Now Booking Twilight tasting menu, executive poker salons and winter wine pairings across July in Sydney.
View upcoming eveningsTheAceAndEmber is Sydney's luxury restaurant and poker-inspired lounge, where contemporary Australian cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and elegant offline poker nights create unforgettable, cash-free social experiences.
Winter Chef's Tasting Menu · Paired with cool-climate Australian wines
Thursday & Friday Night Tournaments · Recreational, no cash prizes
TheAceAndEmber
Situated in the heart of Sydney, TheAceAndEmber is a study in contemporary Australian hospitality: a charcoal-hued dining room washed in amber light, the scent of native herbs and wood-fired proteins, the soft shuffle of cards over handcrafted hardwood tables, and a room alive with conversation rather than stakes.
Here, poker is not about risk. It is about ritual. Elegant, offline, and entirely cash-free – a shared rhythm between friends, colleagues, and new connections. Our team orchestrates each evening like a cinematic scene, pairing considered service and refined design with a sense of ease and warmth that feels unmistakably Australian.
Our Culinary Philosophy
Our kitchen draws on the language of the Australian landscape – ocean, fire, earth – translating native ingredients and responsibly sourced produce into polished, contemporary plates that feel both familiar and quietly surprising.
Chef's Seasonal Menus
Each menu at TheAceAndEmber is composed like a story arc – from delicate, cool-toned beginnings to rich, ember-warmed finales. Expect crisp oysters with native finger lime, dry-aged beef brushed with smoked wattleseed, and desserts that weave in eucalyptus, lemon myrtle and dark chocolate.
View our cuisineCellar & Pairings
Our sommelier curates a list that favours expressive Australian vineyards, small-batch distilleries and elegant alcohol-free pairings. Each pour is selected to complement both the rhythm of the menu and the gentle energy of the card tables.
Explore pairing experiencesCocktail Atelier
From smoked Old Fashioneds with ironbark bitters to bright cocktails built on native botanicals, our bar team treats each glass as a small performance. Slow, precise, and framed by the glow of brushed brass and glass.
Discover special listsSignature Poker Evenings
At TheAceAndEmber, poker is a social ritual – played purely for enjoyment, connection and light-hearted rivalry. There is no real-money gambling, no cash prizes and no pressure. Just the feel of premium cards, the comfort of leather seating and the warmth of a room anchored by good food and even better company.
Our evenings are strictly recreational. No real-money gambling is offered or permitted on-site.
Corporate & Private Events
From refined boardroom breakouts to milestone birthdays and intimate anniversaries, TheAceAndEmber offers a cinematic backdrop for events that ask for more than a standard function room.
Executive & Corporate
Host senior clients, partners or leadership teams in a space that balances polish with warmth. Private tables, curated menus and structured poker sessions encourage organic conversation and connection.
Plan an executive eveningCelebrations
Mark a personal milestone with a dining room that feels like a film set: layered lighting, curated playlists, custom menus and playful poker tables available for your guests.
Explore celebration ideasBespoke Functions
Work with our events team on bespoke menus, room layouts and entertainment sequences. Whether it is a brand launch or a private takeover, we shape the room to your story.
Enquire about private hireExecutive Profiles
Behind the glow of the dining room is a leadership team drawing on luxury hotels, fine-dining institutions and boutique poker lounges across Australia and beyond.
Co-Founder & Culinary Director
Alexandra's career spans some of Australia's most respected kitchens. At TheAceAndEmber, she crafts menus that mirror the rhythm of an evening at the tables – precise, layered and quietly playful.
"For me, luxury is about intention. Every plate, every garnish, every pour has been thought about long before the first guest arrives."
Co-Founder & Experience Director
Ethan designs the flow of each evening – from the first greeting at the host stand to the final card turned. His background in boutique hospitality and event design ensures the room always feels choreographed, never staged.
"Our promise is simple: arrive as you are, and we will take care of the rest."
Head of Poker Experience
Mia oversees our suite of social poker formats, ensuring that every guest – from first-time player to seasoned enthusiast – feels welcomed, supported and at ease.
"We keep the focus on connection, storytelling and shared moments, never on the stakes."
Poker Lounge Aesthetics
Every surface in TheAceAndEmber has been chosen to echo the tactility of a card table. Eucalyptus-toned leathers, deep walnut, charcoal walls and brushed brass detailing create a cocoon of warmth that sharpens as the evening unfolds.
Micro-interactions – a glass placed just so, a card dealt with care, a chair pulled out in welcome – are the details that transform an evening from pleasant to unforgettable.
Subtle motion design across the venue – from lighting transitions to curated playlists – moves in sync with the pace of service and play.
Ergonomic seating, generous spacing and intuitive service patterns ensure guests can stay, and play, comfortably into the evening.
Guest Testimonials
"We hosted an executive networking dinner here, and for the first time in years the room felt genuinely relaxed. The poker tables broke down the usual small talk, and the food was sophisticated without ever feeling fussy."
"My partner's birthday felt like a scene from our favourite film – the lighting, the music, the way the team remembered every detail. The poker element turned into this beautiful, shared experience that everyone is still talking about."
"I had never played poker before and was a little nervous, but the hosts walked us through every step. By the second hand we were laughing like old friends. It felt inclusive, safe and completely free of pressure."
Reserve Your Place
Whether you are planning a quiet dinner for two, a VIP poker night with friends or a full-venue takeover for your organisation, our team is ready to choreograph the evening around you.
Our team will confirm all bookings and event details directly, ensuring every requirement is captured before you arrive.
Central Sydney location with convenient late-evening access.
Limited seatings and tournament spots each night to preserve the intimate atmosphere.
All poker is strictly recreational with no real-money gambling, in line with our commitment to safe, social entertainment.
Stay Connected
Join TheAceAndEmber's VIP list to receive curated updates on new menus, social poker tournaments, limited collaborations and dates that book out early.