The Sunshine Inn

Doing justice to the old Redfern Continental (and its beloved backroom, Gunther’s Dining Room) would’ve been a tall order for anyone. But it was a boon for Redfern when Dan McBride and Dynn Szmulewicz (Enmore Country Club, The Little Guy) brought their sensibilities to the space in 2020. The Sunshine Inn is absolutely where you want to be at golden hour.

Up front is the bar, where you can walk in for casual bites and cocktails. The menu is predominantly plant-based, with native ingredients and local producers championed across the board. Kick off with burrata spiked with bush tomato oil, then follow up with seasonally-inspired pastas such as hand-rolled cavatelli swimming in red pesto, or rigatoni doused with mushroom and red wine ragu. (Pasta is $10 on Tuesday.)

Minimal waste, seasonal shrubs and Australian-made spirits informs the fun cocktail list, with highlights including the Amari Sour (Mobius vodka, Cynar, Okar, Unico yuzu vermouth, lemon and aquafaba). The wine list balances classic and natural drops, with a huge showing from Australia and selections from Europe.

Head past a blackbutt divider and James Northfield-inspired tourism art for Yorkeys Knob (“You’d be stiff to miss it!”) and Bastard Point (“Don’t let the name fool ya!”), and you’ll find the leather-bound door that once hid Gunther’s. Push through for DD’s, a dining room built for good times.