By ANNA USHER

Sea urchin paired with malted potato and yuzu kosho. Australian Wagyu alongside lightly cured Japanese carrot, caramelised mugi and a rich short rib jus. And somewhere near the end, a Satsuma mandarin sorbet balanced with California bay and sun-dried olive – a dessert that tastes like Californian winter sunshine.

For the first time, SingleThread has lifted the lid on what will be on the table at Balmoral Beach’s most anticipated dinner of the year – and for the lucky few who have secured a seat, July cannot come fast enough.

For everyone else: limited seats remain. They will not last.

The world’s number one restaurant – three Michelin-starred SingleThread from Healdsburg, California, recently named joint number one on La Liste’s global ranking of the world’s 1,000 best restaurants – takes up residence inside Bathers’ Pavilion from Tuesday 28 July to Sunday 23 August.

Bathers’ Pavilion Executive Chef Aaron Ward, who visited the SingleThread team in Sonoma County last month, said the experience had changed how he thought about cooking.

“There’s an incredible sense of precision and discipline behind every dish, yet nothing feels overworked,” Ward confirmed with Mosman Collective. “Every ingredient feels purposeful and deeply connected to place.”
But the food is only part of it.

Every meal begins with SingleThread’s most extraordinary creation: the Hassūn.

Borrowed from the Japanese kaiseki tradition, the Hassūn is not a single dish but a collection of up to 10 meticulously composed bites, presented on an elaborate structure of wood, moss, foliage, and flowers, designed to tell the story of that morning on the farm.

“We tell the story of today through the eyes of the farmer,” Owner Chef Kyle Connaughton told Mosman Collective. “Guests experience ingredients harvested at peak season that morning. It’s our way of bringing the outdoors in, showing what today feels like.”

For Balmoral, the Hassūn structure will be built from locally grown and foraged materials. Botanicals are already being cultivated specifically for the residency at Rotherwood – Bathers’ Pavilion’s Southern Highlands farm – under the guidance of Connaughton and Head Farmer Katina Connaughton alongside a team of horticulturalists.

It will be Hassūn’s Australian debut.

Sydney artist Alessandro Ljubicic – known for his large-scale abstract floral works and still-life paintings – has been commissioned to create a bespoke installation for the front entrance of Bathers’ Pavilion, inspired by SingleThread’s reverence for botanicals and the natural world.

Inside, the dining room will be subtly reimagined with handmade ceramics, custom crockery and pieces sourced directly from Japan – including the same ceramics used at SingleThread’s Healdsburg restaurant.

“It’s almost like we’re creating another restaurant together,” Connaughton said. “It’s not Bathers’ Pavilion, and it’s not SingleThread, it’s something else entirely.”

A craft beer made for the table

The drinks program extends to a world-first collaboration.

Vinnie Cilurzo – founder of Sonoma County’s Russian River Brewing and widely credited with creating the Double IPA style via his cult-status Pliny the Elder – has worked with DJ McCready, founder of Mountain Culture Beer Co, and Innovation and Brand Manager Pat Thiering on a bespoke beer designed specifically for the menu.

Together, they’ve developed a West Coast Pilsner built around New Zealand Nectaron, American Simcoe, and Noble hops – dry, aromatic, and built to complement food.

The wine and sake program

The wine list spans Sonoma, Australia’s leading regions, Burgundy and Japan, curated by SingleThread Wine Director Chris McFall and Bathers’ Pavilion Director of Operations Tom Sykes. McFall will travel from Sonoma for the full duration.

SingleThread is an ambassador for Dom Pérignon, Château d’Yquem and IWA Sake – all three feature throughout the residency – with Dom Pérignon available by the glass at $125 per person.

Four pairing flights are available, from the Exceptional Flight at $290 per person up to the Unforgettable Flight at $1,200 per person. A non-alcoholic pairing is offered at $130 per person.

The details

• Where: Bathers’ Pavilion, 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach
• When: Tuesday 28 July to Sunday 23 August 2026
• Price: $690 per person + 10% service charge (A$759 all-inclusive). Prepaid and non-refundable.
• Bookings: via website or 02 9969 5050