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This is the Northern Beaches’ Answer to Gibney
Honestly, the renders alone are enough to make us impatient for 2027.
Restaurateur George Kailis has unveiled the first look at Surreo and Bar Surreo — the first two venues confirmed for Kailis Hospitality Group’s sprawling new Sorrento Beach Precinct, bringing 1,000sqm of prime beachfront hospitality.
And in true Kailis fashion, subtlety is not on the menu.
The crowning jewel is Surreo, a lavish seaside grillhouse inspired by ancient Roman grandeur, where monumental crystal chandeliers, dramatic ocean views and tableside theatrics collide with pristine ocean views. Outside, a sprawling alfresco will be anchored by a 4-metre custom marble statue and an actual wishing well, complete with bespoke Surreo coins guests can toss in upon arrival.
Inside, things only get more opulent.
There’ll be a stained-glass-encased dry-ageing room, an integrated butcher’s block built directly into the kitchen pass, and a 4,000-bottle walk-in cellar with a private tasting table where guests can book wine experiences with Surreo’s sommelier team.
The menu, meanwhile, leans into Roman and Basque influences, with premium steak and seafood leading the charge alongside house-made pasta and produce-driven dishes — with more of the tableside theatrics diners already know and love from Gibney.
“The concept leans more toward a grillhouse than a traditional steakhouse, reflecting a menu that balances premium meats with a strong emphasis on seafood and vegetables,” says Kailis.”While Basque and Roman traditions have informed the culinary direction, the intent is to create a broader seaside offering, featuring seafood, house-made pasta and produce-driven dishes, with steak as the hero.”
But for Kailis, the vision goes well beyond what’s on the plate.
Both venues are being designed around what he describes as “premium experience-led dining,” where every detail — from interiors to lighting to service — is carefully choreographed to feel transportive.
“Prioritising guest experience, it’s a considered journey,” explains Kailis, “every detail intentionally crafted to create anticipation before arrival.”
“From tactile finishes and layered materials to ambient lighting, the spectacle of open kitchens and striking coastal views, every element is designed to engage the senses and create a significant, long lasting impression.”
Next door, Bar Surreo will offer a moodier, more intimate hideaway. Expect a striking mother of pearl bar, a substantial snack menu and what designers describe as a “grotto-like retreat” overlooking the coastline.
While the venues will sit side-by-side, Kailis says the aim is for each to feel entirely distinct.
“While you can use one before or after the other, we wanted to create a point of difference to provide options for guests,” explains Kailis.
“Bar Surreo has its own kitchen and head chef, [so] whilst still a bar, the culinary agenda is a priority.”
Both spaces are being brought to life by Rezen Studios — the same design team behind Gibney’s famously jaw-dropping interiors — with multi-million-dollar fit-outs planned across the precinct.
Speaking to the design direction, Rezen Studio Directors Rhys and Zenifa Bowring say, “Surreo will maximise access to a sweeping ocean outlook while an extensive covered alfresco will extend the dining experience into the open air, offering elevated views and connection to the landscape.”
Think patterned floors, warm timbers, layered textures and softly dramatic detailing designed to feel equal parts coastal and grand, all with a romantic nod to ancient Rome.
The concept has deep roots for Kailis.
After discovering Sorrento was originally named after the founder’s coastal Italian hometown, Kailis began tracing the suburb’s Mediterranean influences back through history — eventually landing in ancient Rome. Along the way came the name Surreo, the Ancient Greek word for Sorrento, which loosely translates to “a coming together”.
But the inspiration wasn’t solely historical.
“I had many friends that lived in Stirling and Dianella, the European influence in these suburbs was awesome,” says Kailis, “columns, statues of lions — the similarities between them and this ancient Rome period we were in was uncanny.”
“Having some authentic Northern suburbs DNA in the venue was essential.”
Earlier this year, Kailis Hospitality Group secured the landmark $12 million Sorrento site attached to the luxury Ora Sorrento development, taking on the entire hospitality footprint spanning roughly 1,500sqm of beachfront real estate.
The wider precinct is expected to eventually house three to four complementary venues, with Kailis and the KHG team aiming to create what they describe as a new benchmark for hospitality north of the river.
“We will endeavour to set a new benchmark for hospitality in Perth’s northern suburbs with high quality, unique restaurant offers that are very different to what currently exists. We are also committed to an extremely high level of interior design which will showcase the brands and the panoramic ocean views over Sorrento beach,” he said.
KHG will once again collaborate with Rezen Studios on the project, alongside key members of the group’s award-winning hospitality team including Group Sommelier Nina Throsby and Group Bar Director James Gentile.
“The opportunity to design multiple restaurant concepts within such a unique coastal precinct is incredibly rare,” said Bowring.
“The scale of this project, combined with its beachfront location, provides us with the chance to create a truly world-class dining environment. Following the success of Gibney, we’re excited to collaborate again with KHG to deliver distinctive hospitality experiences that will set a new benchmark for Perth’s northern suburbs.”
Construction on Surreo and Bar Surreo has already commenced, with both venues slated to open in April 2027, which means Perth diners will soon be tossing coins into that wishing well themselves.
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