By ANNA USHER

Balmoral is about to wear a shiny new crown: for four weeks this winter, Sydney’s prettiest lunch spot becomes a backdrop for one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants.

Bathers’ Pavilion has secured SingleThread, the acclaimed three Michelin-starred restaurant from Healdsburg, California, for its only Australian residency, running exclusively from Tuesday, 28 July to Sunday, 23 August, bringing a world-ranked dining experience beachside.

Led (and owned) by husband-and-wife team Kyle Connaughton and Katina Connaughton, SingleThread was recently named the joint number one restaurant in the world by La Liste, sitting at the forefront of contemporary global dining.

For local foodies, the format will be a multi-course tasting experience beginning with SingleThread’s signature Hassun … a kaiseki-inspired seasonal opening course made up of multiple, delicately composed bites, designed to tell “the story of today”.

The residency will run from Tuesday to Sunday, lunch and dinner, with 80 guests per sitting.

Connaughton said the team plans to keep SingleThread’s DNA intact while exploring Australian produce.

“SingleThread is about the dialogue between farm, kitchen and guest. Coming to Sydney allows us to explore that philosophy through Australia’s extraordinary produce while maintaining the integrity of what defines us,” he said.

“We look forward to working with Aaron Ward and creating something true to both Sonoma County and Balmoral.”

Bathers’ Pavilion managing director Jessica Shirvington said the venue’s global residency program is building momentum with each collaboration.

“These residencies are cumulative. Each one aims to raise the bar. We are committed to ensuring Sydney remains connected to what is happening at the forefront of global gastronomy,” she said.

“To have the world’s joint No.1 restaurant choose Balmoral for a four-week collaboration is something we are immensely proud of.”

Shirvington said for diners, “that translates into an experience that feels truly transportive – as close as you can get to dining at the source, without leaving Sydney.”

Bathers’ executive chef Aaron Ward will be working shoulder-to-shoulder with the visiting team.

“This is about bringing the very best chefs into our kitchen and working alongside them,” he said.

“SingleThread’s cooking is incredibly precise and delicate – shaped by Japanese technique but driven by produce. It’s different to L’Enclume, but equally powerful.

“For our team, this is exposure at the highest level, and for our diners, we can’t wait to surprise you again.”

The prep is already underway. Ward is scheduled to travel to Sonoma in April for menu development, while Bathers’ Southern Highlands farm has begun growing vegetables and botanicals for the residency.

The announcement follows Bathers’ sold-out L’Enclume residencies in 2023 and 2025 – an event that sparked waitlists in the thousands – and Bathers is bracing for the same frenzy when SingleThread tables go live.

Bookings open 10am Thursday 12 March 2026 via the Bathers’ Pavilion website or by phone on (02) 9969 5050, with a presale window available to Bathers’ Pavilion subscribers.

• 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach, Mosman
• 28 July – 23 August 2025
• 11-course tasting menu: $690 per person
• Wine and sake pairings to be announced
• Lunch and Dinner, Tuesday – Sunday.