Off the main strip of Kings Cross, perched on a sun-drenched corner of Kellett Street, sits the Silly Tart Kitchen.
She is loud and proud, with bold tropical street art, zebra striped awnings and pretty vintage bicycles at the front, just begging for attention. Silly Tart Kitchen is a marriage of bold décor, fresh food, and old-school hospitality and has an 8am happy hour.
In June last year, The Silly Tart Kitchen opened its doors for business and a year later, friends and business partners Nina Purton and Josh Cook couldn’t be more proud. Nina and Josh are as warm and welcoming as their interiors, serving the freshest food, and welcoming everyone with open arms and a generously stocked bar…
LOTL sits down with co- Nina Purton and Josh Cook, to talk everything Silly Tart – from fresh produce to interiors and falling in love.
This place is just gorgeous. What made you choose this location?
Josh: Thank you. It was the very first place we looked at actually. The space was big with a garden, so it was great value for money. We looked at another place in Surry Hills but it didn’t have much character. Despite it’s terrible condition, we instantly saw the potential.
Nina: The building had been unoccupied for 2 years and hadn’t been updated since the early 1990’s. The previous owner had painted everything black-the walls, floors and ceilings! There was even pleather booth seating installed. Over the 3 months it took us to renovate, we spent $4000 on rubbish removal alone.
You’ve managed to mesh styles together really well. What was your influence for decorating the space?
Nina: When we were growing up, my Mother would drag us from antique shop to antique shop around Wales. She would fall in love with pieces and purchase strange and grand things like vintage sofas, unusual pottery and old toilets which she would use in the garden as flower pots and to grow herbs. My mother loved anything old with character.