Michael Lo Presti to open first restaurant in Redfern after Baba's Place

Former Baba's Place head chef Michael Lo Presti is preparing to open his first restaurant in Redfern alongside long-time collaborator Rachael Trewin, bringing together years of experience across some of Sydney's most respected kitchens.

Michael Lo Presti is preparing to open his first restaurant, with Lo Presti's set to open in Redfern this July.

The former Baba's Place head chef will launch the venue alongside hospitality professional Rachael Trewin, bringing together a partnership built over years working across Sydney's restaurant industry.

Located on a corner site overlooking Redfern Oval, the 50-seat restaurant marks the next step in Lo Presti's career after building experience across a number of highly regarded venues.

From Baba's Place to Redfern

Most recently, Lo Presti served as head chef at Baba's Place. Prior to that, his career included time at Sixpenny, Automata, A1 and Momofuku Seiobo.

The opening of Lo Presti's brings together influences gathered throughout that journey while also providing an opportunity for Lo Presti and Trewin to build a venue of their own.

According to Broadsheet, the pair have worked together on and off for around a decade and had long discussed opening a restaurant together if the right opportunity presented itself.

That opportunity arrived with the Redfern site overlooking Redfern Oval, providing the foundation for a venue centred around food, drinks and hospitality rather than a highly structured dining format.

While Lo Presti will lead the kitchen, Trewin will oversee front of house operations, bringing together both sides of the hospitality experience under one roof.

Building Lo Presti's

According to early details, Lo Presti's will operate as a neighbourhood restaurant with a menu drawing on Mediterranean influences, particularly Greek flavours.

Guests will be able to visit for drinks and snacks or settle in for a full meal, with the venue designed to accommodate both casual visits and longer dining experiences.

The menu is expected to feature a mix of vegetable-focused dishes, seafood and larger plates designed for sharing, reflecting the style of food Lo Presti has become known for throughout his career.

The drinks offering has also drawn on experienced hospitality talent.

South End's Paul Guiney has contributed to the wine program, while Bar Demo's Olly Churcher and Claudia Morgan have assisted with the cocktail offering.

Ahead of the official opening, Lo Presti and Trewin will provide an early preview of the concept through a takeover at Bar Demo on 28 June.

The event is expected to showcase a selection of dishes and drinks that will feature when the restaurant opens next month.

Reviving a family name

Beyond representing Lo Presti's first restaurant, the project also carries a personal connection to his family's hospitality history.

The venue takes its name from a Sydney café operated by Lo Presti's father Greg during the 1980s.

More than four decades later, that name will return above the door of Michael's first restaurant.

The connection extends beyond the name itself. According to reports, Greg recently rediscovered one of his original sketches from the café, which has since been repurposed as the logo for the new venue.

The decision creates a direct connection between the family's earlier hospitality venture and Michael's first restaurant, linking two generations of hospitality operators through the same name.

While many new venues focus on establishing a fresh identity from day one, Lo Presti's arrives with a story that stretches back decades.

For Michael, the opening represents both a new chapter in his career and the continuation of a family connection to hospitality.

Opening the next chapter

The opening comes amid continued activity across Sydney's dining scene, with a number of established chefs pursuing independent projects and new venue openings.

For Lo Presti, the launch of Lo Presti's marks the first opportunity to put his own name above the door after years spent working in some of Australia's leading kitchens.

Ahead of the July opening, diners will get their first look at the concept through the Bar Demo preview event before the restaurant officially opens its doors in Redfern.

Lo Presti's is expected to open in July.