When it came time to farewell Stanbuli, co-owners Joe Valore and Elvis Abrahanowicz (behind the freshly minted Continental Deli foursome on Australia Street) couldn’t bear to let the space go. That curvaceous purple-and-pink Marie-Louise Salon facade on Enmore Road is just too special – ask anyone that passes it by. So, in late 2022, it became Bar Louise. But the tapas bar is now in its final months of service – and the Pavonis are moving in.

Valore and Abrahanowicz have been busy opening a trio of venues surrounding their Australia Street favourite Continental Deli: Osteria Mucca, Mister Grotto and Flora. The team opened all three in a matter of weeks, all while running Louise, Porteno and Humble. So, while the sale’s bittersweet, it makes sense.

What was once a Med-leaning spot for tins of sardines, peppers and sourdough; house-made chorizo; and charcoaled veggies, will now be Anna and Alessandro Pavoni’s spot for a large pasta-focused menu and a drinks list dedicated to the G&T. In tribute to the 1940s hair salon that first lived in the site, the Pavonis – who are championing Italian food all over Sydney – have named their latest up-and-comer Vineria Luisa.

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When keys change hands in June, it adds number two to the Pavonis’ inner-west stable, after opening Postino Osteria in the old Summer Hill Post Office last year.

“After Postino, we were really into the inner west,” Anna tells Broadsheet. “We’ve been having such a good time there – a really different venue to what we can do on the northern beaches. So we were looking around. This one came up, and for us, if it’s not waterfront, what’s the MO? [An] iconic site, something interesting, unique about it. That’s pretty much the hallmark across the group really.” So Bar Louise’s heritage-listed facade was a no-brainer.

“We’re going to do a vineria, or wine bar, and the little extra bit is a gintoneria. We’ll have a list of really cool gins from around the world, leaning heavily towards Australia and Italy. Then the full gamut of things that go with that: you’re talking an amazing tonic menu, all the gin-based cocktails. And it’s like, is that really Italian? How does that fit in? Well, what’s the most classic Italian cocktail that you can think of – a Negroni. Surprise, gin-based cocktail.”

The Pavonis will join one of Sydney’s hottest stretches to drink: Bar Planet, The Midnight Special, Famelia, Fortunate Son and The Magpie are all pouring on the same strip, haloing the Enmore Theatre. Slightly further afield is Odd Culture and drink-in bottle-o Spon, Earl’s Juke Joint and Continental Deli. “We’re really liking the idea of exploring the spirits side.”

The 70-seater will switch from tapas to pastas and Italian snacks. But the pair don’t have concrete menu or fit-out plans yet. “We’re still working through those ideas. The Porteno guys did such a beautiful refit very recently, it’s still quite shiny and new in there. I don’t think there will be a lot to do – just tweaks.

“I really like the area, it’s buzzing, so much happening. There’s just a lot of fun around Enmore and that neck of the woods that’s so far outside our Manly wheelhouse, it’ll be great.”

Bar Louise’s final service is expected in June 2025.

@barlouise_enmore