Four Things Broadsheet Staff Ate at the Prefecture 48 x Access Dining Tour

Broadsheet Access just took 70 members through a culinary tour of every venue at Prefecture 48, the six-in-one Japanese hub from Azabu Group (Charlotte Bar, Hanasuki). Across four restaurants, a patisserie and a whisky bar, the precinct showcases the immense culinary breadth of Japan’s 47 prefectures.

The night went like this: Access members were welcomed with a saké ceremony in the courtyard, then headed to intimate sushi counter Omakase. Next, they tried amuse-bouche at Five before reaching the tour’s fine-dining headliner, Garaku. Then it was over to the self-described “Japanese Firedoor” Ibushi and the precinct’s sultry cocktail bar Whisky Thief. The evening wrapped up at patisserie Dear Florence, with a tea ceremony and sweet treat.

Hand on heart, it was the most special Access experience in Sydney so far. The best part? Witnessing like-minded people connect over a shared love of culture and food. Second best part? That food. And if you missed out, the Prefecture 48 dining tour will be available for public bookings from August 12.

Here’s a highlight reel of the night, from the perspective of Broadsheet staff. Plus, the dishes we’ll be coming back for.

What did you love most?

“ I loved everything about it. How often do you get to try six very different – but all very impressive – venues in a single night? I’ve never experienced anything like it in Sydney, or anywhere for that matter.”
– Dan Cunningham, acting features editor

“The sleek Prefecture 48 experience was obviously a highlight, but I really loved the communal feeling on the night. The format made it so social and easy to chat with different people.”
– Grace MacKenzie, Sydney food and drink editor

“It was great to get to sample all of the Prefecture 48 venues in one night. What would have usually taken someone five to six dinners to explore was wrapped up in four hours.”
– Lucy Bell Bird, national assistant editor

“Meeting Broadsheet superfans (it was my first Access event!) and sampling so many different dishes that stemmed from a variety of culinary techniques and genres.”
– Gemma Crisp, head of audience growth

Favourite dish?

“It’s hard to choose – but my favourite was Five’s wattleseed tagliolini by a smidge. I thought this dish was a brilliant execution of the restaurant’s concept: modern European cuisine “guided by Japanese finesse”. Picture a tangle of golden, handmade noodles and sweet little prawns in a glop of creamy stracciatella. Pair with some blanc de blancs – oof!”
– Dan Cunningham

“The very pretty two-bite mackerel toast at Five, that I definitely ate in one bite.”
– Grace MacKenzie

“I loved the Wagyu sushi omakase from chef Takashi Yamamoto.”
– Lucy Bell Bird

“The octopus at Ibushi (I love octopus, but don’t have it very often) and the tete de moine goujere at Five, because of the theatre.”
– Gemma Crisp

A venue you’re definitely coming back to?

“I was lucky enough to visit Prefecture 48’s chef counter, Omakase, at the tail end of last year. Returning to it in cocktail mode was bittersweet. I can’t wait to go back for the chef’s menu proper – it’s a highlight in Sydney’s omakase scene.”
– Dan Cunningham

“Ibushi, making sure to get a bar seat for a primo view of the chefs working the grill.”
– Grace MacKenzie

“Can I say all of them? I think the one I’d most like to explore would be Ibushi.”
– Lucy Bell Bird

“Dear Florence, for those insanely good cocoa-covered pecans.”
– Gemma Crisp

Any further notes?

“Meeting Broadsheet readers is always an honour and a privilege, but I got to sit with a particularly great bunch that night. Hats off to the crew.”
– Dan Cunningham

“The hands-on matcha class at Dear Florence was an unexpected delight. It was so great to learn from the Simply Native team, and get to whisk our own cups! The Prefecture 48 team will be hosting more workshops like this, which I will definitely be keeping my eye on.”
– Grace MacKenzie

“It was great to meet so many people from the Access community. Lots of people there had amazing coincidental connections to each other.”
– Lucy Bell Bird

“I got a great idea for my husband’s birthday present from the winner of Broadsheet Access’s Sri Lanka and Maldives holiday competition, who I met during the welcome cocktails.”
– Gemma Crisp

A huge thanks to the team at Prefecture 48 for hosting Broadsheet Access and looking after each of our members. Don’t forget, from August 12, you can pre-book your tour of the precinct. It’s worth it. Just come hungry.