Goodnight Sweet Prince (Dining Room)

Just five months after undergoing a full overhaul and reopening under creative director Mitch Orr and head chef Ben Parkinson (ex- Pipis Kiosk), Prince Dining Room in the Prince of Wales Hotel has closed its doors.

The Acland Street venue was once home to Circa, the fine diner that served as an incubator for some of Australia’s best chefs, including Ben Shewry of Attica, Philippa Sibley of Pinotta, and Andrew McConnell of Supernormal, Cutler & Co and Marion Wine Bar. After Circa's closure in 2018, which followed a 20-year run, the site transformed into the all-day diner, Prince Dining Room.

High-profile Sydney chef Orr took over the kitchen – with Parkinson on the pans – earlier this year. The Prince Dining Room reopened in May with a refreshed interior that combined the building’s original art deco elements with contemporary touches. A revamped menu offered house-made pastas and mini cocktails at the bar, and woodfired mains in the dining room.

But despite the efforts to revitalise the venue and attract a new audience, the changes weren’t enough to sustain the restaurant, which quietly closed on October 6. A statement to Broadsheet confirmed the room has been converted into a functions and events space – another chapter in the building’s long and storied history.

“The Prince has had many incarnations over its long history and we are talking to our customers to understand what they want from their local pub,” the statement reads. “We are continuing to work with Mitch Orr in a consultancy capacity on upcoming dining projects.”

The hotel’s public bar, bandroom, wine bar and accommodation will continue to trade as usual.