Set on the waterfront with pride of place in the newly opened precinct, Hamsi Taverna arrives with a confidence that feels both relaxed and deliberate. Described by its creators as “a love letter to the Mediterranean”, it’s a space that channels the easy rhythm of Bosphorus fish restaurants and the sun-bleached sociability of Aegean beach clubs – all translated for Sydney’s harbour edge.
Behind the scenes, however, the project is also a study in what happens when design intent is treated as non-negotiable. And when builder and designer work in lockstep together.
A collaboration between interior designers Alkot Studio and , Hamsi Taverna proves that execution is as much about judgement and restraint as it is about logistics.
Conceived as an immersive social space, the interiors combine casual and chic with wooden tables, fully upholstered banquette seating and a palette that leans into greens and yellows, which is a deliberate break from the more predictable terracotta tones often associated with Mediterranean dining rooms. Texture and colour do the heavy lifting, supported by music, movement and the constant presence of water views, just beyond.
According to Alkot Studio’s Barbara Albert, the design intent was fully realised despite the challenges of delivering the project within a complex site.
“I had a very specific vision for this design, and the ball simply could not be dropped,” Albert says, adding, “I knew straight away I wanted to work with Unita on this project. I knew they had the right capabilities and a strong presence in Sydney, with a lot of professionalism in the team.”
Unita’s involvement began well before construction, as they came on board once preliminary drawings and high-level costings had been completed and signed off by the client, Efendy Group.
“Often, fitout companies substitute finishes or materials without first discussing the change with the designer. I knew Unita wouldn’t do that,” Albert says.
Putting this to the test, Unita and Alkot Studio found a way to redesign the bar concept. Originally intended to be made with formed concrete poured onsite, it proved logistically challenging given the constraints of the precinct.
Guided by Unita’s early buildability checks, the team pivoted. The bar was redesigned to be partially fabricated offsite, with onsite rendering to achieve the same monolithic appearance. The finished outcome reads as a solid concrete block, with a hollow core that made construction feasible without sacrificing the aesthetic intent.
This kind of intervention speaks to Unita’s role as a collaborator invested in finding solutions that protect design integrity while keeping projects on track. For designers, one of the greatest risks in hospitality projects is erosion – the slow, incremental dilution of ideas through substitutions, shortcuts or miscommunication.
For Unita, projects like Hamsi Taverna underscore the value of early, genuine collaboration with designers. The team understand that a project is more than just fixtures and finishes, it’s strategy, storytelling and customer experience.
Operating nationally with local expertise across hospitality, retail, hotels, workplaces and healthcare, Unita is a building partner for designers who want their ideas carried through – not compromised – in the transition from drawing to built form.
Hamsi Taverna stands as proof of what’s possible when that promise is taken seriously: a space that feels effortless on arrival, but is underpinned by months of rigorous conversation, shared problem-solving and mutual respect.
Unita makes a compelling case for hospitality designers looking for a builder who understands that great spaces are the combination of design and delivery.
about Unita’s approach to hospitality fitouts.
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