Sydney gets a lot of visiting chef residencies, but it isn’t often one feels so naturally suited to the city it’s arriving in. 

They can sometimes feel detached once here, as though the restaurant could be anyway with Sydney a backdrop. But the SingleThread residency at Bather’s Pavilion feels different because there’s already a natural alignment between them. So much of SingleThread’s philosophy already feels like Sydney – from produce and seasonality to the city’s long standing appreciation for Japanese cuisine.

Having worked across a residency in my day job, I also know how much work goes into making something feel seamless. The logistics alone are enormous, but beyond that, there’s always the challenge of creating an experience that still feels connected rather than simply replicating in a different city.

The Sonoma restaurant and farm is run by husband and wife team Kyle and Katina Connaughton has built its reputation around hyper seasonal produce and Japanese hospitality, with the team describing the residency as an opportunity to explore their “philosophy through Australia’s extraordinary produce while maintaining the integrity of what defines us”. 

And maybe that’s why Bather’s Pavilion feels like such a fitting venue. Over the years, the Balmoral restaurant has quietly become known for hosting some of Sydney’s most respected dining residencies. 

What makes the residency feel particularly considered is how early the collaboration has already begun. Produce is currently being grown specifically for the experience at Bather’s Pavillion Southern Highlands farm – Rotherwood, while Executive Chef Aaron Ward will spend time in Sonoma working directly alongside Kyle Connaughton and SingleThread team on the menu development team ahead of the residency. 

For four weeks this winter, SingleThread will bring its produce-driven philosophy to Balmoral through a residency shaped around Australian produce, seasonality and setting.

And maybe that’s what makes it feel so appealing – the sense that it’s a collaboration that has been thoughtfully connected to place from the very beginning.

SingleThread at Bathers’ Pavilion from 28 July – 23 August 2025. Bookings via Bathers’ Pavilion website