When Alanna Sapwell-Stone closed Arc Dining in Brisbane at the start of the Covid-19 lockdowns, many wondered what was next for the young chef. The answer was Esmay, a pop-up dining experience named after her 1972 Volkswagen.

Esmay toured the country for 12 months but missed South Australia altogether. Now Adelaide is getting the last laugh.

Esmay will open a permanent location in the 1880-built Hackney Hotel. The 40-seat venue is getting a facelift courtesy of Emma Aronsten of EDA Interiors. Aronsten’s design will retaining the hotel’s heritage features, including its fireplaces and stained-glass windows.

Sapwell-Stone is bringing a fresh take to fine-dining, with vegetable-forward, light dishes. When Esmay opens in November, it’ll be the third venue in the Blanco Horner Group, which also owns Botanic Lodge and Restaurant Botanic.