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The cosy corner of Sydney’s Campbell and Foster streets was abuzz with paparazzi and black SUVs on Tuesday night after Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter chose that locale to dine out for their first evening in Sydney. The pop supernova and the burgeoning starlet are currently in the harbour city for the second stop on Swift’s Australian leg of the “Eras” Tour. But rather than retreating to her $38,888-a-night Presidential Villa in Barangaroo’s Crown casino and hotel, the recent history-making Grammy award winner chose to make like a local instead.
Similar to the Tour de Bondi Kourtney Kardashian embarked on earlier in the week, Swift indulged in Sydney’s local culinary scene at an unexpected haunt: a neighbourhood trattoria nestled into the more corporate side of the inner city suburb. Indeed, Pellegrino 2000, a one-hat causal ristorante, played host to what is arguably its biggest celebrity clientele since its opening in late 2021.
@kyleandjackieo 🤯 Taylor Swift out in Surry Hills tonight for dinner with Sabrina Carpenter!! #KJshow #sydney #taylorswift
The eatery’s founders, Sydney dining alum Dan Pepperell, Mikey Clift and Andy Tyson (also of Bistro 916 and Clam Bar notoriety) have kept mum about the menu items Swift and Carpenter ordered. But, given the restaurant is frequented by many members of Team GRAZIA, allow us to offer up our suggestions.
After Swift entered off street level into the century-old terrace, she most likely passed the al fresco diners and cosy bar area and descended down a set of stairs illuminated by a fluorescent red “2000” sign into the intimate candle-lit cellar area. (For the utmost privacy, of course.) It’s speculated Swift’s go-to cocktail is ‘The French Blonde’, but given Blondie (as her acolytes call her) was dining at a Roman-Florentine fusion, she might’ve opted for a traditional Aperol Spritz or one of the many stellar drops on the restaurant’s wine list.
For entrée, she likely would’ve commenced with a trio of the spot’s antipasti specials—Fritto misto, polpo & patate and prosciutto & bufala—before moving onto one of the many salivating pasta dishes on the menu. (Editor’s note: The Rigatoni all’Amatriciana is a must-order, as is the ravioli with prawns & brown butter.) To conclude, the perfect dessert digestif—a limoncello jello served in the carcass of a quartered lemon, and an Australian Nonna’s favourite, banana Crème caramel served with a healthy helping of whipped cream on the side.
We’ve done the leg work for you and uncovered that the reservations at Pellegrino 2000 are exhausted most evenings until a late night seating after 9PM. (Of course, in Italy that would be considered early, but who’s counting!)
