I. The Evening Collection
An Australian restaurant and offline poker salon, curated as an Italian Renaissance art collection. Dine by candlelight, then take a seat at the poker table where chips are tactile props and every evening is a living exhibition.
Our kitchen composes a seasonal menu that changes with the Australian harvest, presented like a series of painted plates. Each dish is designed to be savoured slowly, in the same unhurried spirit as an evening at the poker table. Ingredients arrive from growers who treat the land as carefully as our chefs treat the plate, so the menu remains a quiet record of the season rather than a fixed list.
The dining room is lit like a Renaissance interior: warm candlelight, marble surfaces, and quiet conversation. It is a place to linger before or after a poker evening, never rushed. Tables are spaced so that voices stay low and the room feels like a private gallery, with the soft clink of glass and cutlery as the only soundtrack.
View the seasonal menu to see what is currently on the table.
The card lounge is a room designed for offline poker: real tables, real cards, and chips as tactile props. There is no gambling here—only the ritual of the game, played in good company under the same roof as our restaurant. The weight of a chip, the snap of a card, and the hush before a reveal are treated as sensory details rather than financial stakes.
Our poker evenings are hosted like private viewings in a gallery: small groups, attentive service, and a shared appreciation for the game as a social art form. Whether you are new to poker or a seasoned player, the table welcomes you. Staff remain nearby to explain the flow of play, refresh drinks, and keep the evening moving at a comfortable pace.
Learn more about the card lounge and our poker evenings.
Poker-table etiquette at Ashend Willoow is part of the exhibition: a set of quiet courtesies that keep the game social and respectful. From handling chips to taking your seat, every gesture is considered. Players are invited to treat the table as they would a shared artwork—with patience, attention, and care for the people beside them.
Read our guide to poker-table etiquette before your first evening.
For those who wish to curate their own evening, we offer private bookings that pair a seasonal dinner with a dedicated poker table. Your gathering becomes a private exhibition, with the card lounge and dining room reserved for your guests. Menus can be discussed in advance, and the pace of the evening is set by you and your party.
Discover how to arrange a private evening at Ashend Willoow.
A recent poker evening captured like a still life: hands hovering over chips, cards fanned on green felt, and the warm glow of the card lounge. The scene held the quiet tension of a gallery opening, where every gesture seemed deliberate.
Read the journal entry
The seasonal menu's autumn composition: roasted quince, chestnut, and sage, plated like a Renaissance still life. The dish arrived as a study in warm tones, with the kitchen treating the plate as a canvas.
Read the journal entry
A private evening in the dining room, where guests moved from candlelit dinner to the poker table without leaving the gallery. The transition felt natural, as if the two rooms were always meant to share the same frame.
Read the journal entryI
No. Poker at Ashend Willoow is entirely offline and social. Chips are used as tactile props to enhance the physical ritual of the game, but there is no money, betting, or prizes involved. The focus remains on conversation, skill, and the pleasure of playing in a beautiful room.
II
Not at all. Our poker evenings welcome beginners and experienced players alike. The card lounge is a place to learn the game as a social ritual, with staff on hand to guide you through the basics. You are welcome to watch a few hands before taking a seat.
III
You can reserve a table for dinner or a seat at the poker table through our booking page. For private evenings, please contact us directly to arrange a bespoke experience. We recommend booking in advance, especially for weekend poker evenings.
Your evening at Ashend Willoow awaits. Reserve a table for dinner, a seat at the poker table, or both—and step into the collection. Each booking is treated as a place in a living exhibition, with the same care given to a solo diner as to a private party.
Reserve Your EveningFor questions about the restaurant, poker salon, or private evenings, please contact us at +61255501234 or [email protected]. We are located at 12 Gallery Lane, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
You must be 18 years or older to enter Ashend Willoow.
