A Redfern rooftop that once served Mexican food is going Japanese, with the team behind The Apollo, Cho Cho San and Olympus turning the former Lottie space into a 100-seat venue called Tenjo.
Tenjo is due to start trading in November 2026 at The Eve Hotel, 8 Baptist Street, with an official opening date still to be announced.
A New Chapter for the Rooftop
Lottie had a short but well-regarded run. Liquid & Larder, which operated it alongside Bar Julius, said it spent about 18 months running the two venues, and Lottie earned a Chef Hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide along the way. The decision to wind up the partnership was made jointly with TOGA Group, the hotel’s owner and developer. Lottie served its last guests on 23 August, and Bar Julius followed on 26 August. TOGA then agreed to hand both spaces to The Apollo Group.
The Team Behind Tenjo
Jonathan Barthelmess and Sam Christie lead the group, which runs The Apollo in Potts Point, Cho Cho San, and Olympus, the Greek restaurant on The Eve’s ground floor. Barthelmess said the group has cooked Japanese food at Cho Cho San for 12 years, and he thinks the lighter style suits a rooftop. His goal was a place where people can eat in lots of different ways, whether that means sushi at the counter, a drink on the terrace or a long dinner.
Sushi, Grill and Claypot Rice
Fredy Lim joins from Sushi E to run the kitchen. He wants the food to taste fresh and thoughtful, built on Australian seafood, meat and vegetables cooked with traditional Japanese techniques. Sushi will be prepared at the counter in view of diners, while the grill handles chicken, seafood and vegetables. The menu also covers sashimi, tempura and yakitori skewers.
Then there is the donabe claypot rice. It will be cooked to order and served in its clay pot with seasonal toppings, and any leftover rice will be pressed into onigiri to take away.
Drinks, Design and the Pool
Bartender Matt Whiley has created 10 cocktails, each built around a Japanese fruit and linked to a classic cocktail style. Highlights include a yuzu and rum slushie, a sudachi gimlet and a peach highball. Christie has assembled a saké list, backed by wines chosen to suit the food or stand alone at the bar.
A retractable glass roof covers the leafy space, which was designed by George Livissianis. Hotel guests will also be able to order food and drinks by the pool, which shares the rooftop.
What’s Next for the Precinct
Tenjo is only part of the plan. Baptiste, a French restaurant, will take over the former Bar Julius space and is also slated for November. Barthelmess has kept the details close, saying only that it will definitely be a restaurant. For Redfern locals, that means two new places to try in the same building.
Published Date 06-October-2026
