“A No-Brainer”: The Bar Copains Trio To Open a Teeny Potts Point Wine Bar

The Goodies team is very good at transforming Sydney spaces. The trio behind Bar Copains – Morgan McGlone, Nathan Sasi and Sali Sasi – tricked up the Surry Hills Chef’s Warehouse space into Bessie’s and Almas’s; then soon after revamped the treasured Bar Vincent into the equally treasured Vin-Cenzo’s. Those three venues form a walkable triangle of dining in Surry Hills and Darlo, with the trio’s next Sydney space taking things a bit further. Their revamp of Potts Point’s La Buvette is underway.

“Challis Avenue, Potts Point, was really a no-brainer,” Sali says. “Fratelli Paradiso has long been one of our favourite venues and institutional in the Sydney dining scene – so to be able to set up a venue that has us becoming neighbours was a really exciting opportunity for us.”

The new La Buvette will be a completely different experience from the original. The local institution served bistro plates for 25 years, closing in 2019 and briefly becoming Spanish eatery La Bomba. Now Studio Gram is working on a fit-out, and Nathan and McGlone are finalising a menu that’s classically French.

“We love spaces with hospitality history and good bones,” Sali says. “We’re pumped to have the opportunity to revitalise La Buvette in the Goodies way. Similar to all our venues the focus will be on good food, food wine, good tunes, good times.”

The space is teeny, with room for just 10 inside. Those seats will be coveted, but supported by plenty of room outside. With a mid-year opening planned, coinciding with Sydney’s notoriously fickle winter weather, the outdoor angle could prove a tricky sell – then again, witness the city’s willingness to embrace all-weather dining at Copains.

La Buvette – a name the trio’s all but sure to retain ­– joins a hot Sydney dining strip: Fei Jai is directly next door, Fratelli Paradiso is across the street. Plus, an ever-popular mix of venues is close by: Primary and Room Ten during the day; Paradise, Caravin, Cho Cho San and The Apollo at night.

La Buvette is slated to open at 35 Challis Avenue, Potts Point, in winter 2026. 

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