Morena

We stopped in for drinks and a few snacks while heading to see the Martin Place Christmas tree, and it was honestly the perfect spot to soak up the festive atmosphere. Sitting out front on Martin Place with the lights, the buzz, a cocktail in hand - pretty bloody nice. We didn’t do a full dinner, just cocktails and snacks, but everything we had was spot on. We ordered a couple of Manhattans (not on the menu) and they were happy to make them for us - classic, well-balanced, and properly done. Food-wise, we had empanadas, white corn arepas with crab and trout roe, and skewers of grilled ox tongue with Peruvian dried chillies and a charred spring onion sauce (a bit like a chimichurri). Honestly, every bite was great. The ox tongue was incredibly soft and melt-in-your-mouth. The arepas were small but gorgeous - comforting, flavourful, and just really enjoyable. And the empanadas were high quality - more pulled beef than cheap mince, full of flavour, with lovely pastry. Not traditional egg-and-olive style, but very well executed. We’re usually pretty sceptical of places in high-traffic, touristy spots, and Latin food can be a hard sell in our household (nothing compares to mama’s cooking) but Moreno completely won us over. Lovely atmosphere, great drinks, and genuinely good food. Definitely worth another visit, one of those unexpectedly good finds.

I’m still trying to process the ridiculously amazing dining experience at Morena, tucked away in the historic GPO Building in Martin Place - I mean, who needs reality when you can dine in a place dreamed up by Peruvian Head Chef Alejandro Saravia? Massive thanks to my bestie for introducing me to this gem, where we celebrated my early birthday in style, bonding over our shared love of Peruvian cuisine - and Nikkei and Callao, of course. She managed to score a table for two under the breathtaking glass roof of Sydney’s original GPO, setting the tone for an evening that was nothing short of unforgettable - kind of like that one time I won the lottery in my dreams. Of course, I had to kick things off with one of their signature cocktails, which was basically a party in my mouth, minus the noise complaints, featuring guava and Latin American spirits. Then, we dove into the entree: Snapper, Fremantle octopus ceviche, citrus tiger’s milk, sweet potato. Next up was the Marlin aguachile tostada, which was basically a flavor bomb that left me speechless. For mains, we both opted for the braised ox-tongue skewer, Peruvian dried chillies, and the Slow grilled lamb neck, adobo sauce, braised leek, which was basically perfection on a plate. And just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, we wrapped things up with their traditional Peruvian dessert, Sweet Butternut pumpkin flan, candied pepita seeds, dark caramel - it was sublime, to say the least. The cherry on top was when the two friendly waitresses broke into a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, complete with a candle on the dessert, because, why not? Massive props to the team for their exceptional hospitality, particularly Laura, our waitress. We’re already planning our next visit and have officially crowned Morena one of my top three Peruvian restaurants in Sydney. I mean, I went from a disappointing restaurant experience the day before to an unforgettable, amazing experience at Morena - it was basically a culinary resurrection.

We ordered quite a few dishes and most of them were excellent but damn, that dessert was terrible!🙁 ⭐️Kingfish tostada – crispy, fresh and spicy. ⭐️Snapper ceviche – sour, fresh and really yummy. Beef empanada with the nice crispy skin ⭐️Grilled ox tongue skewer – buttery, tender and coated in a smoky, herby sauce. This is a highlight. 😋Chorizo croquettes – crispy on the outside and creamy inside. Beef eye fillet – tender and well cooked. Stir-fried greens – nicely charred with a buttery smoky sauce Fries – could have been crispier but the aji amarillo sauce was unique and complemented it well Pisco spritz – refreshing. ⭐️They also served the mustardy, smoky, umami tuna tartare table-side, which was a fun touch and packed with flavour from the mix of sauces. This was another highlight! 🙁Unfortunately, the Bomba rice pudding completely missed the mark. The bitter citrus clashed with the milky rice base and it ended the meal on a really unpleasant note. The menu said it should be a sweet lime curd but we got a bitter lime curd instead. And our server said it was meant to be sweet... Overall, service was attentive and most dishes were flavour bombs. For $120+ per person, I expected an outstanding meal, and for the most part it was — but that dessert really ruined the ending for me. Now how do I get rid of this bitter taste still lingering on my tongue?😫

Shout out to Adam at the bar today and his co-worker as well (sorry, I didn't catch his name) but amazing service, and excellent for conversation. Both of them really bought the vibes to the place even though it just opened for dinner. They are both extremely hard-working, would love to see more of them when we come back! The food was also amazing, and the waitstaff were very attentive!

The evening felt like a journey to Europe, wrapped in an enchanting atmosphere and the vibrant soul of Latin American flavors. Every dish was a joy—the meats were tender, the fish full of depth, yet it was the corn brioche that truly stole my heart, a taste I’ll never forget. With a wine list that paired so beautifully and a setting that radiated elegance and charm, it was a night beyond perfection. I’m already dreaming of coming back, perhaps to experience its magic in the daylight over lunch.

We went for our 26 th anniversary celebration. My husband was excited to see how this restaurant was due to the fact he was born in Peru. We both loved it so much. The food was delicious and the service fantastic and the place has really enjoyable vibe. Excited to return to try more of the menu and to enjoy sitting outside for next time. Thank you so much Kym and Charles

I had an amazing time from the moment we stood outside the restaurant to the moment we said goodbye. The staff were attentive and graciously helpful; for a pregnant, an eat/nut, and a person with a pork exclusion diet - in one sitting. Further, our 2-year-old niece and 7-year-old both found the seating accommodating and were treated like royalty. It was an enjoyable place for a family celebration. Whilst we are not people who eat spicy food often, the set menu degustation allowed us to take a slow journey to desensitise our taste buds. The palate was ready and appreciating the burst of flavours to the end. A memorable night. Many thanks to the team for a great night.

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying the Executive Lunch at Morena Sydney, and I was genuinely impressed. From the moment the dishes arrived, the presentation was flawless elegant, modern, and inviting. Each course was thoughtfully plated and bursting with flavor. The food itself was outstanding – fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and a creative touch that made every bite memorable. It’s clear the chefs take great pride in their craft. I highly recommend Morena to anyone looking for a refined lunch experience in Sydney. I’ll definitely be back!