The split-level floorplan includes expansive living and dining areas, a breakfast-bar kitchen and an enclosed entertaining space with harbour views. The apartment also features a private entrance foyer with both stair and lift access between levels.

The building is located near Murray Rose Pool, also known as Redleaf Pool, and is within walking distance of Double Bay village shops, cafés and restaurants.

The sales campaign is being managed by Ray White Double Bay agents Elliott Placks and Thomas Popple.

Published 23-Feb-2026

Cross Street Carpark Debate Continues in Double Bay

Photo Credit: WoollahraCouncil/Vimeo

A prolonged discussion on the future of the Cross Street carpark in Double Bay highlighted differing views on redevelopment and funding as councillors reviewed options for the ageing structure.

Background on the Site

Built in the 1970s, the Cross Street carpark includes community facilities, an early childhood health centre and more than 400 parking spaces. An independent assessment presented to authorities estimated remediation costs ranging from $25.6 million to $38.6 million.

During a meeting on 26 November 2025, city officials spent more than two hours debating whether adequate due diligence had been completed. The discussion referred to previous community consultation undertaken in 2023 and how it should influence current planning work.

community consultation — *Photo Credit: WoollahraCouncil/Vimeo*

Details of the Redevelopment Option

A redevelopment plan outlined by council staff proposes a $50 million rebuild funded by subdividing and selling 38 per cent of the site. The option includes a five-storey, 412-space carpark with one underground level. Construction is expected to begin in 2028 and finish in 2030.

This approach, according to the council explanation, would allow the new facility to be delivered without cost to ratepayers.

Alternative Approaches Considered

Authorities reviewed remediation options costing $26 million for a ten-year lifespan or $38 million for a 25-year extension. The debate also reflected long-standing community involvement, with some representatives noting that feedback over several decades had shaped expectations for the site. Others expressed the view that further consultation was necessary before any commitment.

Double Bay carpark redevelopment — *Photo Credit: WoollahraCouncil/Vimeo*

Community Sentiment and Meeting Outcome

Tensions during the 26 November meeting led to a short adjournment before discussion resumed. Concerns were raised about the consultation process, while others emphasised the responsibility of elected representatives to make a decision based on available information.

The meeting concluded with unanimous agreement to place the preferred redevelopment option on public exhibition, consistent with requirements for land sales under council policy.

Next Steps

Public consultation will open from 27 January to 25 February 2026 through the council’s community engagement platform. An information session will be held on 3 February 2026, providing residents with further detail on the Cross Street carpark proposal in Double Bay.

Published 7-Dec-2025

Double Bay Professor Named 2026 NSW Senior Australian of the Year

Photo Credit: UNSW Sydney

A dementia expert from Double Bay has been recognised for decades of impact in diagnosis, care and prevention, winning the 2026 NSW Senior Australian of the Year.

Community Impact

The announcement came after years of work in diagnosis, care and prevention led by Professor Henry Brodaty AO, a psychiatrist and researcher based at UNSW. He has spent decades trying to improve support for older Australians and their families.

*Photo Credit: UNSW Medicine & Health/Facebook*

His work began with his own experience after his father developed young onset dementia. He saw how little guidance existed at the time and focused his career on creating better pathways for patients and carers.

Lifelong Commitment to Dementia Care

In the 1980s, he helped create one of the nation’s first memory clinics at a time when dementia was often overlooked. He later co founded the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, which became a major hub for research and community education. His team also built practical tools used by general practitioners to check early memory problems.

*Photo Credit: The Royal Australasian College of Physicians/Facebook*

One of these tools became widely used and supported early testing across Australia and overseas. Research led by his group showed how a mix of exercise, nutrition, brain training and mental health support can help lower dementia risk.

Recognition Across NSW

The award was presented at a ceremony in Sydney on 11 November 2025. State officials noted the strong community influence of his work. They described how his research, clinical practice and public leadership helped shift dementia from a topic avoided in public to one discussed openly with more support for families.

*Photo Credit: Australian of the Year Awards/Facebook*

They also highlighted the role he played in guiding national planning for dementia care. UNSW shared that he viewed the honour as a way to acknowledge both his parents and the many families who live with dementia every day.

A Focus on Families

Professor Brodaty has long said that better care should support both the person with dementia and the people who look after them. His programs showed that carer training reduces stress and delays the need for residential care. His work helped shape government strategies and encouraged stronger community understanding.

He believes recent progress reflects years of effort across science, health services and family support networks. Community groups and medical organisations have praised his leadership for helping many older Australians receive earlier answers and more connected care.

Published 21-November-2025

Double Bay Skyline to Be Redefined by Record $60m Penthouse

Photo Credit: Hudson Capital

Developers are making a bold new claim that Double Bay now rivals Beverly Hills, and they are backing it with a new $60 million penthouse designed to redefine the suburb’s skyline.

The residence will be the ‘crown jewel’ atop a four-level commercial building known as Ruby House. This new development aims to more than double the suburb’s current apartment record, a $24.95 million sale set in 2022.

A New Benchmark for the Suburb

The scale of the proposed penthouse is a first for the area. It will cover 1,100 square metres on title, a size almost unheard of for apartment living. This space is reportedly split between 550 square metres of internal living space and 650 square metres of outdoor terraces.

The internal layout includes features like three-metre vaulted ceilings, a private wine cellar, a library, and a wellness retreat. The plans also include a ‘great room’ intended for large-scale entertaining.

Security and privacy are central to the design, which includes a private six-car garage and a direct lift exclusively for the penthouse. The extensive north-facing terraces, designed by landscaper Wyer & Co, will feature a spa, a full outdoor kitchen, and dining areas, all with panoramic views over Double Bay.

Changing Face of the Village

This project is the latest and most expensive example of the suburb’s ongoing evolution. Developer Charles Mellick of Fortis stated that his firm’s owner, Pallas Group, has been a key player in reshaping Double Bay over the last five years.

He believes this investment has helped turn the area into one of the country’s most desirable lifestyle precincts.

This transformation includes other significant developments, such as Pallas House on Guilfoyle Avenue. That commercial building is now home to high-profile tenants like celebrity chef Neil Perry and the popular Baker Bleu bakery.

Ed Eve, the general manager of Pallas Group, noted that Double Bay always had potential. He said it just required the right vision and investment, which he believes is now helping it become a social and cultural centre. The group’s work in the area is not finished, with plans for ‘Forum,’ a luxury co-working space, to begin operating early next year.

A ‘Beverly Hills’ Vision

Mr Mellick was bold in his comparison, stating that Double Bay is entering a new period that mirrors the glamour and polish of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

This new penthouse is seen as the landmark that defines this new standard of prestige. Alex Lyons of Raine and Horne Double Bay, who is managing the listing, described the residence as the largest and most meticulously finished penthouse in the eastern suburbs, suggesting it would be impossible to duplicate at any price.

The agents involved believe the home will suit a buyer who values high-end architecture and may live internationally, needing a secure and luxurious Sydney base.

Published Date 06-November-2025

Find Your Flow: Free Community Yoga Comes to Double Bay

Sydneysiders can soon trade the boardroom for a yoga mat at the Double Bay Sailing Club, which is hosting a free waterfront yoga series set to live acoustic music.

This new series, supported by Woollahra Council and run by the Sydney Harbour Yoga Club, invites locals to unroll their mats by the water. The free classes will run weekly from November 2025 to February 2026. Along with Double Bay, the initiative will also use waterfront spaces at Rose Bay Marina and the Vaucluse Yacht Club.

Trading the Daily Rush for a Harbour View

The “Harbour Flow” program encourages residents to swap their busy schedules for a moment of calm, turning these picturesque decks into community spaces for health. The goal is to make wellness accessible to everyone, from busy professionals to seniors, referred to as “golden warriors,” and mums after the school drop-off.

Participants can expect a unique experience that blends movement with the magic of the sea. Sessions are planned for sunrise and sunset, with special flows under the full moon. Many classes will feature live acoustic music or sound bowls to create a relaxing atmosphere, all set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.

More Than Just a Class

Each event includes a one-hour yoga class suitable for all levels, from total beginners to seasoned yogis. Following the session, attendees are invited to a casual coffee or tea social hosted by local cafés. This initiative is also designed to support the small businesses that give Woollahra its community spirit.

Karin Finlayson, founder of the Sydney Harbour Yoga Club, said the series is about bringing people together and helping them experience the harbour in a completely new way. She emphasised that the classes are for everyone, noting that attendees only need to be curious, not flexible, to join in.

How to Join the Flow

While the “Harbour Flow” sessions are free, spaces are limited, and both registration and booking are essential. Organisers have noted that as part of this specific community program, each person may attend one free class. Spots are expected to fill quickly.

The Sydney Harbour Yoga Club’s regular paid classes at all three locations will continue as normal throughout the summer. To register for the free series and receive the timetable, locals can visit the club’s website.

Published Date 28-October-2025

Storied Double Bay Hotel, Site of Celebrity and Tragedy, Set for $1bn Rebirth

Photo Credit: Cox Architecture

The Double Bay hotel that once hosted Princess Diana and saw the tragic death of Michael Hutchence will soon be gone, making way for a $1 billion mixed-use precinct after developers won final approval for its demolition.

A Landmark’s New Look

The InterContinental Hotel site at 33 Cross St, which has long been a key part of Double Bay’s identity, has received the green light for a major overhaul. The project, led by Sydney developers Eduard Litver of Capitel Group and Allen Linz of Rebel Property Group, will see the current six-storey building replaced.

In its place, a new landmark building designed by COX Architecture will be constructed. This new structure will feature a mix of high-end shops and dining, commercial offices, boutique accommodation, luxury residences, and a wellness centre. The development application, which was lodged late last year, was approved in under 12 months.

A Site Rich with History

For many, the hotel holds powerful memories. It was the preferred hotel for visiting celebrities and royalty, including the late Princess Diana, who stayed there just a year before her death. The site is also remembered as the Ritz Carlton, where, 28 years ago, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence tragically died. This approval marks the end of that specific era for the building, paving the way for a complete revitalisation.

A Focus on the Future Village

The developers behind the project expressed that the approval is a significant milestone for Double Bay’s ongoing evolution. Allen Linz said the team welcomes the decision and looks forward to creating something that enriches the local community. He stated their goal is to strengthen the area’s appeal as Sydney’s top harbourside destination.

Eduard Litver added that the project will make a lasting contribution to the village’s future. He noted that the new retail and hospitality spaces are designed to support local life and business, adding to the vitality of the area.

From Planning to Building

With the project now fully approved, the team’s attention is shifting to the next phase. Arian Galanis of Metis Group, who managed the project through the approval process, said the focus now turns to delivery. He confirmed the team is working closely with designers to bring the vision for 33 Cross Street to life, aiming to set a new benchmark for quality lifestyle-led development in Sydney.

Published Date 28-October-2025

Double Bay Welcomes Bar Torino: A New Neighbourhood Spot for Aperitivo and Dinner

Double Bay’s dining scene is about to get a new burst of Italian flavour, with Bar Torino opening its doors on Friday, 19 September. Tucked beneath the landmark Gaden House on Bay Street, the new 80-seat bar promises locals a relaxed spot where aperitivo can seamlessly stretch into dinner and late-night drinks.

Read: Neil Perry’s Margaret Named Second-Best Steak Restaurant Globally

Behind the venture are hospitality stalwarts Neil and Samantha Perry, who are introducing Bar Torino as a more casual counterpart to their acclaimed Gran Torino.

The menu is designed for sharing and lingering, featuring spuntini, antipasti and hearty piatti principali. Highlights include Ervin’s lasagne Bolognese, baked semolina gnocchi with field mushrooms and taleggio, and crumbed chicken pizzaiola with tomato and parmesan.

The drinks list celebrates simplicity and style, with a concise selection of Australian, Italian and French wines alongside signature cocktails and a strong focus on negronis. To mark Negroni Month, Bar Torino will launch with a limited-edition line-up of four variations, including the Negroni Sbagliato and Negroni Picante, paired with live DJ sets across the first two Fridays.

Designer Collette Dinnigan has given the intimate basement space a distinctly Italian spirit, layering the walls with vintage posters and commissioning a mural that stretches the length of the room as a tribute to Campari. Beyond the bar’s 80 indoor seats, an additional 30 alfresco spots overlook Bay Street, making it an inviting option for both casual drop-ins and longer evenings.

“An easy and relaxed place where aperitivo turns into dinner, and dinner into drinks,” is how Neil Perry describes the new venue — a neighbourhood bar in the heart of Double Bay with a touch of old-world Italian charm.

Read: Neil Perry Revamps Song Bird in Double Bay with Designer Collette Dinnigan

Bar Torino details
24 Bay Street, Double Bay
Wednesday & Thursday – 4pm till late
Friday to Sunday – 12pm till late

Published 19-September-2025