Raku’s expansion into into iconic two-storey flagship at Crystalbrook Aurora
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Canberra’s most celebrated Japanese restaurant, Raku – a favourite of celebrity diners including Post Malone, Nicole Kidman and Nigella Lawson – is set to leave its Canberra Centre home for an exciting new chapter.
In 2027, Raku will unveil Canberra’s largest and most luxurious fine-dining destination within Crystalbrook Aurora, a landmark new five-star, 10-storey, 225-room sustainably led hotel on Bunda Street.
In a closely guarded secret until now, it can be revealed that Raku’s owner and executive chef, Hao Chen, not only secured the move but also, in partnership with developer TP Dynamics, has played a pivotal role in the overall site’s development.
CGI renders of the new Crystalbrook Aurora on Bunda Street
Owner and Executive Chef, Hao Chen, and the award-winning Raku team will be expanding into a 300-seat, two-storey restaurant which is three times larger than the current Raku restaurant. It will feature an extra-long sushi bar, a tasting bar, a stylish main bar, four private dining rooms of varying shapes, a Raku-style booth, a long wine cabinet, and a private lift to the downstairs private dining room.
The design elements maintain the classic Raku style, and while the name stays the same, Hao is taking everything to the next level. The new restaurant will incorporate a new menu, new wine list, and will provide diners with a different, and even more polished experience than they are currently enjoying in the Canberra Centre location.
“For us, this move is about growth – not just for Raku, but for what Canberra dining can be. Crystalbrook Aurora will give us the platform to reimagine, refine and reach further, while staying true to the spirit that has defined Raku from the start.”
Hao said he was grateful for the Canberra Centre’s management, Queensland Investment Corporation, for helping him establish Raku from an unknown brand to the success it is today.
But for Hao, who immigrated to Australia from China in 2008, knowing next-to-no English but determined to make a new life for himself in the restaurant world, the move “is not just about getting bigger. It is also about transforming into a world-class restaurant and onto the global stage.”
Canberrans can also thank Hao and his loyalty and love for Canberra, alongside that of his close friend Tony Pan, owner of site developer TP Dynamics, for helping secure the Bunda Street block and creating the path for Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts to create a footprint in Canberra.
Tony came to Canberra in 2005 as a student at the Australian National University and went on to found property development company TP Dynamics in 2011, which has gone on to deliver a range of residential and mixed-use projects across the ACT.
Hao recalls obsessing over the idea after wandering down to the other end of Bunda Street in 2022. “I then bought a coffee at Gus’ Cafe and walked around the dilapidated Garema Place. I suddenly remembered the scene when Raku opened in its current location in 2017. The end of Bunda Street, unlit and sparsely populated, was especially sparse in the winter. But when Raku was completed, the lights came on, and the music started, something changed for the better. I felt that Canberra needed a five-star restaurant and experience like this, even more.
Tony was as passionate about the development as Hao. It was then a matter of purchasing the land and beginning the process of assessing some of the country’s top hotel brands. “As recent immigrants, both of us young Chinese, we shared a common vision to change the world,” says Hao.
During the selection process, several of the country’s most prominent hotel groups entered discussions, but it was “the vision” of Dubai-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Ghassan Aboud, who founded Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts in Australia in 2016, that set him apart.
According to Crystalbrook Collection CEO, Geoff York, “At Crystalbrook, we believe that extraordinary guest experiences are built not only on beautiful hotels but on unforgettable food and beverage moments. Partnering with Raku, a true Canberra institution, allows us to create something remarkable for both locals and visitors. Exceptional dining is a powerful driver of travel demand, and by bringing Raku into Crystalbrook Aurora we are not just enhancing our guest experience but also elevating Canberra’s growing reputation as a destination for world-class hospitality.”
CGI renders of the new Crystalbrook Aurora on Bunda Street
It will be a dream come true for Hao who arrived in Australia with little else than passion, self-belief and a prodigious work ethic.
He recalls working in restaurants in Sydney and being so confused by the language he would write down any unfamiliar phrases to constantly learn and improve his English. Known for his tireless devotion to his craft, he poured his energy into Raku each and every day, creating a Canberra institution known for its culinary flair and attention to detail. His food is as popular today as it was when the restaurant opened amid much buzz eight years ago, and Raku’s clientele consists of the city’s movers and shakers as well as our federal politicians, dignitaries, diplomats and celebrities. Hao is also known for his love of his new adopted home city of Canberra.
He will be celebrating his Raku dream and paying homage to Canberra and the people who make it great in an upcoming book Hao’s Canberra, edited by Chris Hansen and due out in November 2025.
There you can read all about the infamous dinner he shared with Post Malone who arrived at Raku after performing at Spilt Milk and which ended at 6am the next day after the pair shared a considerable amount of sake…
