Bar Nova set to blaze to life in the space that housed Onzieme
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Bar Nova is set to open this August, taking over the space left vacant by Louis Couttoupes’ award-winning Onzieme after it ceased service in May.
Since the shock announcement, Canberrans have been wondering what would happen to the iconic Kingston address that previously housed the acclaimed restaurant that saw five years of packed houses, hats, and awards.
Now, we know. Bar Nova – the brainchild of Canberra hospitality veteran Kierain Bunton – will bring a fresh new bar and restaurant to the area.
Focusing on a hyper-curated and super-intentional experience, he says he hopes the new offering will bring back that ‘cool’ that once made Kingston the suburb to be seen in.
“I love Kingston…I feel like the Foreshore never really popped off, but there’s a good cultural hub in Kingston,” explains Kierain.
“I hope that by throwing my hat into the ring, I can encourage other operators to come here and bring back Kingston to what it used to be in its former heyday.”
The Venue Manager of Ainslie’s The Inn and a founder of After Service – the event series created alongside Theo Boggs and Brett Nebauer – Kierain’s experience in hospitality is extensive.
Bringing on longtime friend Nick Peterson (who you might know from the award-winning Such and Such) as head chef, his idea for Bar Nova is to create a space that “changes perspectives or expectations.”
“We’re trying to not box ourselves in with anything – just do stuff that we like, and that we back through our taste and experience,” says Kierain.
“We want to do things our way and encourage people to have a little bit of faith in what we’re doing, faith in the experience, and faith in the taste.”
For now, Kierain is keeping plans for the menu close to his chest. And while he’s still locking in details and finishing the fit-out, he says he hopes that Bar Nova will open this August, marking a new beginning for the prime Kennedy Street spot.
It feels only right that “nova” directly translates to “new” from Latin – also referring to a star that suddenly flares up with incredible brightness. It looks like when one star fades, another one blazes to take its place.
Keep an eye on HerCanberra for the opening date details.
