“We hosted an investor dinner with a hosted poker element and it was, quite honestly, the most effective networking night we have had. The food was extraordinary, the setting felt world-class, and the poker experience broke down barriers within minutes – all without any gambling.”
About TheAceAndEmber
Where Australian cuisine, cinematic evenings, and social poker meet.
TheAceAndEmber was imagined as a new kind of night in Australia: a luxury dining room and social poker lounge where exceptional food, considered design, and effortless hospitality turn every gathering into a story worth retelling – all without real-money gambling.
Our Story
Born from a love of fine Australian produce, beautifully designed spaces, and the shared thrill of a perfectly dealt hand, TheAceAndEmber reimagines premium evening entertainment as a refined, social ritual.
Our Story
TheAceAndEmber began as a conversation around a late-night table: what if there was a place in Australia where the warmth of a favourite dining room, the theatre of a boutique poker lounge, and the polish of a luxury hotel bar could exist in perfect balance – without the noise or pressure of real-money gambling?
We set out to create that place. Drawing on Australia’s rich culinary landscape, our passion for architectural interiors, and a shared belief that the best evenings unfold around a table, we designed TheAceAndEmber as an intimate, cinematic destination for modern corporate gatherings and meaningful celebrations.
Every service is choreographed – from the first welcome to the final nightcap – to feel personal, generous, and quietly unforgettable. Our team obsess over the details so guests can simply arrive, exhale, and enjoy the moment.
Signature Australian Hospitality
An evening that feels distinctly local, yet effortlessly global.
Our culinary philosophy is anchored in contemporary Australian cuisine: seasonal produce, clean flavours, and subtle references to the landscapes and coastlines that inspire us. Plates are designed to be shared, lingered over, and paired with a considered wine list and handcrafted cocktails.
Service is attentive yet unintrusive – a quiet refill before it is needed, a recommendation made from memory, a warm farewell that feels genuinely personal. Combined with our softly lit interiors, natural hardwood, black stone, and brushed brass finishes, each visit becomes a relaxed but elevated journey through modern Australian hospitality.
Meet Our Executive Team
The people shaping every unforgettable evening.
Behind every impeccably plated dish and every gracefully hosted poker night is a team of chefs, sommeliers, hosts, and experience curators who share an unwavering commitment to detail, warmth, and professionalism.
Our executive team brings together experience from some of Australia’s most respected dining rooms, boutique hotels, and private members’ clubs. They are united by a shared belief: true luxury is felt in the way a guest is remembered, not just in what is served.
Executive Culinary Director
Guides the seasonal menu with a focus on Australian produce, elegant plating, and flavours that are both comforting and quietly daring.
Experience & Poker Host Lead
Designs our social poker formats, ensuring evenings are inclusive, entertaining, and accessible – no real-money stakes, just relaxed, stylish competition.
Hospitality & Operations Manager
Oversees every service touchpoint, from corporate event planning to intimate anniversaries, to ensure each guest journey feels seamless and considered.
Our Mission & Values
Crafting social spaces where every guest feels both celebrated and at ease.
Our mission is to create evenings that feel rare yet effortlessly comfortable – moments when guests forget the outside world, savour exceptional food, and connect with the people around them.
We believe that atmosphere is as important as cuisine, and that the measure of a successful night is the stories guests share long after they have left.
Uncompromising quality
From produce selection to glassware, sound design, and lighting, every element is chosen with care to reflect a premium yet welcoming Australian sensibility.
Innovative, responsible entertainment
Our poker experiences are entirely social and offline – designed for connection, conversation, and play, without the presence of real-money gambling or wagering.
Personalised, human hospitality
We treat every booking as an occasion, whether it is a Tuesday dinner for two or a full-venue corporate takeover. Thoughtful touches, discreet service, and genuine warmth underpin everything we do.
Inside Our Venue
An architecturally composed sanctuary for evenings that linger.
TheAceAndEmber has been designed as a sequence of moods: softly illuminated dining rooms, boutique poker lounges with intimate table groupings, and an elegant bar where conversations naturally extend into the night.
Dining rooms
Charcoal walls, eucalyptus green accents, and warm amber lighting create a cocooned atmosphere for both intimate tables and larger groups.
Boutique poker lounges
Custom tables, leather seating, and brushed brass details set the stage for relaxed social poker, hosted by our team to guide every hand.
The bar & cocktail gallery
Architectural glass, backlit spirits, and handcrafted cocktails bring a cinematic glow to pre-dinner drinks and late-night toasts.
A Place for Every Occasion
From discreet dinners to full-venue takeovers.
Whether it is a board dinner, a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or an end-of-year celebration, TheAceAndEmber is designed to flex around the moments that matter to you.
Our team works closely with organisers to shape the ideal format – from arrival cocktails and degustation menus to curated poker sessions that bring your guests together in a way that feels both novel and natural.
Corporate & investor dinners
Host stakeholders in a setting that feels polished yet comfortable, with private spaces, considered menus, and optional hosted poker to encourage relaxed conversation.
Birthdays & anniversaries
Mark personal milestones with cinematic photography moments, tailored menus, and subtle celebratory touches woven into the evening.
VIP social evenings
Gather friends, colleagues, or clients for a night of shared plates, handcrafted cocktails, and light-hearted, hosted poker tournaments.
Why Poker Nights?
Because the best conversations happen around a shared game.
At TheAceAndEmber, poker is never about the stakes. It is about the ritual: cards carefully shuffled, chips gently stacked, quiet laughter across the table, and the shared tension of a final reveal. Our poker evenings are curated as social experiences that bring people together, regardless of their familiarity with the game.
Hosted entirely offline and free from real-money gambling, our formats favour light-hearted competition, guided rules, and a strong emphasis on enjoyment and connection. Guests are invited to step into the theatre of the game – beautiful tables, considered cues, premium surroundings – without pressure or risk.
Inclusive by design
Our hosts tailor each session to the group, supporting first-time players and seasoned enthusiasts alike so everyone feels confident and engaged.
Perfect for team culture
Social poker offers a natural way to break the ice, encourage collaboration, and foster connection across teams, clients, and partners.
Guest Experiences
Evenings our guests still talk about.
Every service at TheAceAndEmber is shaped around how our guests want to feel: relaxed, indulged, and genuinely connected. Here are a few of the stories that capture what a night with us can be.
“The team helped us design a birthday evening that felt incredibly personal. From a custom tasting menu to a relaxed poker table for our friends, every detail was thoughtfully handled. It felt like stepping into our own private club for the night.”
“As someone who had never played poker, I was a little nervous. Within minutes, the host had everyone laughing, explaining the rules in a way that felt welcoming and fun. We left with beautiful photos, full hearts, and plans to return.”
Plan Your Evening
Reserve your table at TheAceAndEmber.
Whether you are planning a discreet business dinner, a special celebration, or a signature poker-themed evening with friends, our team is ready to curate an experience that feels made just for you.