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When Prefecture 48 opened in late 2024 in a heritage-listed building in Sydney’s CBD, it flew under the radar. It shouldn’t have. Named as a nod to Japan’s 47 prefectures (similar to Australia’s states), Prefecture 48 from the Azabu Group is a six-in-one, multi-level Japanese dining precinct. I revisited it recently, and it blew me away.
First up, we stopped at Dear Florence, an elegant, light-filled patisserie featuring elevated takes on the classics with Japanese flavours, by celebrated pastry chef Aoife Noonan. If it’s your first time, try the Florence Cake, a multi-layered stunner featuring 70 per cent Valrhona chocolate mousse, hazelnut mousse and a white miso ganache. The Serenity, with matcha, hojicha, vanilla sea salt and chocolate, is another crowd favourite.
Then, we headed to the Whisky Thief, a sleek cocktail bar with drinks co-created by the Maybe Sammy team and an extensive whisky collection, with date night written all over it. The Shibuya Highball (Toki whisky, toasted puffed rice, cream soda) is a subtle and smooth tipple, while the Whisky Thief Cocktail (Toki whisky, hojicha tea, fava tonka, wattleseed, cream) is a beautifully balanced delight.
After a couple of cocktails, it’s straight to Garaku, a kaiseki dining experience where you can sit down and enjoy a traditional multi-course Japanese meal led by Tetsuya's former executive chef, Derek Kim. The polished dining room, with its modern design, pops of neon colour and long, sleek chef’s counter, feels like it’s out of a futuristic music video. Our snacks arrive looking like a tranquil Japanese garden, complete with a treasure chest filled with lightly torched scallop slices topped with bursts of pomelo. WA marron, paired with koshihikari rice and umami-rich shellfish koji butter, was a standout.
Level two is home to Five, a more casual offering in a wabi-sabi-inspired dining room. I’m told changes are coming, so watch this space.
Then it’s time to head to Ibushi, a charcoal-fuelled robata grill, where fun and flavour are front and centre. Think of Ibushi as Garaku's younger sibling, a place where you can roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. The tuna crispy rice, with ruby-red fish, crispy sushi rice and avruga, wrapped in nori, was a two-bite good time. I loved the ice-cold excellent Martini, too, served with a fat green olive in a retro glass that I wanted to pop in my bag for my next Friday night (I didn’t).
Do you love omakase? Then you need to visit Omakase at Prefecture 48. Seating just a handful of guests, you’ll watch the chefs at work and see how making nigiri is as much of an artform as the Archies themselves. The omakase features around 20 courses, all meticulously crafted and plated, including things like A5 Wagyu shabu shabu, coral trout, Hokkaido uni and more.
I stepped out onto the cobblestone laneway, pretty bloody full – and six experiences richer. If a trip to Japan isn’t on the cards right now, Prefecture 48 will transport you for an evening.
Would you like to visit? Prefecture 48 offers The Signature Path, which includes stops at Garaku, Ibushi, Five, Whisky Thief and Dear Florence. The three-hour experience costs $450 per person. And you can book here.