Janus
Image: Throwing down the gauntlet to other CBD cafés to lift their game, this one gives you the opportunity to dine on an architectural podium at the city’s business end.
Throwing down the gauntlet to other CBD cafés to lift their game, this one gives you the opportunity to dine on an architectural podium at the city’s business end. It’s a riot of vaulting spaces and exposed building innards, including a thermal skin and an eye-catching atrium. The elliptical design is also uber-green, allowing you the chance to marvel at cooling that uses old-fashioned airflow rather than air-conditioning (how novel). To eat, the thin, crisp, pizzas perform best. The Funghi E Patate ($16) – featuring potato, mushrooms, truffled Pecorino and broccoli is the best vegetarian pizza I’ve had all year. You’ll also like the Pancetta ($16) with caramelised pear, rocket and chilli, teamed with Insalata D Rucola E Radicchio ($14) for a balanced lunch. I also dipped into an easy-to-eat pasta, the Linguine Con Cozze E Gamberetti ($14/$21) with mussels, garlic prawns and chilli. Supplement it with one of the well-chosen and eminently quaffable Italian whites – the Villa Chiopris Pinot Grigio ($8/glass) is my pick. Pass over lurid macarons for the artistic (and tasty) array of cakes. The beauty of the White Chocolate Mango ($7) dome is hard to ignore, but my favourite had to be the Italian Baked Ricotta Torte ($7) that swathed my mouth in simplistic, creamy joy.
Janus
1 Bligh Street, Sydney
Ph: (02) 9223 3997
Café $
